AV industry employees reflect on IWD 2023

International employees of PPDS (Philips professional displays) and TP Vision have reflected on being a woman in the male-dominated audio visual (AV) industry.

A 2021 study by AVIXA found that women earned between 79% and 89% less than men ( https://www.avixa.org/av-topics/articles/pro-av-are-women-fully-welcome ) in the Pro AV industry. Whilst the context to these stats does include the fact that women are more likely to work part-time due to childcare and other homecare roles, it is still an indication of the imbalance between male and female employees’ pay within the industry.

In addition to the pay disparity, women are also significantly underrepresented in the AV industry with AVIXA claiming that only 6% of the global AV industry is made up of women, with the US slightly higher with 11%. This was demonstrated in a tangible sense when only 13% of attendees at US-based AV trade exhibition InfoComm 2022 were women.

With the number of men in the industry so significantly higher than women, it would also be fair to argue that perhaps men play an important role in supporting and promoting women within the industry.

In order to improve these figures, more needs to be done to make the industry seem like an attractive and inviting one to newcomers, particularly women.

So, with that being said, we hear from female members of the industry to find out what it’s like being a woman in a significantly male-dominated industry.

Whilst the industry on the whole is male-dominated, PPDS is a company that champions women in technology with women well represented.

Vicky Fox, head of communications EMEA and NA, says: “At PPDS our people from around the globe come together as one team two or three times a year and, for me, it is always a source of great pride that, while we are in a very male-dominated industry, women are well represented, bucking the trend for around 5:1 ratio to around 3:1.

“From sales and operations, through to product management and communications, at PPDS women have a strong voice, inspiring the industry, and our children into the future. I’m super proud to be a woman working in AV.”

Andrea Herczeg-Bakker, head of operations EMEA for PPDS, adds: “Being a supply chain operations leader, as a woman, is a challenging role in itself in our male-dominated industry. In PPDS I feel that women are embraced, empowered, and encouraged to participate in shaping the future of the business. I am proud that PPDS is #Open2womenintechnology, #Open2you.”

Clara Guerra ten Broek, lead Europe sales support for TP Vision, says: “I am thrilled to be part of a technology company and bringing a different approach or perspective to all projects I am involved in.

“I hope to be an inspiration to other women, so they too can embrace the technology world and join us in breaking the underlying myth that this is a male industry.”

If you have any news, please email carys@linkpublishing.co.uk or join in with the conversation on Twitter and LinkedIn.