a Volume 4, No. 3, March 2013, ISSN 2226-1095 Gaining ground • DuPont CEO : standards are essential to business • ISO 22000 in the retail industry a Contents Comment Comment Elisabeth Stampfl-Blaha, ISO Vice-President (technical management) Dare the difference ! – Getting the best talent on board ........................................... 1 Dare the difference ! ISO Focus+ is published 10 times a year World Scene (single issues : July-August, Getting the best talent on board November-December). International events and international standardization ............................................ 2 It is available in English and French. Guest Interview www.iso.org/isofocus+ Ellen Kullman, Chair of the Board & CEO, DuPont ................................................ 3 ISO Update : www.iso.org/isoupdate Considerable research demonstrates the benefits of gender diversity women, we bring a distinctive approach to The electronic edition (PDF file) of Special Report in terms of economic growth and sustainability, better governance, our interaction, perhaps due to our particular ISO Focus+ is accessible free of charge upbringing, and this diversity is one of our on the ISO Website www.iso.org/isofocus+ Inspirational women – Leading the way for change ................................................. 8 transparency and decision making. Yet women only make up 3 % greatest assets. An annual subscription to the paper edition In Ada’s footsteps – Decoding the non-gender gap .................................................. 10 to 4 % of CEOs and chairs in Europe and the USA. The problem is Difference challenges the way we perceive costs 38 Swiss francs. and do things. It lies at the heart of origi- An enriching experience – Why “ I still love my job ! ” ........................................... 15 not so much the low numbers of women in high positions, but the sluggish progress being made to improve the situation. Despite the nality, creativity, innovation and progress. Publisher “ Come and join us ! ” – Embarking on new adventures ........................................... 16 Why only stick to square, when round can ISO Central Secretariat Attention, ladies and gentlemen ! – Why it pays to participate in standards ........... 17 increasing rhetoric promoting gender equality, implementation is bring interesting opportunities ? Diversity (International Organization for lagging behind. in all senses is enriching, and organizations Event sustainability – A young woman’s vision ....................................................... 19 Standardization) have much to gain from it. 1, chemin de la Voie-Creuse Fight for consumer rights – The hard climb to ISO 26000 ...................................... 21 At ISO we understand this value. Our com- CH – 1211 Genève 20 The business of standardization can never transport can put them at risk of attack and munity brings together people from around Switzerland CEOs speak out – Why it pays to work in standards ! .............................................. 24 be more inclusive than the world around prevent them from working. Fortunately, Tel. : +41 22 749 01 11 us. If there are no female engineers, there some forward-thinking companies, perhaps the world, experts from all backgrounds, to Fax : +41 22 733 34 30 Centre-fold will be none in standardization ; if there recognizing women’s economic potential, work together and seek consensus. Great ideas for positive change have come out E-mail : isofocus+@iso.org Social responsibility – How to eliminate bias and promote gender equality ..... 22-23 are no female directors in middle manage- have been known to provide secure travel ment, there will be no female CEOs ; and for their female employees. of this inclusive environment, like the ISO 26000 standard on social responsibility. Manager : Roger Frost Planet ISO if there are no female CEOs, there will be Editor in Chief : Elizabeth Gasiorowski-Denis no women on supervisory boards. The world has some tough challenges News of the ISO system ............................................................................................ 28 Assistant Editor : Maria Lazarte I joined the standards business in 1988 Stereotypes and implicit ahead : climate change, sustainability, eco- Communication Officer : Sandrine Tranchard and have since been part of a number of biases keep women nomic growth. To address these, we need Artwork : Xela Damond, Pierre Granier CDC exciting developments in the field. Although out of top leadership the finest talent humanity has to offer. The and Alexane Rosa Product safety – Opportunities and challenges of innovation .................................. 29 standardization was – and partly still is – “ a goal is not to put a woman or two in high Copy editor/Proofreader : Vivienne Rojas positions. man’s world ”, mainly because of its close positions to “ meet numbers ”, but to create Translation : Translation Services, Supporting stakeholder engagement ......................................................................... 29 link to technical, scientific and mathematical effective leadership by getting the best tal- ISO Central Secretariat Training for ISO chairs and convenors ..................................................................... 30 subjects traditionally dominated by men, I In addition to the most serious challenges ent on board – and women, as this issue of must pay tribute to all the male colleagues faced by women in many countries, such as ISO Focus+ shows, are part of the best. Subscription enquiries : Sonia Rosas Friot Management Solutions ISO Central Secretariat I have worked with during this time. In low access to education and health, forced Never tire of saving energy ! – ISO 50001 is a win-win for Bridgestone ................ 31 Tel. : +41 22 749 03 36 professional relations, I never felt I was marriages, violence, etc., stereotypes and Fax : +41 22 749 09 47 treated differently because I was a woman. implicit biases have been identified as Standards in Action E-mail : [email protected] And let’s face it, women do not want to one of the barriers keeping them out of Datuk Aishah Ahmad – Malaysian Automotive Association ................................... 36 take on leadership posts with a footnote next top leadership positions. These are often to their names. As all the women featured in so ingrained in our cultures that we don’t © ISO, 2013. All rights reserved. ISO 22000 in the retail industry – A matter of integration ....................................... 40 this issue confirm, our goal is simply to do even realize they are there. The European The contents of ISO Focus+ are copyrighted our jobs to the best of our ability. That said, Commission published a teaser video last and may not, whether in whole or in part, 360° over the years I have met several female year for a campaign aiming to attract more be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or Your voice matters – Engaging consumers in standards .......................................... 42 transmitted in any form or by any means, elec- colleagues who have impressed me with women into science. Despite its good inten- tronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, their joined-up thinking, commitment and tions, the video was heavily criticized as it New Releases without written permission of the Editor. pragmatism, often going the extra mile to was laden with images of fashion, glamour Out of harm’s way – New brochure reveals how ISO standards keep you safe ....... 44 get their jobs done. and lipstick, and very little science ! The articles in ISO Focus+ express the views More often than not, however, women As Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect Coming Up 45 doubt their ability to cope with the demands the views of ISO or of any of its members. of the International Monetary Fund, said at of the job. And it is no surprise, as many the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of us are told from an early age what we in Davos earlier this year, while women and ISSN 2226-1095 “ can ” and “ cannot ” do. Women are taught Printed in Switzerland men should strive to free themselves from to fear a dangerous world. And sadly, the stereotypes, we should accept and embrace world can be more dangerous for women. our differences. Drew Gilpin Faust, Presi- Cover photo : Huw Evans Agency Elisabeth Stampfl-Blaha In some places, simply taking public dent of Harvard University, agreed that, as ISO Vice-President (technical management). ISO Focus+ March 2013 © ISO Focus+, www.iso.org/isofocus+ 1 a World Scene Guest Interview The observance of World High marks for learning services Water Day is a United Nations initiative. This year, it high- IT Training Academy, an information lights the importance of water technology training centre based in Geneva, Ellen Kullman cooperation, a cross-cutting Switzerland, uses International Standard issue that demands attention ISO 29990 to offer a higher level of service at all levels and across sec- to its clients. Chair of the Board & CEO, DuPont tors. World Water Day 2013 The company was awarded the ISO 29990 aims to raise awareness of certification in February 2013. Valérie Ravinet, both the potential for increased IT Training Academy’s Managing Director, cooperation and the challenges comments, “ With over 300 courses and 400 Ellen Kullman, has been Chair facing water management in clients, it was important to us that our clients of the Board and Chief Execu- the context of greater demand understood that our main priority is guarantee-