Schneider Electric recognized by the World Economic Forum as a DEI Lighthouse for its Youth Education & Entrepreneurship program
Rueil-Malmaison, France
09/01/2025
Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has been named as a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Lighthouse for its to support to the Economic and Social Development of Women through Renewable Energies in the Sahel (DESFERS) program in partnership with Plan International. This initiative empowers women in Senegal, Mali, and Niger through green skills training, investments in technical school upgrades, and entrepreneurship support for women entering the growing renewable energy sector.
The DEI Lighthouse Program, organized by the World Economic Forum’s Centre for the New Economy and Society, annually highlights impactful DEI initiatives. It identifies proven strategies from various industries and shares key lessons with global business and public sector leaders to foster resilient and inclusive economies.
Schneider Electric and the Schneider Electric Foundation’s DESFERS program was selected by a panel of global DEI experts as a Lighthouse in the Gender Parity in the Green Economy category.
“We are honoured to be named as a Lighthouse for our efforts in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Charise Le, Chief Human Resources Officer at Schneider Electric. “We believe that true impact comes from bringing everyone along, nurturing a culture that values all stakeholders in our ecosystem, from employees to supply chain partners, to customers, and local communities.”
In 2019, Schneider Electric and its Foundation, in partnership with Plan International and a consortium of stakeholders, launched the DESFERS program to empower women socioeconomically in rural areas, where restrictive social norms often limit economic participation. Through a collaborative approach, DESFERS builds a strong ecosystem of support by leveraging collective expertise and specialized partnerships. The initiative is part of the Youth Education & Entrepreneurship program and the Youth Impact Through Learning initiatives’ global commitment to train one million youth, especially women, to take part in the energy transition and support 10 thousand entrepreneurs by the end of 2025.
Schneider Electric's DESFERS program has achieved several key outcomes, including providing green skills training to 7,204 women, generating 6,099 women-led green enterprises, and improving access to renewable energy solutions and credit facilities for 21,000 women. By building the right ecosystem with training, mentorship and access to funding, the consortium of partners empowers women to lead a just energy transition.
“Shaping a just energy transition is a collective effort. It requires all of us to work together to turn ambitions into meaningful actions,” said Chris Leong, Chief Sustainability Officer at Schneider Electric. "Through our Youth Education & Entrepreneurship programs, together with the Schneider Electric Foundation, we are empowering women and championing gender equality. By fostering specialized partnerships and ensuring women’s participation at every stage of the energy value chain, we unlock the full potential of sustainable progress empowering women to lead the energy transition with inclusivity at its core.”
WEF Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Lighthouse 2025 Report is available here.
- More on gender strategy in the energy transition at Schneider Electric is available here.
- More on diversity, equity and inclusion at Schneider Electric is available here.
- Latest Schneider Sustainability Impact results.
- For an overview other awards and recognitions received by Schneider Electric, click here and here.
Related Spokespeople
Esther FINIDORI
Chief Sustainability OfficerEsther Finidori is the Chief Sustainability Officer of Schneider Electric. She leads the company’s sustainability strategy, commitments, and engagements, from corporate citizenship and institutional affairs to sustainability performance and environmental impact. Previously at Schneider Electric, she held the position of France Operations Strategy VP, where she drove influence, commercial strategy, sales excellence, and circular economy initiatives. She also served in various sustainability roles, including Group Environment VP, where she played an instrumental role in shaping and executing the company’s environmental initiatives, solidifying its position as a recognized sustainability leader. Before joining Schneider Electric in 2016, she worked as an environmental consultant, specializing in climate change and energy transition. She holds a Master of Science in Engineering from Ecole Centrale Paris and a Master of Philosophy in Technology Policy from the Judge Business School of Cambridge University.Read more 
Charise LE
Executive Vice President, Global Human ResourcesCharise is Chief Human Resource Officer of Schneider Electric and member of the Executive Committee since April 1, 2020. In 2005 she was appointed Human Resources Manager China for Clipsal, an associated brand of Schneider Electric. Then, she joined Schneider Electric in 2007 as Human Resources Director for Schneider Asia Pacific region. In the last 15 years, Charise has held different HR positions within the Group. Since 2015 Charise has been leading the HR Strategy & Global Service of the Group. Charise started her career in 1995 and began at Siemens as an HR Specialist and continued to move through different HR positions in companies such as General Electric and Pillsbury China. Charise graduated from East China University of Science and Technology (Shanghai). LinkedIn ProfileRead more
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