Three female leaders, one shared focus: Powering the future of industrial markets
Cummins has long recognized the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and culture in the workplace, and with nearly 60,000 employees operating in 59 countries, the company is committed to creating stronger environments where everyone belongs—and can win with the power of difference.
In celebration of International Day of Women in Mining (June 15), the Cummins Power Systems organization reflects on recent changes that put three women in the forefront of the global Industrial Engines & Aftermarkets (IEA) business, inclusive of Mining, Rail, Defense, Marine and Oil & Gas segments.
Deep industrial experience at the helm
With 20+ years at Cummins behind her, Regina Barringer is the executive director overseeing partnerships with Cummins’ largest OEM and end-user accounts.
With robust experience overseeing distribution, Allie Posey leads all other North American Industrial business, partnering closely with the channel to exceed customer expectations.
Previously the leader of strategic mining accounts, Ioana Capelo now leads the International Industrial business, ensuring customers around the globe receive superior product, service and support.
Together, Regina, Allie and Ioana—and their teams—lead all Industrial customer partnerships, regularly coming together in collaborative forums to find synergies and drive problem-solving on behalf of high-horsepower customers.
Setting the standard for more women in industrial markets
Regina, a member of the Cummins Women Empowerment Network (WEN) and League of Railway Women, no longer notices if she’s the only woman in the room. “I feel very welcome in meeting rooms, on mine sites and across the industry. There’s such a desire for diverse inputs and creativity so that, together, we can really problem solve.”
Ioana has felt a similar sense of welcoming in her experience. “When I first joined Cummins as a young immigrant for a global Mining opportunity, I initially saw it as a challenge, but ultimately found a solid network of tenured professionals who had started on the shop floor and worked up to leadership, all compelled to pay it forward.”
Allie encourages women to not shy away from industries that are traditionally male-dominated. “There’s a significant amount of opportunity for women to bring their talent, perspectives and insights into fields like mining in a variety of ways, from engineering to operations to business leadership,” she says. “There’s really a unique ecosystem of career opportunities that can enable women to learn and grow their skills while contributing to industries that support everyday living for people all over the world.”
Ultimately, the trio is highly focused on progressing the industry and believes diverse teams will lead to more creative problem-solving on behalf of customers. “There’s a massive opportunity to mitigate climate risk and help our customers be successful in this space through our products and services,” says Ioana. “The problems are only getting more challenging. Women—and all underrepresented groups—should feel empowered to drive change.”
Across Cummins’ global workforce, nearly 30% of the workforce are women, with that percentage even higher across Cummins Board of Directors (36.4%) and the Cummins Leadership Team (42.8%).
Inspiring future generations
Regina, Ioana and Allie took over these lines of business during a time of transformative change for the Power Systems business, with significant focus on increasing collaboration and driving agility so that the company can best support Industrial customers in an ever-changing market.
“I’m here to coach, mentor and empower the next generation of pioneers,” says Ioana, when asked about her goals for the future. “What drives satisfaction for me is inspiring people, including other females, to dive into this space—to share my experience and help others make a positive impact on the business as well as to the triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial sustainability.”
To Regina, it’s also about inspiring others. “Other companies look at us and see many female leaders — at the top of our organization and across our company. We show up strong and empowered. There is opportunity to look at how to recruit and hire more women in Mining and industrial fields.”
“We’re on a journey to improve representation,” adds Allie. “We’ve experienced solid results, and I’m eager to support this continued focus to ensure we have strong, diverse voices in the industry. These voices will enable us to help customers in reaching their goals, including transitioning to bridge solutions and reducing total cost of ownership while also meeting ESG goals.”
Advice for future female leaders
What advice do these leaders have for other females entering or growing in the field?
Allie: “For anyone entering this field, show your interest in learning. Ask the tough questions. Women now have more seats at the table than ever before. It’s important for everyone at the table have confidence in bringing ideas to the forefront; being curious through learning is the foundation of confidence in your ideas.”
Regina: “Something that I found helpful, not only when I was new in mining but throughout my career, is having a mentor. My mentor was a seasoned female mining technical professional. I was inspired by her stories, lessons learned and advice. I often found myself bouncing scenarios and ideas with her. I felt heard and understood. Having a mentor gave me an outlet and added layer of support that I needed and a trusted thought partner and advocate. I encourage new leaders to find a mentor and then give back by becoming a mentor as you progress through your career.”
Ioana: “It is an exciting time to be a woman in Mining, a market that is redefining its blueprint for a zero-carbon future, so embrace the challenges and seek to find your breakthrough opportunity to add value or be a change agent in this space. Together we can crack the code and help reduce the big gender divide, shaping a new future for Mining and other Industrial labor markets.”
Discover how Cummins celebrated International Women’s Day 2024, or delve into the vast opportunities for women in Mining.
Cummins Inc.
Cummins, a global power technology leader, is a corporation of complementary business segments that design, manufacture, distribute and service a broad portfolio of power solutions. The company’s products range from internal combustion, electric and hybrid integrated power solutions and components including filtration, aftertreatment, turbochargers, fuel systems, controls systems, air handling systems, automated transmissions, electric power generation systems, microgrid controls, batteries, electrolyzers and fuel cell products.
