Girls in STEMM: Henkel Recap
To kick off Women’s History Month, Women Empowerment Council (WEC) member, Henkel hosted Girls in STEMM students in Shanghai on March 2nd.
Before the tour of Henkel’s Shanghai Innovation Center, students lunched with Rajat Agarwal, President of Henkel Greater China & Global Head of Lifestyle Adhesives, and Jane Wong Pinter, Head of HR, Greater China. Both Rajat and Jane represent Henkel on the WEC and are strong advocates for gender equity in the workplace. As someone with a PhD in Polymer Science and strong STEMM background, Rajat’s encouragement to the girls was an inspiring example of male allyship.
After lunch, students not only learned the history of Henkel and its innovative spirit, but also had the chance to tour three different labs where they were able to make connections between concepts they are learning about in their classes and the work STEMM professionals are carrying out at Henkel.
The first visit to the thermal lab gave students a better understanding of what the Research & Development process is like for the Henkel team. At the Analytical Lab, students learned how products are assessed and improved if any issues occur. At the final lab, students participated in hands-on activities and games that allowed them to better understand Henkel’s products. Throughout the visit, Henkel’s scientists also shared about their day-to-day life and painted a better picture of what a STEMM career looks like.
To wrap up the day, Jane Wong Pinter hosted a Q&A session with the girls while they enjoyed afternoon tea. Jane and other members of the Henkel team shared insights into their own career development and tips for the girls as well as information about the DEI initiatives at Henkel.
Special thanks to all the volunteers at Henkel! The Henkel team’s dedication to building a healthy pipeline of women in STEMM is truly inspiring and we hope other companies can learn from them. Next up, students from students from Concordia International School Shanghai and Yew Chung International School Pudong & Puxi will visit Coca-cola, Dell, and Merck.
About Henkel
Henkel operates globally with a well-balanced and diversified portfolio. The company holds leading positions with its three business units in both industrial and consumer businesses thanks to strong brands, innovations and technologies. Henkel Adhesive Technologies is the global leader in the adhesives market – across all industry segments worldwide. In its Laundry & Home Care and Beauty Care businesses, Henkel holds leading positions in many markets and categories around the world. Founded in 1876, Henkel looks back on more than 140 years of success. In 2021, Henkel reported sales of more than 20 billion euros and an adjusted operating profit of about 2.7 billion euros. The company employs more than 52,000 people globally – a passionate and highly diverse team, united by a strong company culture, a common purpose, and shared values. As a recognized leader in sustainability, Henkel holds top positions in many international indices and rankings. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX. For more information, please visit www.henkel.com.
To learn more about the Girls in STEMM program and how your school or company can get involved, click "Read More" below or reach out to us at info@womenempowermentcouncil.com.
The Women Empowerment Council (WEC) is an engaged network of leaders and decision-makers that aims to advance gender equality in businesses in China and beyond.