Elke Segers is the SVP of Network and International Relations for Landmark Global of bpostgroup. Her current focus is on Europe and Asia, but before that she was one of the pioneers who went to the US for bpostgroup. At the same time, she is committed to gender equality with XandY and helps female managers to find their feet.

Elke, you are a living example of someone who has received and used opportunities within the bpostgroup.

Elke Segers: "Let me tell you a bit about my story. In 2012 I started in the finance division of several business units in Belgium. After the acquisition of Landmark Global in the US, I was asked to participate in the growth of our international division, and the CFO asked me to become responsible for the financial and HR services of our international entities. So I moved to the US with my family for the period 2016-2020."

 

"As we wanted to stay in the US, I took a new career direction and became a Transport and Network Manager at Landmark Global US. I am still very happy with this choice! I came back in 2020 and am now doing a similar job, but this time for CrossBorder Europe and Asia."

Your story did not go unnoticed. Were you aware that you could also have an impact on others?

Elke: "Not really. I've had some incredible opportunities myself, so personally I didn't really see a problem. Maybe I was just lucky? Because little by little I heard that interesting and well-paid jobs for women are not always as accessible if they have children or work part-time, or that they face more discrimination than I thought."

"We have put 'women' on the 'diversity' map and created two working groups. One works mainly on sexism and a number of concrete challenges in the workplace, the other has been renamed XandY. We focus mainly on management profiles and executives and want to help these women network better. But we also want to be an example, to inspire them and help them develop."

Your first live event took place on Tuesday 3 May in Bozar. What did you get out of it?

Elke: "Yes, because of the coronavirus, it was postponed three times, but it was a hit: we had 200 places and they were sold out in three days. So it affects more people than you think. When it comes to women, for example, there is still often the perception that: ha, she works part-time, she wants a quiet job and is content with her current position! Or in a bpost sorting centre, for example, we find that women team leaders are not always accepted as easily. These are all topics that our speakers also addressed."

 

"Audrey Hanard, our board chair, is under 40 years old and has taken over from a colleague who is over 70 years old. She is a super inspiring role model! She stressed how important inclusion is for a company that wants to grow. And insisted that we need to discuss things that may be considered hurtful to others. Sonja Willems, independent director at bpost, also spoke from her own experience: she had to learn how important it is to keep empathy and engage in networking. Finally, our CEO Dirk Tirez was very frank and did not hesitate to expose his personal life."

In conclusion, any final advice from someone with hands-on experience?

Elke: " Thanks to this initiative, we are clearly showing that we are a company that accepts everyone and wants everyone to feel good. And with our current Group Executive Committee and our supervisory minister Petra De Sutter, we are on the right track. Our group is also a very diverse team of colleagues who are enthusiastically committed to XandY. So we are making a lot of things possible, but ultimately it is up to each of us to do everything we can to make a difference."