Collaboration and diversity are not just buzzwords in the ever-evolving landscape of defence technology – they are essential to our success. In this article, I’m thrilled to share updates and insightful personal perspectives on inclusivity from women within Fujitsu and defence.

The Women in Defence Charter: A Commitment to Diversity

Launched in 2019, the Women in Defence Charter aims to improve gender balance in (both public and private) defence enterprises. As a proud signatory, Fujitsu is dedicated to achieving 30% female representation by 2030.

Women make up around 25% of the sector – a 1% rise from 2023. But we see real innovation-driving impact with programmes like Co-creating which harness the power of collaboration to deliver unique digital transformations for our customers.

Voices of Fujitsu: Collaboration and Inclusivity in Defence

So what does inclusivity look like in practice? Fujitsu’s Mira Band, Senior Application Architect, Anna Stone, Senior Domain Architect, and Neil Dove, Vice President and Women’s Business Network Executive Sponsor, shared their perspectives and key learnings in our recent podcast discussion.

• The power in collaboration: Mira Band is a Women in Defence Awards nominee in the Inspirational Leader category. Her mentorship of junior talent, especially women, has made an impressive impact. Mira notes how a chance meeting at a Defence Women’s Network event led to a fruitful mentoring relationship. She attributes enhanced delivery in her role to this connection, as well as to the importance of building connections and stepping out of our comfort zones.

• Championing knowledge-sharing: Anna Stone joined Fujitsu after serving in the Royal Air Force, transitioning seamlessly into our similarly cohesive environment. Anna also values expanded networks, knowledge-sharing and visible industry role models. With the opportunities and talented experts we have at Fujitsu, we achieve a dynamic mix of ideation and concept development in our projects. Her advice to women in, or considering, technical fields is to stay curious, ask questions, and be bold.

• Inclusive leadership: Neil Dove echoes the importance of diverse teams in better decision-making and driving innovation. As executive sponsor of the Fujitsu UK Women’s Business Network, Neil advocates for environments where every voice is heard. His inclusive approach aligns with our strategy to co-design digital transformation with – not for – our customers.

Building Collaborative Environments

It’s not just at leadership level, our marketing initiatives at Fujitsu are inherently collaborative. Engagement with social impact charities and platforms including the Forces Wives Challenge provide valuable networking opportunities that foster personal growth. With events like Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI), we present the innovative face of Fujitsu – and showcase the power in diversity.

Saying YES to Opportunities to Grow

In exploring diversity in defence, it’s clear that collaboration, inclusivity and leadership are crucial drivers of success. The journey towards greater representation of women in defence is ongoing. At Fujitsu, we are committed to ensuring women have the opportunities and support to thrive.

Whether it’s mentorship, participation in events, or simply reaching out to colleagues, every action counts. Together, we can unlock the full potential of our teams – and create a more inclusive and innovative future in defence technology.

At Fujitsu, we value learning from our community, please get in touch if you’d like to discuss this topic in more detail.

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