Inspire Inclusion this International Women's Day

International Women's Day to me is a day of celebration. It celebrates how far we have come as women in social, economic, cultural, and political aspects. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for gender equality and the empowerment of women all over the world. It's a day to appreciate the contributions of women in various fields and to raise awareness about the challenges they still face, including gender discrimination, inequality in the workplace and the lack of access to education and healthcare.

Inspire inclusion means despite what background, identity or characteristics someone might have we are actively supporting everyone. Empowering people to be respected and want to participate without judgement. Bringing everyone together as one and challenge stereotypes that may cause attitudes or behaviours.

Due to the dynamic and innovative nature of the TIC industry, this drove me to wanting a successful career withing this field. The marketing industry often sees a significant presence of women, whereas the TIC sector tends to be predominantly male-dominated. Entering a field where male dominance is prevalent can feel daunting, but I refused to let that deter me from pursuing my career ambitions. My determination to broaden my skill set and delve into a new industry fuelled my journey. Despite the initial challenges, I am proud to say that I have successfully achieved my goal of upskilling myself and embracing this new professional path.

Gender diversity in marketing teams within the TIC sector significantly enhances the effectiveness and creativity of marketing initiatives by allowing diverse perspectives, promoting innovation and ideas, increasing empathy and understanding towards diverse consumer demographics, enhancing problem-solving abilities, reflecting consumer diversity, and improving brand reputation.

With a mix of gender, teams are better equipped to develop inclusive and culturally sensitive campaigns that resonate with a broader range of consumers, for example some area’s can be male-dominated so by having that aspect with in the team can build business success in the fast-paced and dynamic TIC industry. 

My hopes for women in marketing include allowing women to be themselves and show off their creative passions. Giving women the opportunity to achieve greater representation in leadership roles and creating more inclusive and supportive work environments where women can thrive and excel. I aspire to see women recognised and celebrated for their contributions to the field, with equal opportunities for growth, advancement, and recognition of their talents and achievements.

For individuals embarking on a marketing career, my advice is to embrace experimentation and exploration. Dive into various aspects of marketing to discover where your passions lie. Allow yourself the freedom to make mistakes and view them as valuable learning experiences. Remember that each day in marketing brings new challenges and opportunities for growth. Most importantly enjoy it­­! ­

International women's Day is a special day to celebrate and honor women's achievements and contributions to society. It's a time to recognise the progress we've made towards gender equality and to continue advocating for women's rights.

 It means actively encouraging and empowering women and promoting gender inclusivity in all aspects of life. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected and included, regardless of their background, identity or abilities. The capability to embrace different perspectives, experiences and ideas and ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to participate and thrive. Inclusion is not just about diversity but also about creating a sense of belonging and acceptance for all. Its important to celebrate our differences and work to build a more inclusive and equitable world.

I have always had a deep interest in the built environment and the constant balance between form and function in building structures and how it has changed throughout history up to the modern day. I have three degrees in Conservation Studies and so have unique skills and knowledge base of the conservation methods for decorative interiors and features that I can apply, using a Building Pathology approach to formulate a suitable remedial and management solution for each individual case.

The future of Building Pathology looks promising with the advancements in technology and sustainability. As for women, I believe they will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the future of this field, with their diverse perspectives and talents, women can bring fresh ideas, approaches, innovation and leadership to the industry. It's important to encourage and support women in pursuing  careers in Building Pathology, as their contributions can lead to more inclusive and well-rounded solutions.

If you are genuinely interested in the field, then you should definitely pursue it. After six years in the construction industry I have started to see big changes from attitudes towards women on site to the availability and design of suitable well fitting PPE. This can only progress and expand as more women join the industry.

International Women’s Day means an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the incredible women in our lives; role models, family, colleagues, friends, all those that inspire up. It’s a time to highlight how far women have come, but also how far we still have to go for true equality in all aspects of life, including in the workplace.

To inspire inclusion we need to continue to highlight the amazing women within the industry and demonstrate how we are encouraging everyone to recognise the imperative contributions these women make. We need to focus on recruiting and progressing women, as well as inspire other women to move into this industry by offering a place to work that provides equal opportunity regardless of gender, and be a company that is at the forefront of this movement and one that continually empowers women.

We need to focus on closing the gender pay gap, and having tangible targets to evidence how we are doing this. We must also continue to recruit and promote women into senior positions, and offer the same opportunities to women as men, to encourage more to join this industry. Finally, we need to inspire women from a young age to pursue this career path by making it one that is inclusive and empowering, and one where they can see women in positions of power that inspire them.

Always knowing your worth and ensuring your voice in heard (even in a room full of men), not allowing prejudice or unconscious bias to stop you, speaking up when you disagree with something and calling out misogyny, and surrounding yourself with strong women and men who value the difficulties women often face and who are working to support equality.

I hope that eventually equal pay will be as standard and not something that has to be fought for, and that opportunities are presented to women as equally as they are presented to men. I hope to see more women in senior positions and to see a more equal balance in genders across the industry. For those just starting their career in this field, it’s a great industry to be a part of, that offers variety and the opportunity to be involved in some really interesting projects. We need to continue to support the women within this industry, and encourage more women to join it by recognising what steps we need to take every day of the year, not just on International Women’s Day.

For me International Women’s Day represents the chance to remember and commemorate the efforts and achievements of women throughout history. Women who have had to bravely challenge societal norms, discrimination and systemic barriers in order to secure fundamental freedoms and equality. International Women’s Day serves as a testament to their resilience, determination and the ongoing pursuit of a more inclusive and equitable world.

To me inspiring inclusion is about recognising the inherent worth and dignity of every individual and striving to create an environment where everyone feels seen, heard and valued. Its about creating spaces where everyone feels like they belong, no matter who they are. Its about celebrating differences and making sure everyone’s voice is heard and respected. Its also about making sure that everyone has the same opportunities to succeed, regardless of their background or identity. Basically its all about making sure that everyone feels welcome and valued.

I was drawn to a career in Environmental Science primarily as a result of wanting to work in an industry and role which was about problem solving and innovation. I wanted something that would provide me with the opportunity to be involved in tackling complex issues, help develop new methodologies and to find creative problems to pressing problems. I wanted to be part of a field that was dynamic and ever-evolving.

I would say the field of Environmental Science needs diverse perspectives and voices and if you have a passion for science, the environment and sustainability then pursue it wholeheartedly. Its important to follow your interests and explore the different areas of Environmental Science and find a space that suits you where you can make a meaningful impact.

I hope to see an increase in work environments that prioritise diversity, equality and inclusion, where more women continue to feel supported, respected and valued for their contributions. Ultimately I hope to see women continue to play a significant role in the industry, addressing pressing environmental challenges and for women to continue to contribute to solutions that ultimately result in the promotion of sustainability, conservation and the protection of our planet.

International Women’s Day does not, in all honesty, have a particularly significant meaning to me. So often, it seems to be accompanied by sweeping statements and grand pronouncements, but limited long-term change. For that reason, whilst I fully support the idea behind it, I would like to see it lead to more significant improvements.

To me, inspiring inclusion means showing people that there are people like them in the industry, or that if there aren’t, then the industry has space for them and would be a place that they could thrive.

As with many industries, I think it is important to deal with the issues that more often affect women, typically around parental leave, along with childcare and other caring responsibilities. This means making sure there are appropriate policies in place to protect people going on parental leave, offering opportunities for job sharing and part-time work where typical hours may not be suitable. Additionally, I think that business development opportunities could be examined to ensure that they are open to everyone, as some of the typical events, such as golf days, can end up appearing exclusionary.

My unique perspective as a person enhances my approach to advisory work, as indeed it is the unique perspective of everyone in the industry which makes their approach important. Every person brings a different background, set of experiences, and way of engaging with the work at hand, and for that reason, I think it is vital that the industry seeks greater diversity across the board.

I hope that there will be a wider variety of women at all levels in the Sector, and that they will feel that this a welcoming and supportive industry to work in.