PPDS, the exclusive global provider of Philips Professional Displays, says it is a firm industry advocate for promoting equality and gender diversity in the workplace. With that philosophy in mind, the company continues to see positive trends in the number of females pursuing a career in the AV industry, with the number of female employees operating in some of its biggest global sales regions now outnumbering those of males.

Since its inception, PPDS has adopted and acted on a strong global business philosophy that every employee will be treated equally in employment and occupation regardless of personal background, race, gender, nationality, age, sexual preference, or religious belief.

Recent official figures from ISE 2024, have shown a marginal increase in female attendees but PPDS believes more can and should be done. ISE 2024 recorded attendance numbers of 73,891; figures show 81.5% of those attendees were male, with 16.6% female, and 1.9% non-binary or preferring not to say. By comparison, at ISE 2023, there were 58,107 attendees, which consisted of 82.6% male attendees and 15% female females.

For International Women’s Day 2024 (March 8)—a day to celebrate the achievements of females and to raise awareness of discrimination, driving gender parity since 1911—PPDS team members have come together to share their views and experiences on how PPDS is embracing diversity in its global teams, and the positive impact being achieved.

“Having joined PPDS reasonably recently, it is wonderful to witness our teams from around the globe come together,” said Nadia Riahi, sales manager Philips Digital Signage, DACH. “Whether at our annual kick off, or at events like ISE, everyone is included equally—no matter where they come from, what their position is, or who they are. This is a great enabler for all.”

“Working in the AV industry for nearly two decades, it has been a pleasure to see real positive changes and more inclusivity all around, added Ellie East, key accounts manager, UK, PPDS. “There is still a long way to go, of course, but seeing more women thriving in tech—and greater diversity in general—will be great inspiration for future generations entering the sector. I’m glad to be a part of it, here at PPDS.”

“From the perspective of a global organisation, diversity in the workforce is happening quite naturally,” concluded Vicky Fox, head of global communications, PPDS. “Fundamentally, it’s about bringing in the best people for the job. Their gender or how they choose to identify has no bearing on this process. We as a business work hard to ensure we attract the right candidates and offer the best possible career opportunities and, in a positive shift, increasingly we’re seeing more women applying to join our teams, which is great.

The company’s UK sales managers now have a 60/40 split in favor of women—with similar ratios in Germany and France—and its global marketing operation, for example, is 76% women.