Melanie Berman, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer for NiSource.
getty
Diversity, equity and inclusion is one of the top human resources priorities of 2023. As a result, HR leaders across all business sectors are prioritizing it—and the energy industry is no exception. Supporting and encouraging diverse views, experiences and perspectives within these businesses is more than a moral responsibility. It's a business imperative that helps organizations refine and improve the way they operate.
For any organization to succeed in being more diverse, equitable and inclusive, efforts must begin at the front door by attracting a diverse talent pool. However, energy companies need to focus on a more open-minded approach to seeing value in employee talents.
Balance The Expertise That Employees Bring
Beyond the imbalances that DEI programs seek to remedy, organizations need to overcome unrelated biases about the nature and character of the specific work employees perform. For example, there's a perception in the industry that earning a degree in computer science is more valuable than a vocational school or trade education. This is despite the fact that both skill sets are essential to the production of goods and services—whether at an energy utility like my company NiSource or at a steel or manufacturing plant.
These types of biases can cause young people to pursue a career path less suited to their individual preferences and abilities. This effectively deprives the overall workforce of the blend of talent necessary to address the needs of the future. This balance is vital to today’s energy industry. Transitioning from traditional fuels to renewable energy will require the participation of workers who know how to use a torque wrench as well as employees who are skilled in computer-aided design.
Moreover, in the energy industry, we're seeing an increasing need for employees who have manual, mechanical and electrical aptitudes. These professionals also need the right training to pair those skills with digital technology that guides functions such as planning, design and diagnostics. A commitment to this kind of DEI ensures we can access the widest pool of talent available to satisfy this growing requirement.
Think Beyond Siloed Teams
For organizations to succeed, the inclusivity aspect of DEI must then be taken a step further. Today’s successful organizations should strive for a corporate culture where individuals aren't confined to specific groups. By not placing employees into restrictive categories, they're more easily engaged, more encouraged to contribute ideas outside of their work area and more invested in the company’s mission.
This type of inclusivity is essential to any organization to ensure the current workforce is equipped to evolve and transition. More importantly, having a merged set of skills is necessary to implement the new energy technologies driving our shift to solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. So a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization is essential to a winning culture—one in which every employee wakes up energized and ready to move the needle forward.
When a company fosters and maintains a truly diverse and equitable work environment, it emerges better prepared to achieve its mission and pursue a path that benefits all stakeholders. HR can and must continue to serve as the nucleus of our efforts to promote DEI across organizations, modify and improve behaviors and encourage the changes that need to happen for our collective future.
Forbes Human Resources Council is an invitation-only organization for HR executives across all industries. Do I qualify?
