MetLife’s Third Annual Triangle Tech X Conference Highlights Issues for Women in STEM in Asia and Beyond

Rhea-AI Summary

MetLife hosted its third annual Women in Tech conference, Triangle Tech X, from October 26-27, 2021, addressing strategies to support women in STEM careers. Featuring discussions with executives from MetLife and prominent organizations, the conference emphasized actionable insights for employers to sustain female talent in the workforce. Key speakers noted the critical role of employer-provided benefits in retaining women in STEM, particularly in the post-pandemic landscape. MetLife's commitment to empowering women through flexible work arrangements was also highlighted, showcasing its efforts to foster diversity and inclusion.

Positive

• Engagement with industry leaders to address women's roles in STEM.
• Emphasis on employer-offered benefits for retaining women in technical fields.

Negative

• Recruiting and retaining talent in China has become more challenging post-COVID.

Bringing Together Top Business Leaders to Share Insights and Actions to Advance Women and Drive Innovation

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MetLife, one of the world’s leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management, hosted the third annual Women in Tech conference, MetLife Triangle Tech X, virtually from October 26-27, 2021. Titled “Women and STEM – Harnessing the Great Reevaluation”, the two-day conference involved discussions with MetLife board members and executives and thought leaders from organizations such as Cisco, Dell, Microsoft, Red Hat, Thrive Global, Black Girls CODE and more. The conference addressed both near- and long-term solutions for employers to develop, support, and sustain the female workforce, and provide women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with key learnings and actionable insights for career empowerment.

Siyi Sun, senior vice president & general manager of MetLife China and Elena Butarova, senior vice president and head of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nepal & Vietnam, MetLife spoke at one of the panel discussions alongside Nuria Garcia, regional president of EMEA, MetLife and Susan Podlogar, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, MetLife as moderator. The discussion examined some of the barriers facing women in Asia and other parts of the world, as they reevaluate their careers in the wake of the pandemic and explored real stories of supporting and encouraging women trying to navigate a career in STEM.

Drawing insights from the recently launched MetLife 2021 Women in STEM Study, the panel reemphasized that employer-offered benefits and programs play a critical role in ensuring that women succeed and feel supported, particularly related to the retention of women in STEM fields.

Sun said that COVID-19 has made recruiting talent more difficult in China and retaining them even more challenging. She shared policies and success stories of working mothers, saying that flexible work arrangements, including working hours and working from home, as well as leadership and peer support at MetLife enable women to balance between family and career. Sun added that a nourishing environment is key to growth and MetLife’s distinct culture that promotes self-development and encouragement is the reason behind her success of growing from an actuary to now the General Manager of China.

Butarova added that understanding the cultural barriers of female employees and encouraging a career that allows both vertical but horizontal growth also contribute to MetLife’s high retention rate. She said she believes employers should ensure that women are inspired and empowered to grow their career through opportunities that help to forge a path forward.

To watch the full panel discussion, please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UAEHxQaVMw

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit: www.metlife.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211110006558/en/

Yvette Marmur - MetLife Asia Communications

M: +61 481 454 449

E: ymarmur@metlife.com

Source: MetLife, Inc.

FAQ

What was the purpose of MetLife's Triangle Tech X conference in October 2021?

The conference aimed to discuss strategies and solutions for supporting women in STEM careers.

Who participated in the MetLife Triangle Tech X conference?

Executives from MetLife and leaders from organizations like Cisco, Dell, and Microsoft participated.

What key issues were discussed during the MetLife Triangle Tech X conference?

The conference discussed barriers women face in STEM and solutions for career empowerment.

How has COVID-19 affected talent recruitment at MetLife in China?

COVID-19 has made recruiting talent more difficult and retention increasingly challenging.

What insights did MetLife executives share regarding women in STEM careers?

They highlighted the importance of flexible work arrangements and supportive company culture.