International Women's Day

Today we celebrate International Women’s Day. To be entirely honest and I’m a little ashamed to admit it, I didn’t even know until this year that there was one. Maybe we are becoming more aware as this year’s celebrations come amidst a backdrop of considerable change.  From the rise of #MeToo and time’s Up movements in the entertainment world to the gender pay gap scandal seen at the BBC, equality has become a hot and highly debated topic over the last twelve months.  Women are being encouraged more than ever to have a voice and become an influence for social reform, which overall should be a positive thing. If there is a day to celebrate being a woman, then I’m happy to take it (but for equalities sake… there is an International Men’s day too in November)

Over the last couple of years I have been asked on numerous occasions my views on equality and empowerment for women in the workplace. When I was first asked the question it actually seemed like a really daft question, simply because I thought it was an obvious answer.  We are equal and empowerment is not something we should sit back and be given, but it is something you take.

If you look at the definition of “Empowerment” in the oxford dictionary there are two definitions either “Authority or power given to someone to do something” OR “The process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in controlling one's life and claiming one's rights”. These are two very different things in my book, it translates to you either sit back and wait until someone may give something to you, OR you take responsibility for yourself and you make it happen. The key ingredients to being in the latter group are self-belief and confidence which I hate to say ladies, men generally have more of this than we do.  

Let me give you an example, a job description goes out to a group of candidates which would be a promotion. There are 10 attributes that are part of the description, in general terms men look at the 6 they can do and will apply, women will look at the 4 they can’t do so don’t apply.  Worse still, women may look at the 1 thing they can’t do so don’t apply.  Result, more men may get the promotion, not because they are better skilled, simply because they put themselves forward.

Women, we are brilliant, amazing beings. We may be a mother, wife or partner. The bread winner or contributor,  the cook, the cleaner, the carer. The taxi driver for the kids, homework supporter, the friend, the shoulder to cry on, the multi – tasker.   The truth is the list is endless and you will be some, many or all of these things.  We are resilient and tough however we are often our own worse critics and that is what can hold us back. We focus on what we are failing at rather than what we have done well and it is that what has to change. Once you change how you view yourself, you can change how you view your future.

I am not ignorant to the fact that in some industries and certainly some cultures that equality for women has some way to go and I am 100% fully supportive of that, but we must do our absolute best where we can to help ourselves.

We are all on our own journey. Fact… no one is perfect. We will all make mistakes, we will all feel guilty about something at some point, we could all do better. That is exactly the same for those people who will be successful and for those that aren’t.  The difference is mindset. The difference is you.

I know that I am fortunate to work within a business that transformed our industry and created a platform for people to change their lives. A business that was and is based on individuals, both men and woman being empowered to change their future, to give them the confidence to be the best that they can be.  I am humbled to belong to a business that gave me an environment to reach my aspirations and show that with hard work, support and determination  you can truly start at the bottom and work your way to the top. I am grateful that not once in my career have I been made to feel that I couldn’t be or do something because I am a women, in fact quite the opposite.  Ultimately, I am proud to belong to a business that values, encourages, nurtures and recognises talent and will continue to do so long into the future.

Happy International Women's day everyone. Remind yourself everyday just how awesome you are!