International. The Women's Safety Council, WSC, awarded Bodil Sonesson, Vice President of Global Sales at Axis Communications, the 2013 Woman of the Year award in the manufacturer category. The organization highlights the best professional women in the physical security industry.
"It is an honor for me to receive this recognition from the WSC, the figures show that having gender diversity in management teams and executive boards significantly improves the results of companies, although I think we have a long way to go in the industry."
The announcement was made the night before the Awards of the Year Celebration at ISC West in Las Vegas, USA, by the WSC's founding committee, which reviewed more than 100 profiles across the global physical security industry. Bodil Sonnesson was selected for her leadership within the security and Axis industry, as well as for the way she has contributed to the business community.
"Bodil is a great example for women in our industry, for the systematic promotion value of women within Axis, as well as for her contribution to the advancement of successful professional women within our market. In addition, she has given many speeches inspired by women's issues at events around the world," said Rhianna Daniels, Founding Committee members, women's Security Council.
Sonesson has been in the position of Axis sales management since 1996. She now has global sales responsibility in an organization with more than 1,400 employees in 42 countries, plus 55,000 partners in 179 countries.
"At Axis, transparency is an inherent part of corporate culture, and gender diversity is part of that culture, this has helped me a lot in my career," says Sonesson. "I believe that in order to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the security industry, this issue must remain constantly on the table. And the WSC does exactly that by providing opportunities for these discussions."
The Women's Safety Council is a network of successful safety professionals focused on empowering women to achieve professional success as industry leaders, and this was the second recognition of women of the year, at the awards ceremony held at ISC West.
As the global market leader in network video and a driving force behind the transition from analog to digital in video surveillance, Axis is a pioneer and role model for gender equality in the sector. By promoting women internally, Axis sets an example for other companies to follow so that they, in turn, promote women to global leadership positions including important operational positions such as global sales.
Today, Axis Communications' regional executive team is made up of 40% women, which is high compared to the percentage that runs the sector, the company is driving a global technology trend that frames the path to a smarter, safer world. Axis invented the first network camera in 1996, and Bodil Sonesson has since played a key role in the company's evolution within the security industry.
