Women Moving Mobility Forward: Accelerating Equality in Transportation

Every March, we take time to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women—past, present, and future—who are reshaping industries, communities, and possibilities. In transportation, the impact of women is undeniable—however, so is the work still left to do. As we mark Women’s History Month, this is a moment to spotlight how women are driving change across transportation and mobility and how Keolis is turning commitment into action.

Women in Transportation: Closing Gaps, Driving Change

Progress for women in transportation is accelerating, but significant opportunities remain. Women remain underrepresented across the global transport sector—but where they are present, they are driving real progress. Globally, women make up just 12% of the transportation workforce.

• Across subsectors, representation dips even lower: around 5% in land transport, 10% in water transport, and 38% in aviation.
• In trucking, women now hold 9.5% of professional driver roles, again—but still a gap.
• Barriers persist at every stage: recruitment, workplace policies, promotion, leadership, and even legal restrictions in some countries.

Yet the evidence is clear: when women are meaningfully represented, organizations perform better, innovate more, and design services that work for more people. Gender diversity isn’t just a social goal—it’s a business and community advantage.

Keolis North America: Turning Equity into Everyday Practice

Within the current landscape, Keolis is taking steps to advance gender equity—especially in North America—by building cultures, careers, and systems where women can thrive.

Key initiatives include:

• Expanding Internships - Partnering with community colleges and industry organizations (APTA, COMTO, LIT, WTS, and others) to open doors for women and other underrepresented groups to build a more diverse talent pipeline.
• Enhancing Growth Through Mentorship - Offering structured, high‑impact mentoring and development programs to prepare women and other underrepresented employees for leadership.
• Making Selection Process More Inclusive - Balancing candidate pools and selection committees to ensure fair, unbiased hiring and promotion.
• Hiring and Promoting on Merit - Ensuring decisions are made based on performance, safety, fairness, and compliance with equity-focused legislation —while actively removing bias from processes.
• Building a Pipeline Through Hourly Roles - Increasing women’s representation in hourly positions to create a launchpad into professional and managerial careers.
• Increasing Visibility - Showcasing gender equity efforts and success stories internally and externally to inspire and attract future talent.

Safer Journeys: Supporting Women’s Safety in Public Transport

Safety is one of the biggest barriers to mobility for women worldwide. Keolis is advancing practical, on-the-ground solutions that help women feel safer and more confident using public transport, including:

• On-Demand Evening Drop-Offs - Allowing women to request closer evening stops in cities like Amiens, Orléans, and Senlis so they walk less at night.
• Safety Walks with Passengers - Conducting exploratory walks on multiple networks to identify design and operational changes that improve safety.
• Discreet Support via “Ask Angela” - Deploying a discreet emergency protocol—first in Bordeaux and now in Besançon and Lille—so passengers can quietly seek help from staff when they feel unsafe.

These initiatives share a common goal: making mobility not just accessible, but safe and empowering for women.

Engineers, Innovators, and Future Leaders

Keolis’ global network and the Keolis MHI partnership are elevating women in roles where they’ve historically been underrepresented—especially engineering and rail. The company has highlighted stories of engineers like Mariam Almarzooqi (Asset Engineer) and Aarthi Kumar (Data Engineer), whose careers show how mentorship, collaboration, and inclusion can open doors in technical and leadership roles.

Keolis’ Women in Rail Committee further supports women across STEM and operational positions, helping shape a more inclusive future in rail and beyond. These stories aren’t just inspiring—they’re a blueprint for what’s possible when women are supported, visible, and empowered.

Closing the Pay Gap: Keolis Downer in Australia

In Australia, Keolis Downer has more than doubled the percentage of women in its workforce since 2009 and is taking structured steps to eliminate the gender pay gap. Through ongoing initiatives and international gender equality certifications, Keolis Downer is working to ensure women are not only present—but paid equitably for their contributions.

A Future Where Women Lead Mobility

From front‑line operators and engineers to data scientists and executives, women are essential to the future of transportation. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Keolis’ efforts stand as an example of how mobility companies can champion progress through inclusive hiring, career development, safety programs, and equitable workplace practices. But the mission continues. Increasing representation, expanding leadership opportunities, and ensuring safe, inclusive transit for women worldwide will take collective effort.

This March—and beyond—we honor the women transforming transportation and the organizations accelerating equity. When women lead, mobility moves forward. “That’s the way we move…forward…TOGETHER!”