Filling a clear need for affinity

Set up initially as an informal group for Westlake’s women to get to know one another and share their experiences, the group soon morphed into peer-to-peer coaching, informal mentorships, and the mission to create opportunities for the women of Westlake to strengthen business relationships, grow professionally and personally, and build successful careers at Westlake. It was clear to Havrilla and other senior leaders that the group was filling a need. In a traditionally male dominated industry, WoW allowed a space where women could open up to each other and discuss not just the challenges of working in a plant, but also seek out professional support.

“We used to get together quarterly, face to face and share our stories at first. Slowly, over time, the trust began to develop, and they started seeking peer advice on all sorts of challenges,” says Havrilla. The group purposefully started small but grew rapidly. Today, the group has around 30 members and conducts quarterly meetings, with a pre-decided agenda, a mix of TED talks or guest speakers, and always some time for open floor. Despite the virtual component, Havrilla says the group maintains its intimacy with many of the women reaching out to each other for advice and camaraderie on a regular basis.

Going farther together

Almost three years since starting WoW, today Havrilla is the Executive Sponsor of the group and remains as passionate as the day she launched it. “I have had some amazing mentors in my life who have contributed to my success. This is my way of paying it forward and hopefully showing other women that together we can go farther when we support one another,” she says.

Havrilla’s colleague Julie Hildebrand, also a veteran in the chemicals industry, and a business manager at the Houston office, agrees. “Westlake has done a great job of recognizing that they need to do more to promote diversity as an asset. WoW has helped them see the need to champion gender inclusion,” she says.

As a member of WoW, Hildebrand has seen firsthand the value of having peer-to-peer relationships with colleagues with a breadth of professional experience. “Building and nurturing relationships has been an important part of my professional development. I am always open to sharing experiences and knowledge with colleagues across the organization, and make an intentional effort to build a strong professional network,” she shares. And the role played by WoW in bringing many of the women together across Westlake is demonstrable in the enthusiasm and trust on display at the monthly meetings.

So much so that there are now several other informal women groups in process across Westlake. Havrilla sums it well: “Women can succeed most effectively by supporting each other. I have learned so much from these meetings and the individual relationships I have formed, including that I must constantly evolve as a leader myself.”

And that’s invaluable.

About Westlake

Westlake, headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a global manufacturer of petrochemicals, polymers, and building products with operations throughout the United States. Its core business includes olefins and vinyls. Within its vinyl product lines, Westlake creates chlor-alkali and derivative products, PVC suspension and specialty resins, PVC compounds, and PVC building products.