She is the industry’s most powerful woman – Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet

– It is surprising, honor and great fun, says Azita Shariati about the award.

Sodexo CEO has been appointed for the industry’s most powerful woman in 2015 by the magazine Business Week. With 8000 employees in Sweden and a turnover of 3.5 billion Sodexo is one of the largest service company, which supplies services such as meals, cleaning, property services and conference facilities.

Azita Shariati became CEO of Sodexo Sweden almost exactly a year ago. But she is far from new to the company. She started in 1998 and has held positions as Sales Director, Business Area Manager, Sweden president and vice president.

– I was fortunate enough to end up on a company that saw the competence of me.

Parent Sodexo , which was founded in Marseille, France in 1966, is a giant in the service market. With 420,000 employees in over 80 countries, the company is one of the world’s largest employers. But Azita Shariati do not think it is Sodexo’s influence that makes her appointment to the industry’s most powerful woman.

– Forces has changed its meaning. The operational power is still important, and I have in my role, but we have worked to influence others I think is the main reason that I get the price.

Azita Shariati is namely often out and lecture on the importance of equality and diversity in business. 2010 sat Swedish Sodexo, a goal that half of all senior positions in the company and the management team were held by women in 2015. When the management group consisted of 14 percent women.

– It felt like a tough and a bit cocky goal then. But now we have reached it. And over the years we have been profitable, developed by businesses and individuals, and attracted the best talent in the industry. It has only been benefits, says Azita Shariati.

To achieve the goal changed Sodexo’s policy for recruitment, and decided that there must be at least one candidate from the underrepresented sex. The company also began with leadership development and training and started a nätvärksgrupp to discuss the obstacles that needed to be removed in order to get more women at the top.

– Then we followed up every year, says Azita Shariati.

Today, Sodexo both sex , age, ethnic background, sexual orientation and disability in their goal to reach a diverse workplace. But according to Azita Shariati, it is not a matter of justice, but about finding the right skills.

– I do not fish in half the lake. I want to watch the entire base available, so that we attract the best talent for our business, retain them and through them create good business.

It sounds simple, but why have so many companies difficult to achieve equality and diversity?

– It is simple. But I think many do not have answers to why they should work with the issue. You do not see the benefits of a mixed group. We at Sodexo do not see what we can do for the individual, but what the individual can do for us. Then it becomes a lot easier.

Azita Shariati also believe that it is often about fear and prejudice about those who are different.

– You want to feel safe when recruiting, and then it is easy to turn to the nearest network.

But she believes that neither industry or society at large can afford to ignore the diversity and equality. If companies are to succeed in attracting the right labor in the international market you have to be an attractive employer.

– When must all feel welcome and be heard. For me it’s about creating an inclusive workplace that takes advantage of the skills that each individual has.