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SCMP Reporter

Best company  for women -  FedEx

FEDEX BUCKS THE trend in the traditionally male dominated logistics industry. Women head five of the company's six key business divisions at its Asia-Pacific hub at Guangzhou's Baiyun Airport. They also make up  nearly half the company's professional staff.

Such a significant show of female force has helped FedEx clinch the Best Company for Women Award.

The strategically important HK$150million hub in Baiyun, said to be the region's largest air cargo terminal at 80,000 square metres, has women heading the divisions of project sponsor, project lead, human resources, flight network and information technology.

Dennice Wilson, vice-president and officer, planning, engineering and support, Asia-Pacific, worked her way up the FedEx corporate ladder as a courier. Most of her colleagues at the time were men due to the nature of the job.

She has had three promotions in 20 years - to senior station manager, then to senior manager Malaysia and vice-president supply chain solutions, to her present position, which puts her in charge of 850 employees across Asia-Pacific.

'I have stayed with FedEx because of our people-focused, People-Service-Profit [PSP] philosophy. Employees are valued for the skills, abilities and competence that they bring to the business,' she said.

Linda Brigance, vice-president of information technology and chief information officer, Asia-Pacific, is another example of women power at FedEx. She rose through the ranks from the entry level to head of operations in Brussels and later in Asia, before assuming her present position in 1997 overseeing a team of 380 people in Asia-Pacific.

'I was born and raised in Memphis in the United States, home to the worldwide headquarters of FedEx. The company invests a lot in the city and is well known for taking care of its employees. I knew I wanted to work for FedEx and I've certainly never regretted the move,' she said.

'Throughout my 23 years at FedEx I have seen every employee, including women, provided with equal opportunities to get promoted from within as part of our PSP philosophy. The great mentoring I've received from my managers has enabled me to continue to grow professionally and personally.'

FedEx's Singapore-based managing director, planning, engineering and support, Poh Yian Koh, was also drawn to FedEx by the trust it placed in its employees.

'We face a lot of challenges in our work. But through drawing on each other's strengths and experiences, and empowering each team member to offer ideas and solutions to problems, we are able to break new ground and introduce innovations for the business and our customers,'

she said.

'I'm leading a team of 100 to build the largest air cargo hub in Asia-Pacific. Team members acknowledge each other's uniqueness and the special skills they bring to the team. I may not have the extensive experience of many colleagues who have built hubs before, but my skills lie in project management and a wealth of experience from working for several years in China.

'Taking on this role seemed like a daunting task at first, but with FedEx's trust I am enthusiastic as ever to forge ahead and bring my team and FedEx to success,' Ms Koh said.

About 91 per cent of the Fedex's managers started with the company in non-management positions. A spokeswoman said: 'Our career progression policies lay the groundwork for promotion from within and laterally into new areas.

'FedEx offers the same opportunities to men and women. We hire the best; we retain the best; we promote the best. We actively retain women by offering opportunities to grow and advance, and a work culture where they can prosper in their careers and lives,' she said.

Women make up 48 per cent of FedEx professionals. Last year, 203 women were in management - from manager to vice-president level - up from 166 in 2003.

In Asia-Pacific, where men are still generally more dominant in the workforce, FedEx's team of managing directors is 40 per cent women.

Chae Eun-mi, managing director, human resources, North Pacific (South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Guam), is the first woman manager in FedEx Korea and Japan and the first woman manager in Korea's entire airline industry.

Ms Chae joined in 1991 as a manager for Korea and Taiwan and was promoted in 2000 to senior manager of station operations in charge of men couriers, again an industry first. When she was promoted to her present position in 2004, she made headlines again as the youngest female Korean director in the industry.

FedEx is committed to developing and training local talent to become industry experts. Training platforms include management  programmes, e-learning tools and tuition reimbursement.

A number of women professionals at FedEx have management and professional qualifications that are highly sought after in other fields.

Siow Choon-neo, managing director, human resources, has a PhD in psychology, while Karen Reddington, managing director, has a PhD in operations research.

'FedEx ensures a competitive and equitable pay and reward system that attracts high-calibre performers and motivates performance through effective total cash compensation,' the spokeswoman said.

Its Guaranteed Fair Treatment code provides employees the opportunity to be vocal and ensures fair evaluation. It can be used by employees to address allegations of discriminatory employment practices based on gender or race.

To ensure that employees have satisfying business and private lives, FedEx has a 'Job Change Application', which allows moving up as well as moving down the corporate ladder to suit personal priorities. Apart from maternity leave, it also offers paternity leave.

Different awards are handed out every year to recognise staff contributions. Last year, 35 per cent of its Asia-Pacific Excellence Awards winners were women.

FedEx has won recognition as a company of choice for women. It has been ranked by Fortune magazine as one of 'The 100 Best Companies to Work For' for nine consecutive years.

In Hong Kong, FedEx was presented with one of the 19 'Good People Management Awards' from the Hong Kong Labour Department in 2004.

judge's comment

'There was a strong consensus among the judges to pick FedEx. I've been following that company since studying it in my own MBA marketing study in 1983 and got to know the company personally. The way it operates is through a strong, positive and open culture. It is a male dominant industry but none of the engineers there are domineering. One number sticks out in this company. The number of professionals - half women and half men. That's very dramatic. Very few companies can make that statement. Equal opportunities have been clearly achieved. The parity has been achieved. The firm could also win a Men of Influence Award. It shows that if you want to capitalise on talent, use the full deck.'

Professor Steve DeKrey



Logistics firm delivers fair  work policies