Accelerating action: 5 women creating impact in the water sector
For International Women's Day 2025, Xylem is highlighting 5 incredible women colleagues who are empowering our customers and partners to build a more water-secure world.
From safeguarding water systems against cyber threats to helping water operators install the latest in advanced digital solutions, these professionals talk about what makes their jobs so compelling, why inclusion and belonging matter in the water industry, and how the water sector can do more to support and invest in women.
Elise Wong
General Manager
Xylem Hong Kong
"Women need to have a seat at the table to voice their opinions and apply their talent and experience."
1. Tell us about your role and how your work is helping Xylem customers build a more water-secure world?
As the General Manager for Xylem Hong Kong, my work is not only to help our customers address immediate water challenges but also to help them pave the way for a more sustainable, equitable and innovative future. I have been with Xylem for 15 years, spending much of that time in Southeast Asia. In my current role, I blend my deep understanding of water technology with insights and best practices from my experiences across Southeast Asia to advise our customers in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. It's incredible to see our customers adopt advanced technologies and innovation to make their water systems more efficient, affordable and resilient. We are truly building a more water-secure world together.
2. Why do you believe it is important to accelerate action for women in the water sector?
To accelerate action for women in the water sector we need to empower women. The water sector needs to break down barriers for women and encourage allyship, ensure they have equal access to learning, training and mentoring, and provide equal opportunities for them to gain the skills and experiences that prepare them succeed in leadership roles. Women need to have a seat at the table to voice their opinions and apply their talent and experience. By promoting inclusion and belonging for women, the water industry can benefit from the unique perspective and problem solving skills that women bring to the customers and communities we serve.
Hanna Nyberg
Director, Product Manager, Transport
Sundbyberg, Sweden
"Make sure you have a leader who believes in and challenges you when you need it, that you enjoy working with your colleagues every single day, and that you believe your company is making a difference."
1. Tell us about your role and how your work is helping Xylem customers build a more water-secure world?
I lead Service Excellence and Digital Solutions for Xylem's Transport business segment. I connect utility and commercial customers with our Flygt portfolio of wastewater pumps, controllers and digital solutions that make wastewater pumping stations more efficient and reliable.
One of the most exciting projects I contributed to was with Scottish Water, a utility that serves 5 million people across a large and rugged geography. Scottish Water was looking for a cost-effective wastewater pumping solution to meet its ambitious sustainability and efficiency goals. We worked with their team to trial an integrated smart water solution that included our Flygt Concertor pumps with built-in intelligence and our Avensor digital monitoring solution to fight clogging and enable remote monitoring capabilities. This solution helped the utility reduce attendance visits by 99.8%, cut energy usage by 40%, and significantly advance their net zero targets. It's an example of how digital solutions are transforming water services, and I am so proud to be a part of a company that's bringing this kind of amazing progress to customers and their communities.
2. Who or what has supported you along your career journey?
It has always been important for me to work somewhere that encourages work/life balance and simultaneously provides me with opportunities to try and learn new things. The advice I'd give others is to make sure you have a leader who believes in and challenges you when you need it, that you enjoy working with your colleagues every single day, and that you believe your company is making a difference. Ultimately, of course, my family has been my strongest supporter over the years, helping me to stay grounded while challenging me to grow when I need to.
Mbali Simba
Channel Partner, Program Manager
Kempton Park, South Africa
"The key to success is to believe in your capabilities... and never hesitate to advocate for yourself and others."
1. Tell us about your role and how your work is helping Xylem customers build a more water-secure world?
As a Channel Partner Program Manager, my job is to foster strategic collaboration with our supplier and distributor partners across Asia, the Middle East, Turkey and India. I work closely with these partners to help them stay ahead of market trends. I leverage data insights, drive training and support on innovative water technologies, and help them identify opportunities for operational improvements and growth. Through these partnerships, we strengthen collaboration, enhance accountability, and enable them to deliver sustainable water solutions to our customers and their communities more effectively and affordably. I'm passionate about my role because it combines my love for building connections, solving problems, and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive-our customers, our partners and Xylem.
2. What advice do you have for other women who are considering bringing their passion and talent to the water sector?
My advice to women considering a career in the water sector is to embrace the opportunity to help solve one of the world's most pressing challenges. The key to success is to believe in your capabilities and take up space. Seek out mentors, build a strong professional network, and never hesitate to advocate for yourself and others. The water sector is constantly evolving, so stay curious. Continuous learning -whether through technical training, leadership development or industry events -will help you stay ahead and contribute meaningfully. Finally, have the confidence to challenge the status quo.
Women bring bold ideas and valuable perspectives to water management, and their voices are needed in leadership, innovation and decision-making roles. Your contributions matter, and by building a career in water, you can help shape the future for generations to come.
Radhika Upadrashta
Senior Security Software Architect
Fresno, California
"It is especially important to encourage and enable young women and girls to pursue STEM classes, so they can learn about water problems at an early age and build the skills and knowledge they need to help solve them."
1. Tell us about your role and how your work is helping Xylem customers build a more water-secure world?
I am a Security Architect for Xylem's Measurement and Control Solutions (MCS) business. To combat growing water challenges, the water sector is increasingly turning to digital technologies to optimize water systems. As more water operators adopt connected and integrated solutions, there is a growing need to provide cybersecurity protections.
My job is to work with MCS applications in the area of secure architecture. Specifically, I help perform threat modeling and testing on a variety of our advanced digital solutions. Our goal is to make Xylem products more cybersecure for our customers and to advise them how to make their broader water systems more resilient. It's exciting work, as the landscape for cybersecurity is constantly evolving, and our teams are continuously innovating and working closely with customers to help them identify and stay ahead of challenges.
2. Why do you believe it is important to accelerate action for women in the water sector?
When a group is homogenous, it can become an echo chamber. Having a diversity of mindsets and experiences helps us consider things from new perspectives. Diverse perspectives, experiences and ideas in the water sector need to be heard. Educating young people globally about water challenges and solutions is key. It is especially important to encourage and enable young women to pursue STEM classes so they can learn about water problems at an early age and build the skills and knowledge they need to help solve them. When it comes to the workforce, it's imperative to provide continuous learning and mentorship programs to help professionals in the water space climb the career ladder. This is key to building a high-impact culture.
While the water sector has made progress in promoting opportunities for women, there is still a long way to go.
Dilchad Dharsey
Business Relationship Manager,
Applied Water Segment and China
Dubai, UAE
"By ensuring equal access to career advancement, we not only strengthen our workforce; we create greater impact for the customers and communities we serve."
1. Tell us about your role and how your work is helping Xylem customers build a more water-secure world?
I currently hold several roles at Xylem, including Business Relationship Manager for the Applied Water Segment & China and IT Deployment Lead for Emerging Markets in our Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Program. I focus on developing IT-business strategies that improve systems and enhance customer interactions. By upgrading, standardizing and integrating our ERP systems with innovative cornerstone applications, we are strengthening Xylem's operational efficiency, data visibility and decision-making worldwide. This ensures customers have access to the right solutions when and where they need them.
2. Why do you believe it is important to accelerate action for women in the water sector?
Women bring unique insights to solving water challenges, from building community water resilience to developing cutting-edge engineering solutions. At Xylem, we recognize that teams with unique experiences and perspectives create better outcomes. A great example of our commitment is our investment in mentoring programs and leadership development initiatives that support colleagues in technical and non-technical roles. By ensuring equal access to career advancement opportunities, we not only strengthen our workforce; we create greater impact for the customers and communities we serve.
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