Diversity In Action

Praxair needs U.S. techies to work with global counterparts

“We’re in energy, oil, gas, chemicals and in emerging markets too,” the HR VP explains. “We’re growing because we’re good at helping other companies.”

Praxair has always needed engineers and IT pros and now that need is growing, says HR VP Sally Savoia.

In addition to the impending retirements of the Baby Boomers, “We’ve had very good success in our business and a lot of growth globally.”

Engineers hired in the U.S.
are working closely with other Praxair techies around the world, using virtual design
to implement projects. But Savoia notes that the company does its best to make opportunities for long-distance colleagues to work together face-to-face.

“Once you’ve worked side-by-side with someone, it becomes a lot easier to have a long-distance work relationship,” she says.

Praxair supplies atmospheric, process and specialty gases, high-performance coatings and related services and technologies to customer companies around the world. It also designs, engineers and constructs cryogenic and non-cryogenic supply systems. There’s been an increase in demand for these products in recent years.

“We’re in oil and gas and chemicals, which have obviously had a resurgence,” Savoia explains. “We’re also in emerging markets, like photovoltaics for solar panels.

“The neat thing about our products is that most of our projects result in
an efficiency or a productivity gain for the customer. Or, there may be
a focus on sustainability or emissions and our products are the ones that
help provide that. We’re growing because we’re good at helping other companies.”

Diversity and cultural sensitivity are important issues for Praxair’s international organization. A diversity steering committee was founded in 2003 and is now involved in each of the company’s business units.

Diversity teams are made up of a cross-section of employees who serve for a year and a half at most. “We don’t want to make it a long-term assignment because the more people you rotate through, the more awareness you build,” says Savoia.

Some of the teams have done interesting work, focused on the community aspects of diversity, for example. This raises awareness of Praxair in the community and makes it a more attractive employer.

Praxair is also forming affinity groups. “We are going to have our second African American forum with speakers from outside talking about career paths,” Savoia says. “The African American affinity group has started to get active in educating the community about careers.”

The company has also developed a college recruiting program which includes several
HBCUs. It’s geared toward students, including engineering majors, who hope to move into management.

“We’re recognizing that there are young people out there studying engineering who may not end up practicing engineering. It’s beneficial to have some people with strong technical backgrounds working in other areas of the company,” Savoia says.

D/C