The space industry is growing rapidly and the importance of Space in our daily lives has never been greater. We need all kinds of competences to meet this growth. At SSC we welcome people from all different backgrounds and genders because we know that a diverse workplace makes us successful in this important industry.

Today is International Women’s Day. This year’s theme is “Invest in women: Accelerate Progress”. For us, this means getting more women to choose technical professions and work in the space industry. Women play a critical role in science and technology communities. Their participation should be strengthened.

My own education is in engineering, and I know that a multicultural and equal workplace creates the best results. Diversity expands the pool of talented engineers, bringing in fresh perspectives and creativity. The development is heading in the right direction in many areas. As an example, in Sweden we see an increasing number of women applying to STEM educations (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Today, the proportion of women in the company is 28 percent, and we strive to reach 50/50. We still have a long way to go, but we are determined and aware that diversity and equality are crucial in our journey to success. To leverage diversity, we need to work relentlessly to build an inclusive culture – making sure that we all behave according to our company values every day.

Today, I think a bit extra of all our fantastic female colleagues within our industry and at SSC.

Charlotta Sund, CEO