July 15, 2022
Smitha Therese Joy could have never imagined the support she received from Signify when she was facing one of the biggest challenges in her personal life, having to fight cancer. Her team and the company showed their unbiased, caring, and inclusive nature by thinking along with her and finding a new role within Signify that would better suit Smitha's needs. With a Master's in Illumination Engineering, job experience in this field, a winner against cancer, and a recently proud mom, Smitha has now also embraced the challenges of becoming a skilled scrum master within the IT department and a committed DE&I champion.
Signify, for me, has always been a second home. I believe that every happy home comprises multiple elements with diversity, equity, and inclusion – where all voices are heard, acknowledged and valued. Signify ensures that its employees get to experience this understanding and acceptance on all levels.
I started with a Master's degree in Illumination Engineering, and now I'm a scrum master in the Global IT Team. This was a paradigm shift for me – from a business role to various roles in IT – and that was only possible due to the unbiased and inclusive nature of my colleagues and the organization. Signify has always been supportive of its employees and has been instrumental in providing a platform to learn and grow greater together.
Every human is wired differently. We act, react and respond differently, therefore, it is critical to step into another person's shoes to understand their perspective and to bring out the best in them. Occasional retrospections with the entire team always help us hear everybody's views and feedback. The input is gathered anonymously, and we discuss all the points in a call together. This ensures that all voices are heard and allows us to take relevant actions.
We are a diverse team of more than ten people across Asia and Europe, representing different genders, races, ages, qualifications, and experiences. I strongly believe that the first step towards being a successful contributor in any job is speaking up for yourself and your team. I try every day to ensure that all voices within the team are heard. If anyone doesn't feel comfortable, I reach out to them personally to break the ice and ensure that they become more comfortable speaking up. I provide the required fuel & additives and the spark to be courageous and confident, which stimulates the team to create a blazing fire!
Signify Corporate Communications
Email: communications@signify.com
Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals, consumers and the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact systems and data-enabled services, deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. In 2023, we had sales of EUR 6.7 billion, approximately 32,000 employees and a presence in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for seven consecutive years and have achieved the EcoVadis Platinum rating for four consecutive years, placing Signify in the top one percent of companies assessed. News from Signify can be found in the Newsroom, on X, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors is located on the Investor Relations page.