Added: 18th August 2025 by ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil Fawley's Laboratory Manager, Beth Parsons, has added another string to her bow by driving the company's renowned mentoring initiatives.
In her role, Beth leads a team of 45 employees who are responsible for testing products and maintaining and commissioning lab equipment. She also works closely with the supply and operations team to support Fawley's day-to-day running and optimisation.
However, alongside this demanding role, the Chemical Engineering graduate channels a lifelong passion for diversity and inclusion towards meaningful change, leading several mentorship initiatives that have benefited hundreds of people since her early days as an Isobutylene Unit Contact Engineer.
Inspired by the site's steadfast support of advancing women within the organisation, Beth first became a member of ExxonMobil Fawley's Women's Interest Network (WIN) in 2018, a year after joining the company.
Revelling in her role of pairing women with experienced mentors at the site, Beth helped to provide a space for confidential discussions, guidance, and career development outside the formal management structure.
After a year of involvement, Beth - who by then had progressed to MEK Unit Contact Engineer - became chair of the committee, a role she relished. During her leadership, the group not only grew in size but also expanded its offerings, working with other UK sites to begin plans for a unified UK mentoring service, which would make the programme accessible to all.
By September 2020, Beth's career saw her take a valuable opportunity in Brussels, Belgium.
While working as a Regional Business Analyst, she joined the PRIDE committee and became Communications Chair. With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing most work to be done virtually, Beth focused on elevating engagement and momentum within the group.
“Although we faced challenges, it was hugely rewarding," said Beth. “As part of the PRIDE committee, we hosted a range of online and in-person activities, which I think gave people some much-needed connection in a difficult time, as well as raising awareness of the LGBT+ experience.”
Following the pandemic, Beth moved back to Fawley in 2022, taking on the role of Project Development Tech Lead and picking up where she left off with the UK Mentoring Service.
Not long after her return, the UK-wide mentoring scheme was successfully launched, with the initiative’s goal being to pair mentors and mentees with a particular focus on women.
“In the run up to this, I was also busy enjoying my new role as Project Lead, which also involved a lot of mentoring, so it was great timing,” said Beth.
Looking back on the launch, Beth continued, “We were thrilled to receive a huge number of sign-ups, and the scheme was ultimately mirrored in France and Belgium as a result. It was great working with my European counterparts to improve the career mentoring offered throughout the region.”
Throughout her time working on the launch of the UK mentoring scheme, Beth continued her commitment to the Women's Interest Network, playing an instrumental role in launching a series of self-defence workshops for women at Fawley, aimed at empowering employees with practical skills for personal safety.
Additionally, she championed the creation of inclusion and diversity libraries across the site, establishing mini-libraries in each kitchenette. These collections feature books that celebrate diverse perspectives, encouraging employees to broaden their understanding of different backgrounds and experiences.
Alongside her internal initiatives, Beth has been actively involved in STEM outreach. She has conducted mock interviews for Year 10 girls, offering them valuable career advice and interview experience, and participated in various fairs and exhibitions, including local school careers fairs aimed at inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.
Reflecting on her career, Beth shared, “What drives me are the people behind ExxonMobil. My core values align closely with those of the company, and that connection is incredibly important to me.”
She continued, “For any young woman considering a career in STEM, I urge you to believe that you can do it and not worry about what the rest of the field looks like. There are more women in STEM than you think. There's a generation of us who want to offer our time and energy to the next wave of women coming through. You'll be in fantastic company.”
