What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
There are so many names that come to mind when I think about International Women’s Day. From Simone Veil, Ida Craft to Sunitha Krishnan and many more. I was lucky enough to be born in an era and country where I was given access to Education, vote, work and much more. However in the worst case scenario, some of us are still struggling getting access to these rights. For the luckiest of us, there’s still some work to be done (gender pay gap, access to CEO and senior positions…). I feel we are on the right path for more equality and men and women alongside are working towards the same goal.
As a career women yourself, do you feel you have had to fight harder to get where you are today?
I remember interviewing for roles and being asked about my personal situation and where I’d see myself in a few years’ time with a strong emphasis on either ‘mother’ or ‘actively working’. I am lucky enough to have worked in places where I have never felt like being a women was working against me, however, I am aware that I am still early in my career and that access to senior positions are still more difficult for us.
How do you feel the media and creative industry treats women?
I think there is clearly a real interest across the business in promoting diversity and inclusion; this is a hot topic now. There are still some industries that seems to be male heavy such as Tech however, there is some amazing response in trying to bridge the gap (women in Tech programmes and so forth). It takes a will to change mentalities and education is going to be at the core of this change, pushing women to get down technical paths they would not have considered before.
What would you like to see companies do to ensure more gender parity?
With the rise of flexible working I think there is a lot to be made for women not to go a step back after their maternity leave. There’s also on-going training platforms arising and so much we could do so that we have access to more senior positions without having to compromise between being a mom and being CEO/COO and so forth.
What advice would you give to women ambitious for a great career?
It’s only impossible until it’s done. There is nothing you cannot achieve because of your gender.