The network for Women in Stora Enso (WISE) had its first meeting in January 2004. One of the most important tasks of the network is to follow up how the WISE action plan has been realised.

One significant WISE action taken by Stora Enso was the establishment of a network of 20–25 female managers. A kick-off meeting for the network was organised in January 2004, followed by a three-day session in February and a further meeting in November.

The WISE women agreed on the following aims for their network:

• to support diversity and improved gender issues within Stora Enso;
• to act as ambassadors locally by sharing information and giving support;
• to share best practice on equal opportunities;
• to support the career development of other participants;
• to monitor the implementation of the WISE action plan.

WISE step by step

• An internal study on Women in Stora Enso (WISE) was conducted in autumn 2002 to identify possible obstacles or hindrances affecting women’s careers.
• The WISE action plan was approved by the Executive Management Group in 2003, setting out stances on recruitment procedures, career paths and the need to make women more visible and to help employees balance their work and personal life.
• The WISE project, which was initiated in 2003 as a consequence of the action plan, focuses on promoting women’s careers in Stora Enso, starting with actions related to a network of the top twenty females in the Group.
• A concrete action plan for cascading these actions down to divisional and unit level is under preparation, and will be finalised in early 2005. The objective of the action plan is that every unit in Stora Enso should have a systematic and efficient approach to gender diversity in place. The members of the WISE network have given their input to the overall plan, and will also comment on the forthcoming proposals.
• During 2004 Stora Enso has participated in two gender diversity benchmark studies. According to these benchmark studies, the majority of the companies involved had addressed gender diversity on a policy level without a separate action plan. Stora Enso’s gender diversity initiative with committed management, an agreed action plan, and a working gender network represented good overall performance.