Tomorrow, on International Women’s Day, we take a moment to acknowledge and honour the strength, leadership, and resilience of women around the world.
At the Chamber, we celebrate and honour the incredible contributions of all the women across our organisation. With five out of our eight leaders being women, we take pride in fostering an environment where female leadership thrives. We are proud to highlight the voices of our remarkable female leaders, who share their personal experiences, insights, and thoughts on this significant day.
Prof. Miranda Barker OBE DL, CEO commented,
On International Women’s Day, my mind turns to the international. We are so fortunate being born into the UK in the decades that we have been, to be here within an ecosystem that doesn’t fetter our aspirations or bar us from admission.
It’s easy to forget in our own privileged world, where we can revel in protesting the minor discrepancies, and where as the first woman in so many boardrooms 30 years ago, I still even then saw no lack of regard or respect, that there are places like Afghanistan where just to be a woman renders you voiceless, faceless, powerless in the extreme.
I seek to channel the passion and fervour of our global female force to protest these grave injustices. As a total sanction, entry into any room, global structure, or discussion should be forbidden unless meaningful progress is made on these most pressing issues.
Michaela Hoyle, Head of Communications Department said,
From dinner table to boardroom and back again: For me, International Women’s Day is about acknowledging the challenges and achievements that come with balancing the journey of leadership and motherhood. Both roles demand dedication, resilience, and an ability to navigate the unexpected, often at the same time.
Motherhood is a journey that teaches us invaluable skills – patience, grit, forward planning, and the realisation that we are far stronger than we ever knew. These same qualities are what shape exceptional leaders. As we grow in our professional leadership, we further develop our resilience, emotional intelligence, and communication skills – all of which, not only, enhance our effectiveness at work but also shape the kind of mothers we are at home.
As women, we don’t have to choose between being strong leaders and dedicated mothers – we can be both. And in doing so, we set a powerful example for the next generation, showing our daughters and sons that leadership is not defined by gender but by strength, capability, and compassion.
Louise Sydenham, Deputy Chief Executive added,
Celebrating International Women’s Day is important to me as it demonstrates, alongside other initiatives, the importance we should and do place on diversity and inclusion within the workplace and the wider world.
Having a diverse group of people, working together, bringing with them a vast variety of experiences, knowledge, culture and thought processes encourages us all to aim high and achieve success.
Our Chamber has made great strides over several years to provide opportunities for all to succeed and excel in their chosen field. From taking on apprentices and investing in their education and training, to developing leaders and assisting specialists to flourish.
I am proud that our Chamber has diversity within its workforce, not just in terms of gender, and I’m certain that this contributes to our successes and in turn the excellent support we can offer to our members, clients and partners.
Celebrating our achievements as a whole – but also, of those individuals is important and inspires others to follow in their footsteps and achieve their own successes.
I look forward to seeing where our Chamber team takes us next and celebrating future achievements.
Christine Lambe, Business & Training Director added,
Be authentic and always be true to yourself. Show confidence in your decisions and your abilities to make a difference to the lives of those you work with and those you work for. Don’t let anyone else control your career other than yourself. Resilience will be the number one skill, but don’t forget those all-important soft skills like empathy, compassion, kindness. People who are happy in their job will always go beyond their job description, so create a respectful, supportive, fun workspace that recognises the wellbeing of your team and that of others around you.
Before long, you will be noticed for what you do and not just what you say.
As the saying goes,
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock
– Thomas Jefferson
This International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the women who lead with heart, whether in the workplace, at home, or both. Their contributions shape the world, proving that leadership and compassion are not separate but beautifully interconnected.
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