LinkageQ1-2023/Ascending into 2023 – Methanex Trinidad and Tobago’s Women’s Development Program | AMCHAM T&T

Ascending into 2023 –
Methanex Trinidad and Tobago’s Women’s Development Program

LINKAGE Q1 (2023) - Woman's Leadership: Embrace Equity

One team of women, inspiring, aspiring, and ascending together. That’s the objective of Methanex’s “Ascend” women’s development programme, which is led by Gina Gosine, Trinidad and Tobago’s Process Team Lead, and to date, the group has been doing just that.

The Ascend programme, which celebrated its first successful year of operation in September 2022, aligns with Methanex’s global diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategy and is based on an international development programme for women called “Springboard”, which was introduced to the site in 2020.

To successfully leverage the benefits of a diverse workforce, Methanex continues to recognise that an inclusive culture is crucial to attract and retain the best talent, enhance engagement, foster innovation, and ultimately strengthen its overall company performance. That is why D&I was identified as one of the company’s top focus areas and a critical enabler of its Vision 2030.

Methanex developed a D&I vision, guiding principles and strategic priorities along with a three-year roadmap to promote an inclusive culture where diversity is valued and everyone can contribute, develop and advance.

“Ascend is a great example of a successful D&I initiative which has grown organically in Trinidad to respond to a networking and support need of our female colleagues at the site,” says Priscilla Fuchslocher, Methanex’s Vice President of Marketing and Logistics who is based in Brussels. Priscilla was joined virtually by a panel of female leaders from across Methanex to share some insights into their individual journeys and field the many curious questions from all the participants, which ranged from work direction and career aspirations to recommended mental health habits and work-life balance. The panel included some of Methanex’s female leaders from around the globe including Canada, United States, and Europe.

In addition to facilitating conversations with Methanex’s inspiring women leaders, Ascend has offered quarterly interactive and engaging growth-focused sessions, addressing areas from self-awareness and speaking-up, to collaboration and productivity, helping women develop professionally and personally. The sessions included an array of voices from local energy leaders and other influential women from various industries across Trinidad and Tobago.

Reflecting on the last year, Gina noted: “The initiative provides an avenue for women to check in with one another, to learn from and grow with them, and to provide a space to be wholly themselves. I’m humbled to be a part of this network of amazing women. We come from so many different backgrounds yet find so much common ground and natural connection. This has helped us advance the quality of the work that we do, and we’re able to apply the tools learned to all other parts of our life—we are truly ‘Ascending’ together.”

Felisa Tracey, one of the Trinidad team members and Ascend participant, also recounted her journey thus far: “I’ve gained such valuable insight from being a part of this team, both from a professional and personal perspective. It’s been a relatively short time that we have participated but it’s been incredibly meaningful, especially to me and my career. I am currently transitioning from one role to another within Methanex and I have used quite a bit of my learning at Ascend to help me navigate the change. It’s truly helped me to keep focused on strengthening my capabilities and to curate my voice”.

Looking ahead, Ascend will continue to build on the foundation laid over the past year and continue to keep leaning on strong leaders to guide the way, including Sarah Boon, Methanex’s Vice President Corporate Sustainability. On her visit to Trinidad to participate in the 2023 T&T Energy Conference, Sarah made time to meet with the Ascend group and to have a lunch and learn session. She discussed the company’s sustainability journey and the group talked about D&I.

“I’m so impressed by the engagement from the Ascend participants, and I was honoured to participate in the global panel. It’s important for all of us to support activities that make our workplace more inclusive, and the conversations that are happening all over the company, including those at Ascend, are helping us to define what inclusion looks like at Methanex.”

Ascend’s success is the result of the commitment of everyone on the Trinidad and Tobago site, not only the commitment to provide the resources for the program’s operation but the time and space required for participation. This is a testament to the initiative’s importance to the organisation as it recognises that D&I is an ongoing journey which is continuously evolving.

Methanex remains committed to being intentional in their actions today, building accountability within all levels of the organisation and measuring progress regularly. The company stands firm in its belief that celebrating and embracing diversity and ensuring all its team members are valued and feel a sense of belonging is essential to Methanex’s long-term success.

LINKAGE Q1 (2023) - Woman's Leadership: Embrace Equity

One team of women, inspiring, aspiring, and ascending together. That’s the objective of Methanex’s “Ascend” women’s development programme, which is led by Gina Gosine, Trinidad and Tobago’s Process Team Lead, and to date, the group has been doing just that.

The Ascend programme, which celebrated its first successful year of operation in September 2022, aligns with Methanex’s global diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategy and is based on an international development programme for women called “Springboard”, which was introduced to the site in 2020.

To successfully leverage the benefits of a diverse workforce, Methanex continues to recognise that an inclusive culture is crucial to attract and retain the best talent, enhance engagement, foster innovation, and ultimately strengthen its overall company performance. That is why D&I was identified as one of the company’s top focus areas and a critical enabler of its Vision 2030.

Methanex developed a D&I vision, guiding principles and strategic priorities along with a three-year roadmap to promote an inclusive culture where diversity is valued and everyone can contribute, develop and advance.

“Ascend is a great example of a successful D&I initiative which has grown organically in Trinidad to respond to a networking and support need of our female colleagues at the site,” says Priscilla Fuchslocher, Methanex’s Vice President of Marketing and Logistics who is based in Brussels. Priscilla was joined virtually by a panel of female leaders from across Methanex to share some insights into their individual journeys and field the many curious questions from all the participants, which ranged from work direction and career aspirations to recommended mental health habits and work-life balance. The panel included some of Methanex’s female leaders from around the globe including Canada, United States, and Europe.

In addition to facilitating conversations with Methanex’s inspiring women leaders, Ascend has offered quarterly interactive and engaging growth-focused sessions, addressing areas from self-awareness and speaking-up, to collaboration and productivity, helping women develop professionally and personally. The sessions included an array of voices from local energy leaders and other influential women from various industries across Trinidad and Tobago.

Reflecting on the last year, Gina noted: “The initiative provides an avenue for women to check in with one another, to learn from and grow with them, and to provide a space to be wholly themselves. I’m humbled to be a part of this network of amazing women. We come from so many different backgrounds yet find so much common ground and natural connection. This has helped us advance the quality of the work that we do, and we’re able to apply the tools learned to all other parts of our life—we are truly ‘Ascending’ together.”

Felisa Tracey, one of the Trinidad team members and Ascend participant, also recounted her journey thus far: “I’ve gained such valuable insight from being a part of this team, both from a professional and personal perspective. It’s been a relatively short time that we have participated but it’s been incredibly meaningful, especially to me and my career. I am currently transitioning from one role to another within Methanex and I have used quite a bit of my learning at Ascend to help me navigate the change. It’s truly helped me to keep focused on strengthening my capabilities and to curate my voice”.

Looking ahead, Ascend will continue to build on the foundation laid over the past year and continue to keep leaning on strong leaders to guide the way, including Sarah Boon, Methanex’s Vice President Corporate Sustainability. On her visit to Trinidad to participate in the 2023 T&T Energy Conference, Sarah made time to meet with the Ascend group and to have a lunch and learn session. She discussed the company’s sustainability journey and the group talked about D&I.

“I’m so impressed by the engagement from the Ascend participants, and I was honoured to participate in the global panel. It’s important for all of us to support activities that make our workplace more inclusive, and the conversations that are happening all over the company, including those at Ascend, are helping us to define what inclusion looks like at Methanex.”

Ascend’s success is the result of the commitment of everyone on the Trinidad and Tobago site, not only the commitment to provide the resources for the program’s operation but the time and space required for participation. This is a testament to the initiative’s importance to the organisation as it recognises that D&I is an ongoing journey which is continuously evolving.

Methanex remains committed to being intentional in their actions today, building accountability within all levels of the organisation and measuring progress regularly. The company stands firm in its belief that celebrating and embracing diversity and ensuring all its team members are valued and feel a sense of belonging is essential to Methanex’s long-term success.