To mark International Women's Day 2023, BusinessLive invited some of the North West's leading female business figures to share their thoughts on why it's important to them, their companies and why this year's theme should be celebrated.
Some also highlighted the challenges they have faced during their careers while others called for more to be done to address inequality in the workplace.
Views ranged from wanting to celebrate women's achievements through to raising awareness around gender disparities.
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Bev Dumbleton, chief operating officer at Sykes Holiday Cottages
"For me, International Women’s Day is about celebrating the successes that women have achieved. The workplace can sometimes feel like a man’s world, and it can be harder for women due to years of gender bias. However, awareness days like International Women’s Day go a long way in encouraging women to have a voice and be proud of what we’ve achieved.
"I think it is important to recognise the journey that women have undertaken to prove that they can handle, and thrive, in senior roles.
"Woman have just as much to offer as their male counterparts and it is vital that we champion our own success within our careers.
"The history surrounding International Women’s Day is an important reminder of just how far we’ve come and why we should feel proud of who we are.
"It is also important that future generations understand that a gender diverse workplace is not only good for business, but also means that all genders have an equal chance to have a varied, interesting, and successful career."
Chloé Elliott, founder of Manchester-based Odyssey Box which specialises in black-owned hair care brands
"I launched Odyssey Box in 2020, right before the first Covid-19 lockdown. One of my biggest achievements is that I’ve created a brand that has given Black women options for hair care that just weren't accessible before.
"Previously, there were a lot of gimmicky products flooding the marketplace, and no one was providing advice and support to the natural and curly hair communities. I could see there was a problem to be solved, and it was this passion that first led me to set up the business.
"I’m lucky enough to have had amazing role models along the way, but for many Black women entrepreneurs looking to scale their business, there are still so many barriers to growth. International Women’s Day is vital, as there is still so much that needs to change.
"From speaking to my peers, there is still a sense that as women we don’t get taken as seriously in business as our male counterparts.
"Women can face more challenges in securing an office or base for their business, or investment to help them grow - something that disproportionately affects Black women in particular.
"In Manchester, I’m still the only person who has launched a salon that confidently serves all curl types and is dedicated to teaching its clients how to take care of their hair at home, which is remarkable given the market demand. It’s clear there is still a long way to go."
Gemma Copp, architect at Buttress and LandAid ambassador
"International Women’s Day gives me the opportunity to talk about young women who are at risk of being homeless. As well as a day of celebration, I aim to reflect and support young women who are in need and help others understand the hard realities that they face.
"Some of these include loneliness, low self-esteem with guilt and blame due to their homeless status, yet the ‘why’ is often beyond their control at early adolescence.
"Last year, 122,000 16-25 year olds were registered as homeless – of this 44% were young women. From personal experience, I often saw the negative impact, with friends in similar situations feeling less than hopeful for their future and a disbelief that they could achieve anything they wanted.
"It was almost as they had written themselves off which is disheartening when they’re so young. I was fortunate to receive access to help and guidance to live independently, work on my mental health and many more experiences that allowed me to stay in college and enrol into university.
"Today, I’m a qualified architect. I am passionate about ending youth homelessness, believing this requires a collective effort to support young people through their difficult experiences and receive the similar opportunities, as I did, to achieve their dreams, goals and chosen careers."
Lisa Wood, managing director and co-founder of Praetura Commercial Finance
"International Women’s Day is incredibly important, because it’s a chance for businesses to celebrate the efforts of women within their companies.
"Often around this time, we get to see the calibre of female talent making up the workforce. It’s a reminder to businesses, not just male dominated ones, that you don’t need to look far for exceptional talent.
"My role models tend to be peers within the industry - talented women who have pushed the finance industry forward. I’m inspired by industry champions and people who are incredibly visible and vocal – not just in the lending space but in all other areas of finance.
"I think there’s a misconception that role models need to be famous or known around the world, but I think a role model can just as easily be someone you work with."
Claire Alvarez, partner at Foresight Group
"#EmbraceEquity, the theme for International Women's Day 2023, really struck a chord with me. As a woman in what's traditionally been a very male-dominated career, appreciating and celebrating diversity is something I am absolutely passionate about.
"From a work perspective I am incredibly proud of our teams located across the UK, the brilliant businesses we work with and their founders - many of whom have come from non-traditional backgrounds.
"IWD is not just about one day, it's about every day, and having an open-mind and advocating for true equity for all."
Dr Annette Bramley, director of the N8 Research Partnership
"Right across the North of England we are surrounded by innovative women from all places, sectors and backgrounds.
"This year’s theme of International Women’s Day 'Embrace Equality' does a great job in talking about why equal opportunities aren’t enough.
"Everyone comes from different backgrounds and places, so true inclusion requires equitable action to give women the best chance of success.
"For the sixth year running The N8 Research Partnership has teamed up with the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) to shine the spotlight on the women who are pushing the boundaries of innovation within their fields.
"Our social media campaign #NorthInnovationWomen gives an opportunity to celebrate some of the ground-breaking work being achieved across the region, whilst also hoping to inspire the next generation of female innovators and researchers in the North."
Natalie Watson, head of sustainability at The Vita Group
"International Women’s Day gives an opportunity to reflect on the age-old phrase that we all work better together. Although this is genuinely true, it is not done enough.
"For too long there has been a habit of working in silos, without sharing knowledge, expertise and different points of view. This way of working is what has led to repeated mistakes and contributed to global issues such as the climate crisis.
"Some businesses, like The Vita Group, have pivoted and are doing the opposite. Industries need to revert to close collaboration, which will lead to further value enhancement, not extraction.
"Above all else, it is important we engage in a diverse way when collaborating. Not just because it is socially beneficial, but because it gives businesses the best chance of success.
"MIT has scientifically proven that the biggest separation of personality traits is gender. Its research shows that having a team that is equally balanced by gender will always outperform the team that is dominated by one, which is typically by the male perspective.
"Having different perspectives from different personality traits will ensure the same mistakes are not made multiple times, and ultimately lead to further economic, environmental and social progress.
"That’s why this year’s theme to #EmbraceEquity is so important, as all people start from different places, meaning true inclusion requires equitable action."
Rachel Engwell, partner and head of tax in the North for Grant Thornton UK LLP
"International Women's Day is the perfect time to commemorate women's achievements whilst raising awareness around gender disparities.
"This year's theme focusing on embracing equity for equality is great - it highlights how everyone can play a role in driving meaningful and lasting change in the workplace and in society.
"Here at Grant Thornton, our vision is to remove gender disparity and optimise the lived experiences of all our employees and it's fantastic to be part of a firm that genuinely values this."
Amanda Newman, senior manager at Accenture
"International Women’s Day is hugely important to me and everyone at Accenture. It is widely known that women are significantly outnumbered by men in the tech space, but I am incredibly passionate about STEM careers and encouraging others, especially women, to consider the vast and wonderful opportunities that are out there within the field.
"Alongside my work at Accenture, where I advocate within the business for women to be more involved, I also use my blog and Facebook group to support and empower women.
"I have built an incredible community of over 6,000 people globally, which is used to inspire many women thinking about pursuing a career within STEM. Utilising tech panels, getting involved with mentored business start-ups and helping schools design STEM pathways are all ways we can encourage women to get involved with technology-based jobs.
"Throughout my 20 years in the field, these methods have all helped to change the stereotypes around women in STEM.
"We continue to see women in outstanding roles, and International Women’s Day gives everyone the opportunity to celebrate and highlight these incredibly successful people, and inspire the next generation of women in tech. This a celebratory day to acknowledge women’s achievements and break down misconceptions surrounding women in the tech field."
Dr Marie O’Brien, chief scientific officer and co-founder of ReNewVax
"International Women’s Day is a much-needed opportunity for women and girls around the globe to be acknowledged for the contributions they make each day to society and its advancement.
"As a female scientist pioneering a vaccination against dangerous bacteria, I am all too familiar with the lack of representation of women in my field.
"This year’s theme #EmbraceEquity particularly struck a chord with me as a woman in STEM from an immigrant background. To allow the next generation of female scientists to flourish, we must go further than simply providing them with equal opportunities to their male counterparts.
"We must also take an intersectional approach to addressing the specific barriers to accessing said opportunities, to ensure the diversity of opinion necessary for the industry to continue to evolve."
Katie Hodson, partner, head of employment and joint head of Stockport office at SAS Daniels
"Over time I have seen an increase in equal opportunities in the workplace, with employers focusing on ensuring that all staff are afforded the same opportunities.
"This has resulted in more women in senior positions. However, albeit at a slower rate, I am now also seeing steps being taken towards equity by the way employers are starting to recognise the specific challenges that women face and realising that they may need more assistance to take fair advantage of available opportunities.
"International Women’s Day is hugely important in championing change and promoting the salience of these issues. Ensuring that we continue to challenge longstanding attitudes and ways of thinking is at the very root of International Women’s Day.
"Progress has been made, which is tremendously encouraging, but further progress is required. We are not yet perfect, not all businesses are there yet, and it is vitally important that we continue in our efforts to work towards equity as well as equal opportunities for women in the workplace."
Dawn Morris, head of operations and finance at Zeus Tech Solutions
"International Women’s Day celebrates the achievements of women. It’s refreshing to work for a diverse and inclusive company where we don’t have to overcome barriers to equality but are empowered and supported to achieve our potential.
"The tech industry is male dominated and Zeus Tech Solutions is proud to be making a difference to gender equality within the sector.
"As a leader in Zeus where we have women at all levels, I’m pleased we can be an example to women and encourage them to be bold, be brave and believe in themselves.
"Zeus challenges all tech leaders to join us in actively driving change within the sector so it becomes an industry where women succeed without a need to overcome obstacles and barriers."
Léann Hearne, chief executive of Livv Housing Group
"Early in my career in a manufacturing company, I asked the managing director about transferring into the sales team. His response 'and why would I do that, you’re a girl?' stopped me in my tracks.
"But a conversation with my father, who’d taught me how to ride a motorbike and change engines, was pivotal. He asked, ‘and are you going to let him define your future?’. Not long after that I left, and it set me on my journey to become managing director of an international manufacturing business.
At 35, I was the youngest and only woman on the board. In the sector, I was one of only three female managing directors in Britain.
"I faced a lot of challenges and certainly felt I had to prove myself more than my male colleagues. But the barriers I faced and the people who helped me along the way have made me the person I am today. I’m a firm believer that equality and equity should be everyone’s goal.
"There’s been huge progress in gender equality in recent years and we’re proud to have 60% female representation at Executive level at Livv."
Helen Mulholland, barrister at Kings Chambers
"I first came across International Women’s Day when I lived in Italy in the 90s: all across the city women were clutching yellow flowers for 'Festa della Donna', but at that time 8 March came and went without much recognition in the UK. I am pleased to say that IWD is now a firm fixture in our national calendar.
"For me, International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a call to action. It is right that we celebrate how far we have come, but important that we recognise that there is still much to do. Women continue to be under-represented at the highest levels of our professions and the Bar is no exception.
"I am a firm believer that 'you can’t be what you can’t see'. Women – and all underrepresented groups – need to be seen in positions at the highest level of the Bar and the Judiciary. I look forward to the day when the number of female silks will be at least equal to the number of men in post, and to a time when the Supreme Court is composed of an equal number of men and women."
Emma Elston MBE, co-founder and CEO of UK Container Maintenance
"Self-belief is so very important. As is, to ‘be yourself’, be true, and always act with integrity. I never conform to stereotypes.
"In terms of empowering your colleagues, it is important to celebrate the people behind the scenes, giving them the confidence and support to shine. After all, you’re only as good as your team.
"I think it’s incredibly important to recognise the success of women – particularly when you look at business awards as a whole, the majority of recipients are men.
"We are certainly starting to see a shift, finding that more and more men are supporting the female leadership awards. When you attend the ceremonies, for example the Women of the Year Awards, you can see the support that our male colleagues are giving us.
"Ultimately, it’s about inclusion for all and working together regardless of gender. As the world is changing, we need to look carefully at equality and ensure that we support one another. International Women’s Day is key in shining a light on these matters, in addition to celebrating the significant contribution that women across all industries make to society and the economy."
Alexandra Hatchman, CEO at Napthens solicitors
"In addition to legacy issues that we are slowly addressing, there are a number of emerging issues which exacerbate the journey towards gender parity.
"Lower skill jobs, often predominantly handled by women, are at risk of being replaced by technology and AI. We need to protect these women by providing them with opportunities to reskill.
"In addition, STEM subjects are becoming ever more crucial across all sectors, including the law. The majority of students in these subjects continue to be male, more needs to be done in early-stage education to channel women into these disciplines.
"The last trend is the pace of change. Today’s world moves at lightning speed, and time out from the workplace has a much bigger impact.
"Widespread adoption of equal paternity leave is key so that fathers share the burden of unpaid childcare, as well as spending precious time with their children whilst they are young.
"I’m proud to be a female leader and would encourage my daughter and my son to go into the law despite the partner level being male dominated.
"And despite there still being challenges when it comes to gender parity, it continues to improve and it will, at some point, be solved. In order to do so, men and women need to work together to face into these challenges, and create powerful, long-lasting change."
Maria O’Connor, operations manager at Ecogee
"As a woman who is in a leading team that is at the forefront of construction and energy, I’m proud to be part of the movement that is inspiring young women and girls from across the globe to slash the gender stereotypes and pursue a career in construction.
"Being an asset to the team and a strong leader is about passion and commitment to the role, regardless of gender. Let’s empower women to dominate in a male dominated field."
Alex Hughes, scheme manager at MCS
"MCS champions its talented women to forge long-term, lasting careers in renewables by creating dedicated routes to senior roles in different areas and providing the development needed to get there.
"As a young woman in the early stages of my renewables career, MCS invested significantly in my learning and development and I was quickly enrolled in their Future Leaders course, which has equipped me with the skills and experience needed to be an effective leader in the net zero economy.
"Our industry is male dominated, however I’m proud to work for a company bucking that trend. MCS is 60% female led, one of the biggest reasons to celebrate International Women’s Day for me personally.
"It’s also an important day in the calendar to just stop and recognise the contribution women are making both individually and collectively across the North West and beyond. I work alongside so many who inspire me and support me every single day."
Nicola Pink, managing director – We Are Pink
"We Are Pink has always been met with gender led stereotypes due to its name, but it's much more than a company named after a colour.
"In the last 11 years, our business has been built on the foundation of brilliant women who have developed and grown our agency into what it is today.
"Yes, we do now have men working within our expanding team of nine, but they are supported by a network of talented females who have all invested their passion and creativity for truly making a difference in the work that they do day in, day out."
Nicola Docking, head of strategy at Poke
"International Women’s Day gives us a chance to hear the voices of women across all industries and areas of life. It’s important that we all take the time to acknowledge how far we’ve come, assess what the world is like for us today and aim to ensure we are working towards a better future for women on generations to come.
"We work with many brands who are always keen to celebrate and acknowledge the day, but I try to push them to go further and actually explore what action they are taking as well as showcasing their talented female team, rather than just trying to gain plaudits for announcing that they support the day.
"Finally, for me it’s acknowledging that this is International Women’s Day, not just focused on the UK and taking time to learn about the plight of many women and young girls across the world that is incomprehensible in our day to day lives and establishing what we can do in our roles to make a difference."
Rebecca Armstrong, managing director of Making Energy Greener
"No matter your age, gender or nationality, we all have a huge role to play in helping the UK reach Net Zero by 2050.
"With businesses and the general public now more conscious than ever before about the environment, added to this the cost of living crisis, everyone wants to know ways to keep our homes warm, all whilst keeping costs to a premium.
"As a female in a managerial role that is also a family business, I understand the complexities that come with being an employer, a wife and a mother, all of which hold equal importance and it is important for us all to remember that.
"Much more needs to be done in order to shine a spotlight on women in our industry, but days like International Women’s Day help our narrative and I hope that one day, we can see full parity between men and women in business."
Racheal Jones, CEO of One Knowsley
"The cost-of-living crisis has sadly put more barriers up for women - whether that be the chances of employment or the lack of training and education to re-skill and up-skill.
"Many women are struggling to access the opportunities to enhance their wellbeing and ‘sharpen their tools’ to be a part of the workforce and society and this needs to change.
"At One Knowsley, we are working tirelessly to remove barriers, unlock potential and give women the confidence that they need to succeed, this includes our work to support good quality volunteering opportunities in the borough, a fantastic pathway for skills development.
"It is important that there continues to be strong role models in our communities and as an organisation we will continue to create a safe space and an inclusive environment in Knowsley, to help women succeed in all aspects of life."
Dr Natalie Kenny, CEO of BioGrad
"The last 12 months have been groundbreaking for BioGrad, not only in terms of new ventures and company growth, but also in no small part due to work that we have done to be an employer and a company of choice for females and female led businesses and organisations.
"Opening the second largest Biobank in the UK, we will give all parents the chance to preserve their stem cells within the North West and the provision of non-invasive, prenatal testing and pregnancy testing, something which can be a real catalyst for female well-being for decades to come.
"Employing a diverse workforce, wherever I look at BioGrad I see strong female role models, whether that be in our senior leadership team, our labs or in the classroom - we really are leading the way in innovation and inclusivity in the science and healthcare sector.
"I am now looking forward to officially opening a new hub for the local community and a space for city region-based, female-led science and tech SMEs later this year and will continue to do all I can to support women throughout the North West and beyond."
Jacqui Johnson, communications director at Sutcliffe
"14% of people working in construction and engineering are women…but if young girls and women knew just how varied, interesting and well-paid a career in our sector was, I have no doubt that these figures would rocket.
"There is a huge skills gap in our sector and at Sutcliffe we are looking for young, hungry and impressionable men and women to become the next generation, who will build and design the schools, hospitals, homes and buildings of both today and tomorrow.
"Having been in the industry for almost three decades, I have seen more women come into managerial, engineering and surveying roles in recent years and at Sutcliffe, we currently boast a workforce that includes many incredible women, as we hope to see these numbers grow even further in 2023 and beyond."
Donna Crompton, director at Leonard Curtis
"I couldn’t even get more than two women to come to events when I first started at Leonard Curtis. I think for the first 18 months – we were just trying to get ourselves established in the city, Merseyside and the Wirral.
"But now I've become the company’s first female director, with the ability to expand a network of female professionals and really drive women in business and professional services. It’s taken a dedicated team of hard-working people to get us to where we are now.
"Over the last 10 years we had outgrown our old offices, and the new premises really showcase who we are as a brand - with a hub for professionals to meet.
"We’re a different firm now, and we needed a ‘grown up’ space. I think the new premises show our commitment to Liverpool – we want to be part of that network and ensure people can come in and see us.
"People are getting to know the brand and know us – who we are, what we do and what service lines we offer right across the region."
Jen Fenner, co-founder of DefProc Engineering
"Our sector is still heavily under-represented, however the women currently in our industry are still flying the flag and are incredibly inspirational and talented in equal measure. It is also encouraging to see more and more coming through into STEM year on year.
"Currently 77% of tech director roles are filled by men, this is a staggering statistic, but one speaking first-hand that can be amended if the right progression opportunities, the right workplace environment and the right guidance (from school upwards) is provided.
"The Liverpool City Region is slowly becoming a hotbed for innovation and technology and as the co-founder of a Liverpool-based tech business, I am proud to celebrate everything good about our city and all of the amazing women that reside and work here."
Andrea McGee, civil design engineer at Civic Engineers
"International Women’s Day is a great way to positively highlight all the possible career paths available to the next generation.
"It is important that we are endorsing women across the engineering industry every day and at every opportunity. In my opinion, one day just isn’t enough to celebrate the incredible work women in engineering are doing for our planet and our people.
"It’s important to recognise the role women play and what we can bring to not only projects but also to the workplace environment.
"Given the opportunity, women can offer creative and ingenuous ideas based on their own practical experiences. They bring patience and considered rational thinking.
"Often, through the historic nature of the industry and existing underlying tones, it can feel like ideas can be dismissed or undermined. Generally, from experience of their own career paths, women bring; Determination, Strength and Courage to make their voices heard.
"We need to be educating and empowering girls from a young age to know that there is room for their contribution in the construction industry.
"They need to be informed of the endless possibilities available to them. They need to know that there are various ways of gaining suitable qualifications that don’t necessarily require following the traditional route of A-Levels and University degrees. There are other paths to progression through Technical and Vocational courses. Young females need to know they can be anything they set their minds to.
"Here at Civic Engineers we’re proud of our 60/40 gender split across disciplines, and it’s imperative that we continue to pave the way for the future of female engineers entering the industry, through education, engagement and enthusiasm."
Sophie Gilmore, managing director at HybridTec
"International Women’s Day is hugely important. We are seeing increasing numbers of women moving into the industry and this is a welcome development for us in the construction and engineering sector.
"Women are historically significantly underrepresented in STEM and particularly in the energy and utilities industry, but more and more women are feeling confident to explore training and careers in this sector.
"We have seen a shift away from traditional ideas of 'jobs for girls' and the attitude within the industry is clearly moving to a more inclusive and diverse approach to training and recruitment – however there is still a way to go.
"HybridTec as a provider of training and assessment are at the forefront of making the energy and utilities sector a viable employment choice for all."
Jessica Green, sales development executive at Carlsberg Group
"I work with so many inspirational and strong women in hospitality and leisure and sales - and despite both being male dominated industries, I have been lucky enough to forge strong relationships with female contacts, who I am now able to call my friends, as well as simply clients.
"It is so important that we all have female role models to look up too in business and because of this, I am able to walk into any meeting with self-confidence and the full backing of my more senior counterparts, who have given me the tools and the guidance to grow.
"International Women’s Day is a day that sees the spotlight shone on women for one day of the year - however, by praising our fellow females’ successes whether that be in person or on social media, supporting each other through our individual struggles and all pushing towards the same goal of equality and high-performance achievements, we can all reach the top."
Ellie McNeil, chief executive at YMCA Together
"How we treat someone during their darkest moments is a measure of humanity.
"International Women’s Day focuses on the empowerment of women. It’s an important day to celebrate all that women have achieved but it is equally important to hold in mind the significant impact that violence against women and girls continues to have in our society. Each year 2.3 million people experience domestic abuse, and the charity sector is key in supporting people through this.
"At YMCA Together we provide refuge provision that enables women and children to have time to breathe in a space they feel safe, support from people who care about them and advocacy to help them to build a new life for their family. Today we hold hope for women and girls impacted by violence locally, nationally and across the world and we will continue to campaign for equity and safety."
Dr Kath Mackay - director of life sciences for Bruntwood SciTech and Cheshire and Warrington LEP board member
Dr Mackay said she hoped projects like the Cheshire Science Corridor would generate "huge opportunities" for more women to become "scientific leaders of the future".
Led by the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership(LEP) The Cheshire Science Corridor is aiming to become an internationally renowned science and technology cluster focused on life sciences, net zero, nuclear and high value manufacturing that is home to world class businesses, research and talent.
Dr Mackay said: "Projects like the Science Corridor are going to be generating huge opportunities for scientific leaders of the future, who are women. And having that critical mass of scientific infrastructure and organisations makes it a very attractive destination."
She also spoke of her wish to champion underrepresented groups in the life sciences sector and attract more female talent to the area through her work chairing the Employer Skills and Education Board.
She added: "It's so important to have those visible representatives and leaders in the industry because I just think you need to be able to see people like you who've done it."
Hayley Roberts, CEO and founder of Distology
"International Women’s Day is a brilliant opportunity to celebrate women. Whether that’s women we know personally, professionally or simply women who inspire us.
"However, I believe that it’s also a chance to reflect on what we’re doing to work towards gender equality and also consider what more we could be doing to promote gender diversity and equality.
"Despite the brilliant work being done to combat gender inequality in business in recent years, we’re still seeing lower numbers of women in leadership roles compared to our male counterparts, and a disparity in pay and promotions.
"In fact, the latest statistics from the ONS show that the gender pay gap sits at 8.3%, and for every 100 men who are promoted from entry level to manager, just 87 women are promoted, according to McKinsey & Company."
Gemma McCall, CEO and co-founder of Culture Shift
"'Embracing equity' seems like a fitting theme for International Women’s Day given where we are now in the journey we’ve been on as a society to achieve equity amongst genders. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it’s also been proven time-and-time again that simply having diversity in the door isn’t enough if there isn’t equitable access to opportunity, reward and respect.
"This international women’s day, just like every other, is an opportunity for leaders like myself to stop and think 'how can we support our colleagues better?'.
"What I challenge leaders to also consider is ‘why am I doing this?’ We’ve seen the benefits to employee happiness, retention, productivity and profitability that come hand in hand with equity in the workplace. We also know it’s the right thing to do on a conscious moral level. We all have different experiences in life that affect our motivations.
"From my own experience, I set up Culture Shift, after facing maternity discrimination, not once, but twice. The discrimination I faced in the workplace negatively affected my confidence and I was sick of people assuming that because I had become a mother, I wouldn’t be as committed to developing my career.
"I approach this work from a place of empathy for those that share my experience, and support for those facing all other forms of bullying and harassment. That won’t be the same for all leaders. But for this work to have longevity and real impact, we need to assess what’s driving us to want to truly build change into our strategies and action plans.
"Bringing in more diverse employees won’t fix a problem if there’s no strategic foresight into what needs to be fixed and how you’ll get there. Understanding the reality of the experience of a diverse workforce isn’t enough if you don’t have a reason for asking the questions to encourage them to speak up.
"As business owners, if we want our workforce to be the best it can be, we have to truly embrace equity, make it part of our mission, and be willing to adapt based on the needs of our people."
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