This Sunday, 8 March, is International Women’s Day. We asked leading female business figures from a variety of industries why the occasion matters to them. Here’s part two – click here to read part one.
Lynne Connolly, member of the IoD Scotland Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group
Each for Equal – that’s about us all. We need to think more broadly than each other’s gender (or any other visible characteristic) and to think about the whole person and whether our ways of working help colleagues to be at their best.
It’s great to see this International Women’s Day is based on ‘collective individualism’ and each of us taking accountability for the conversations we have, the actions we take and the unconscious norms that we challenge in ourselves and others.
For me it’s about the environment we actively create as a critical enabler of running sustainable businesses for the future – firstly, through the policies and processes we put in place to level the playing field and secondly, through the way we apply these – and that’s where how we choose to behave everyday comes in. It’s not just on one day we can be thinking this way – but days like today remind us and sharpen our focus.
Lesley Eccles, founder and CEO, HelloRelish, Inc
International Women’s Day is an important time to celebrate and reflect on the accomplishments of women, big or small, in all industries, in all countries, and the obstacles we have overcome throughout the years to have a level playing field. As a woman in tech, I have seen the discrimination head on but have also experienced tremendous support from both genders when I launched my new company, Relish.
I believe there are significant strides we have made for gender equality in my industry and I’m excited to see more female founders and CEOs in the tech space changing the world.”
Carolyn Jameson, chief legal and policy officer at Trustpilot
International Women’s Day is something that makes me feel very proud of all that has, and is currently, being achieved by women all over the world. It also serves as an important acknowledgement of the challenges that are still faced by women in many walks of life – including business life.
It gives me a sense of solidarity and determination to do all I can to support other women, and encourage and promote ‘equal thinking’.
Lynn Laughland, HRM Homecare managing director and Women’s Enterprise Scotland Business Leader of the Year 2019
In the 25 years I have devoted to running my own business, I have seen huge strides made in not only the hard work and effort, but also the recognition given to women as they strive to establish themselves in their fields of work. Days like International Women’s Day give us the opportunity to pause and reflect on what has been achieved – but also focus the mind on what still needs to be done to make every place of work truly equal and diverse.
Through HRM Homecare I have taken time to explain to women that they can succeed, that obstacles can be overcome, and that there are people there in their corner ready to give help, advice and motivation when they need it. So on this International Women’s Day, it’s an opportunity to remember that together we can continue to make a difference the other 364 days of the year.
Lindsay McGranaghan is business unit leader for CGI in Scotland
It’s important to celebrate and increase diversity whenever we can, every day. But set days like International Women’s Day also have a vital role in focusing minds to reflect on successes and look for areas of improvement. They can help create a supportive environment for people to step forward and share their experiences and ideas to help create a better future.
I have been very fortunate in my career to have worked with very strong and inspiring women who were a great support to me. I noticed upon my return to Scotland in 2016 that many of our clients are led by women chief executives.
The evidence of the positive impact of gender equality is clear. The Scottish Government continues to promote this and in 2019 Scotland was named the best country in the UK for gender equality in the workplace according to the Women in Work Index.
Up until the 1950s it was the norm to see women in computing and between 30 and 50 percent of programmers were women. This was well before the rise of gaming which led to a surge in male interest in tech. Tech is a people industry, full of talent and creativity. It is an industry where women have and do excel.
I believe there is no reason why the tech sector as a whole should not fully embrace gender diversity. I feel privileged to be in a position to support initiatives that will help organisations like CGI to provide opportunities for women to develop successful careers in this industry.
Rucelle Soutar, chief operating officer at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate strong females and encourage everyone – individuals, groups, companies and countries – to continue to develop equal rights around the world.
More than ever, on International Women’s Day, I’ll think about my three young daughters who don’t know about a world where it was once frowned upon for girls to wear trousers or play football. I think about my role as a working mum and as the chief operating officer of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an organisation that supports and encourages female mentorships and our team to reach their full potential, no matter their gender.
I also think about working fathers as to get equality for women in the workplace, men need to recognise their role too. For example, we should all accept that it’s okay to be a father and work part-time to cover childcare.
By the time my children enter the workplace, I expect we will have progressed even further. Their education starts and ends with the fact that girls can do just as much as boys, and vice versa, which is brilliant. The key to change comes when women really believe they ‘can’.
