Before I start, I want to make one thing very clear, the rise of women is never about the fall of men. For me, this statement encapsulates the essence of equality, it’s not a zero-sum game.

Celebrations such as Women's Equality Day should be both a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come but also how much further we still need to go. A day not only for shining a spotlight on this area and for celebrating achievements; but inspiring future generations of women to rise, innovate, and lead in every sphere, especially in areas traditionally where we have had less opportunity.

I often reflect on the challenges that come with being a woman in business at times. From my first job in technology services to my current role in the startup space, both areas still predominantly male, I've frequently found myself as one of the few women in the room. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that I truly believe I need to know twice as much as any of my male counterparts to have my knowledge taken seriously at times.

When I started my career in tech sales over a decade ago, I was one of two females to be selected for the graduate team. I quickly realised how tough the environment can be for women. The casual sexism, the constant need to prove your abilities, the pressure to adapt to often aggressive environments. Over a decade later, when I was raising funds for my own company last year, I discovered that I was part of the mere 2% of female-founded businesses that receive VC investment across Europe and America. A stark reminder of the uphill battle we women still face in the entrepreneurial world. All of my life experiences have shaped me into the person I am today and all the challenges I have faced have only ever motivated me not only to succeed, but to do something that I care about and put my energy into making even just a small difference.

Equality is a core personal value of mine and from a professional standpoint it also centres as a dominant force. I founded an employee wellbeing organisation and my days are built around improving the lives of everyone in the workplace – therefore equality is a huge part of what I do and something deeply important to me.

We are more than aware this topic we are speaking about today isn't without its challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated gender inequalities, with women more likely to lose their jobs or reduce their working hours to care for children and family members. If we’re to move forward effectively with gender equality, it’s crucial that we address these setbacks and work towards a future where women aren’t disproportionately impacted by external events in the workplace.

Speaking of challenges – it is probably worth mentioning I have lost count of the times (particularly over the last year since running my company) where I have been told I am intimidating simply because I am not afraid to disagree with other people in the room (albeit physical or virtual), or “grumpy” when I am being direct and don’t have time to waste, or “emotional” when I show my passion for something. I have delivered talks on Emotional Intelligence to some of the largest organisations in the world, I have over 10,000 1:2:1 coaching hours to my name, a background in psychology and a qualified personal development coach – I like to think I know a thing or two about human behaviour and communication skills. I am certain if I was exhibiting the same behaviours as a male, the responses from other males would be very different. I have had so many similar conversations from my female friends in business who are often facing the same challenge. It is important to note most of the time the individuals making the comments aren’t doing so to be cruel or rude, they are just unaware. 

It should go without saying that equality is a moral imperative, but it also is fundamental to strong business performance. Diverse teams are proven to be more innovative and successful, with companies that have gender-diverse leadership being 27% more likely to outperform their competitors. By advocating for women's equality, we’re advocating for better workplaces, better cultures, better businesses, and realistically a better world.

In the UK, women make up nearly half the workforce, but in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields, that figure drops to just 34%. Despite increased corporate attention on gender equality in recent years, progress towards parity in leadership is still far from where it needs to be, over 75% of senior management positions are held by men, with women occupying only 29% of management roles with a revenue-generating function, often the stepping stone to the C-suite.

We only have to look at the statistics for mothers returning to work to understand how much more there is to do. Despite 98% of mothers wanting to return to work, only 24% manage to do so full-time, and of those, 79% end up leaving again.

I’ll never forget the story I was told a few months ago by a contact of mine who works for a global tech firm. A successful career woman, she had been with the organisation for over a decade and consistently a top performer – going above and beyond for the company in all she does. When she asked if they could accommodate a more flexible working arrangement for just one day a week after her first child, she was met with the response: "We have been flexible, we gave you time off to give birth".

Then we wonder why we are witnessing this persistent gender pay gap, which by the way stands at around 14.9% in the UK. For those of you who have not come across this concept before, it effectively means that from November 20th, women are working for free compared to their male counterparts due to the discrepancy in pay between genders. And what's even more worrying is that this gap is widening. The UK has dropped in global rankings for gender equality as the pay gap has grown between 2021 and 2022.

Moving forwards – in a world where technology is advancing at unprecedented rates, with economic uncertainty, political unrest, and wars raging, women bring different perspectives, experiences, and strengths to the table, and these contributions are invaluable for the future of society.

Days like Women's Equality Day are a chance to recognise the strength and capability of women everywhere and to shine a spotlight on the work that still needs to be done, especially in areas where we're still fighting for our place at the table. It's a chance to recommit ourselves to the fight for true equality.

It is about inspiring women to step into their power, to take risks, to push boundaries, and to lead with confidence. We’re not just here to participate; we’re here to shape the future. And as we rise, we lift all others around us.

The rise of women is about building a better, more inclusive world, one where everyone, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive.