Engendering Industries Partner Profile

Grupo ISA operates across six countries, has over 50 affiliates and subsidiaries, and employs over 4,000 people. Engendering Industries will support two of Grupo ISA’s subsidiary companies: ISA Intercolombia and Internexa.

When women serve as leaders and employees, businesses benefit and company performance improves. USAID’s Engendering Industries program works to increase women’s participation in male dominated sectors globally.  In 2021, Engendering Industries partnered with Grupo ISA—a Colombian power, infrastructure, telecommunications, and ICT company—to design workplace initiatives that will expand job opportunities for women and enhance company performance.  Grupo ISA operates across six countries, has over 50 affiliates and subsidiaries, and employs over 4,000 people.

Engendering Industries will support two of Grupo ISA’s subsidiary companies: ISA Intercolombia and Internexa. ISA Intercolombia is the largest energy transmission company in Latin America and employs 629 people, of which 28 percent are women. Internexa is an information and communication technologies (ICT) subsidiary that employs 200 people, of which 30 percent are women. Recognizing that diverse teams build better businesses, Grupo ISA is partnering with USAID to increase gender equality across the company and encourage more women to enter Colombia’s energy and ICT sectors. 

Gender Equality in Action at Grupo ISA

Engendering Industries uses a globally-recognized evidence-based methodology to support women’s participation in Colombia’s energy and ICT sectors. The program supports Grupo ISA to increase opportunities for women by introducing gender equality initiatives at each phase of the employee lifecycle—from reducing gender bias at the hiring stage, to creating strategies that will help retain female talent. Engendering Industries is supporting Grupo ISA towards their goal of advancing gender equality within the organization.

A dedicated change management coach supports the utility and works directly with four staff to become agents of change within Grupo ISA. A baseline assessment is conducted to identify gaps and opportunities for improving gender equality across the company. The findings are used to develop a strategic action plan that will facilitate Grupo ISA’s gender equality goals. This is supplemented by the program’s partnership with the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business, which delivers the Gender Equity Executive Leadership Program (GEELP) to four utility employees. The GEELP is a best-in-class 12-month executive course that empowers decisionmakers to integrate gender equality initiatives into their corporate structure.

Engendering Industries will also work to support and accelerate existing gender equality initiatives underway at Grupo ISA, including:

• Leveraging its Diversity and Inclusion Program, Otras Miradas, which seeks to increase gender equality in both the workplace and the home in addition to other diversity and inclusion goals.
• Strengthening its robust internship program to ensure young women are introduced to potential career paths at the companies and build a future talent pipeline.
• Using its wealth of sex-disaggregated data to identify inequalities and areas for improving gender equality.