Diversity powers performance at Catalyst Energy : Company college imparts engineering skills to women

Purpose – This paper aims to observe how the Catalyst Energy college of engineering for women has played a significant role in helping to train women in fields such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and power production and so overcome a shortage of qualified women in these fields. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines what gave rise to the diversity initiative at Catalyst Energy’s Ahmedabad plant, India, and the success that it has achieved. Findings – This paper reveals that, of the first batch of 30 students, in 1995, eight made it to Catalyst Energy. The number has grown every year since then. Practical implications – It explains that Catalyst is working towards having women make up half its workforce, as it moves away from being dominated by Gujarati males. Social implications – It touches on some of the reasons that women are under-represented in Indian companies. Originality/value – It reveals that globalization is a key pressure in encouraging Catalyst to make its workforce more diverse.