As a passionate Recruitment Consultant specialising in Client Services, Lucie takes diversity and inclusion to heart and International Women’s day means a lot to her. It is a special day celebrating women gaining access to the same rights as men.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
There are so many names coming to my 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 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 seem to be male heavy such as Tech however, there are some amazing responses trying to bridging the gap (women in Tech Program and so forth). It takes a will to change mentalities and education is going to be at the core of this change, inspiring women to follow technical paths they would not have considered before.
What would you like to see companies do to make give 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 maternity. 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 mum 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.