IP Week 2021
Q&A
Supporting a kingdom of change
An essential component of OE is the innovation process. All our organisations are assessed on their performance in this area. We provide training in how to innovate and reward those who come up with innovations that we can implement. What’s even more exciting is that for most of our history we Workplace diversity is key to success, says Reem Abdullah could only hire males. Which meant that we could only access Al-Ghanim, Head of HR & Support Services in Chemicals 50% of the available talent. But Business, Saudi Aramco, who will be speaking at IP Week 2021.* despite that limitation, we were able to create one of the world’s most valuable companies. Now we can hire women for the same jobs What is Saudi Aramco doing to as men. Just imagine what we will encourage workplace diversity and achieve now that we can access gender balance? Saudi Aramco 100% of the available talent! has focused on increasing As for HR, the greatest changes gender balance in the workforce, are taking place not only in by supporting STEM (science, our workforce, but in the tools technology, engineering and being made available thanks to mathematics) education, offering IR4.0 (also known at the fourth young women sponsorship industrial revolution, or Industry opportunities, and developing 4.0 – see p24). One of our latest the female pipeline after joining initiatives is the establishment the workplace. We are committed of the HR Intelligent Solutions to making the company the best Center (HRISC). HRISC acts as a place to work for diverse talent of one-stop-shop for all workforceany gender. related measures, providing One example is the ‘College real-time workforce insights with Degree Programme for Nonscenario planning, benchmarking Employees’. This initiative is and multiple data views from one of Saudi Aramco’s primary corporate to division level. It sources for entry-level Saudi provides a holistic overview of the professionals. It targets high organisation, supporting evidenceperforming high-school students, based decision-making processes and supports them as they earn for leadership. Because of IR4.0, line through Johns Hopkins Reem Abdullah Al-Ghanim, degrees in engineering disciplines Head of HR & Support HR is evolving from a service Aramco Healthcare. and geosciences. This programme Services, Saudi Aramco provider to a crucial business We have also relied more has enabled more women to join Photo: Saudi Aramco heavily on virtual ways of working, driver. HRISC will help Saudi the different technical fields that Aramco identify gaps between its communicating, learning and Saudi Aramco requires, such as business strategies and available collaboration across the company, geophysicists, and petroleum and HR resources, and will enable and continued the development chemical engineers. collective efforts to bridge these and advancement of our diverse Another example is the range gaps, to assure further growth and talent. of leadership and mentoring success. programmes to develop skills In terms of ESG, we have an What are you doing in terms of and fast-track advancement. Our established track record. Saudi innovation and human resources ‘Women in Business Programme’, Aramco has always been a leader (HR)? Are any initiatives related to for example, supports women in environmental protection, the energy transition and need to who are beginning their careers, and we have established satellite build new skills in terms of ESG, ie while our ‘Women in Leadership research centres around the environmental and sustainability Programme’ offers mentorship globe that are working on such goals? Innovation has been a part and development opportunities to concepts as crude-to-chemicals, of our corporate culture from the high-performing female leaders in very beginning. From the start, the carbon capture, and establishment the company. of a circular economy that primary considerations were that ensures recycling of plastic. We an innovation had to be practical, How has the pandemic impacted also offer courses to employees effective, economic and safe. Saudi Aramco’s operations? Have on all of these topics, including In recent years operational there been any significant changes sustainability. excellence (OE) has become a in terms of mental health and Our corporate citizenship corporate mandate. OE can be wellbeing? The focus on mental initiatives include supporting defined as Saudi Aramco’s ability health and wellbeing is the the establishment of businesses to achieve and sustain excellent responsibility of every colleague that provide job opportunities for performance in reliability and in Saudi Aramco. From the start women, persons with disability, efficiency in a cost-effective of the pandemic, the company and disadvantaged communities in manner, while adhering to the has offered different resources highest standards of health, safety the Kingdom and throughout the for employee support, including a world. and environmental protection. dedicated site and mental health 16 Petroleum Review | December 2020/January 2021
