In the early 20th century, International Women’s Day began to be celebrated on March 8th as a day commemorating the working woman as well as equal rights and suffragist movements around the world. As more countries granted women the right to vote during the 1900s, observances of the day became more widespread. In 1975, the United Nations undertook a more active role in the observance of International Women’s Day. Today, the holiday is observed in many countries across the world. Typically, it dually celebrates achievements made by women while bringing awareness to how much more work still needs to be done towards advancing equal rights and opportunities.
The World Conference on Women in 1995 introduced a resolution on the equality of men and women. This resolution was the Beijing Declaration, which was adopted by the UN. In the years following the conference, the UN has assigned each year a Women’s Empowerment theme. The corresponding theme for 2020 is “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights,” marking the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
To us at Consilio, International Women’s Day is a day to both celebrate our employees’ diverse strengths while recognizing the importance of including individuals from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. A culture of inclusion promotes the professional and personal growth of our employees and enables us to cultivate their unique strengths. We strive to reflect this sentiment through our Diversity & Inclusion commitment as well as our other initiatives such as our Women in Technology blog series.
We have spoken with several of our employees from around the world what International Women’s Day means to them. We have included their answers below:
Sophie Beattie
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
It’s a day that the world celebrates all the wonderful women that live within it and a focal point in the movement for women’s rights and a call for gender parity.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
Consilio offers a diverse and supportive environment, during my time here, I have had the privilege to work with some amazing people in the industry, who encourage women in leadership and naturally value diversity. People who use their authority to push the workplace culture towards gender equality.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
As the only female on the leadership team for the computer forensic department, I feel equal to my American male counter parts and that my voice is always heard. I feel valued as my position allows me to offer informed advice, mentoring and support to other females within the department or the company.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
I think in relation to my field (computer forensics and expert witness services) creating a gender balanced world is still something we need to push as it is still a very male dominant industry. I experienced this male oriented business first-hand many years ago.
When I started out in my career, I was the sole female employee at a computer forensic firm. The owner of the company had never had a woman working at the company before and we both took a leap of faith. We encountered some humorous challenges, for example “legally employers need to provide separate rooms containing toilets for men and women”. He needed to create a female only bathroom, just for me, and that he did! This environment came with feelings of isolation but also with accomplishment. I very quickly learned how to be “one of the guys”.
Thankfully, today, this type of scenario would be pretty much unheard of, is shows that the industry is changing. We can see that more females are taking an interest in the technology and even the specialised field of computer forensics.
For women who pursue a career in computer forensics, learning to master male-dominated workplaces where boys’ clubs still exist is key. We also have to focus on increasing the self-confidence of women in the industry and ensure that they have the correct support system in place. I find that mentoring is a great method to help women feel heard and progress on to leadership.
I feel that women are a huge asset in this industry, bringing a different perspective to the table specifically when conducting consulting and investigation works.
Danielle Brooks
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, International Women’s Day is a celebration of women, from all walks of life. It’s an acknowledgment of the value that women bring to the world. Everybody you’ll ever meet has been touched by a woman and this day celebrates that fact.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
Consilio does an amazing job of championing women in the workplace by creating a culture of inclusion for all employees. We have women in leadership positions throughout the world who are running large segments of our business. These leaders, in turn, provide the example and oftentimes mentorship, to prepare our more junior women to lead in the future.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
In my nearly four years at Consilio, I’ve had the opportunity to build entire programs and am now building a department. The trust in my abilities that I’ve enjoyed here makes me excited about each new day. We are an agile and collaborative organization, where every team member brings value.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Spend time learning and honing your greatest strengths. Once you have a true understanding of what your best is, pursue opportunities that will help you shine, by using those strengths. Don’t focus on weaknesses, which just kills confidence and career momentum.
Lucy Lambert
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Right this is where I need to own up and hopefully I was not the only one feeling like this. I have to say Women’s Day up until recently (well a few years at least!) meant nothing to me. I was of the view that I did not have time for all this “stuff” and I just needed to (a) focus on my family or (b) get on with my job. Perhaps this stemmed from my culture, being Greek Cypriot and being in the background as a women.
The turning point for me was when I realised that I counted as an individual, as a person and I needed to own every aspect of my life. What this means to me is to ensure that I am valued, I have a say, a voice. I can still retain my values and respect everyone irrespective of who they are but I also value myself equally.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
My views and opinions count, I am taken seriously, and I am recognised for my contributions within the team.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
- Never underestimate yourself.
- Acknowledge that there is always something new to learn – don’t get stuck in your ways!
- Knowledge sharing – Help others along their journey and learn from others. This will help you build upon your experiences.
- Follow your gut instinct when you feel there is something not right then generally this is true. Talk to someone!
Melissa Parker
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to honour the women whose courageous, yet selfless acts paved the way for women’s rights today. We often forget about the brave sacrifices made by those before us, and this day encourages us to reflect on those moments. It’s a day to celebrate our personal “wins” and to pay tribute to the victories of others. As women, we naturally suppress our emotions and minimize our accomplishments to appease others, avoid drawing attention to ourselves to escape guilt and feel like we’re being true team players. I think this day gives women the opportunity to throw away any misconceptions of whom they’re supposed to be. Instead, it celebrates who they are today and all they’ve accomplished. We’ve come so far, and this day serves as an important reminder for why we need to continue empowering and advocating for one another.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
I believe Consilio champions women in the workplace by providing equal opportunities for women in management and other leadership type roles. As a full-time working parent, I value my time with my kids, and having a healthy work-life balance is extremely important to me. At Consilio, I feel that I’m given the opportunity to step up and work hard, but I’m also given the flexibility I need to best serve myself and my family.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
The advice I would give young women entering today’s workforce is to “Have a Voice,” and to trust your intuition. The way you express yourself when communicating with others is key. It’s important to be sensible, but don’t allow your opinions, exceptional ideas, or personal needs or values to go unheard. Learn to leverage your soft skills to develop stronger working relationships with your peers. Always be honest with yourself and others. Resist the urge to push someone else down just to build yourself up. Build a strong foundation of dependability and trust so that others are empowered to listen and follow. Lastly, always listen to your inner guide – she will never steer you in the wrong direction.
Isabelle Schüler
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Women’s Day means celebrating the many acts of courage and determination of ordinary woman. On this day, we should focus on how much we can inspire one another — not compete against each other. No one understands a woman better than another woman. This is something we should always keep in mind.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
I fail to see the difference if you are a man or woman. I appreciate seeing passion and excellence in all of my coworkers regardless of their identity.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
Coming back from a vacation and being told you were missed in that time is a great compliment of validation.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
I still consider myself young 😊, but if you have a dream, make it a goal. Find ways and strategies to make your passion become a reality.
Katie Scoular
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a day where we can celebrate women’s achievements and being in an equal society.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
Consilio strive for diversity in the workplace. I’m proud to work for Consilio as I’ve always felt they encourage women to grow in their career and for this reason we have many women leaders in our company.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
Personally, Consilio have always pushed me to be the best I can and as such I worked my way up through the Project Management team. When I wanted a change in my career they put a path in place to make this happen for me.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Aim high, as it’s certainly achievable in today’s world if you work for it.
Meena Suseendran
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Women’s day means a lot to me. It is a day is to bring attention to the needs, issues, improvements, achievements, and awareness that are unique to being a woman. This is a day to remind women about their rights and strengths. As a mother, I would like to create a better future for my daughters compared to what I have seen in the past.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
I know that many woman feel that their personal lives restrain them from professional advancement. In my opinion, women should not compare their professional milestones to those of men, as it is not a proportional comparison. Consilio is opening up an opportunity to pick and move forward irrespective of gender.
I appreciate Consilio’s Diversity and Inclusion initiative and seeing many women in leadership positions at Consilio. I really believe that one strong woman leads the way for other strong women to come after her.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
For me, the fact that Consilio treats everyone – regardless of gender – equally, shows that they value my role and contributions. My work is always noticed and appreciated and I am excited to continue down this route with Consilio.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Working women continuously wear different hats as a mothers, leaders, sisters, managers, colleagues, wives, daughters, trainers, advisers, friends, and on and on. Women must be strong and patient enough to analyze issues, break the issues down into pieces, and then find individual solutions for each piece. It is necessary to take the time to breath and learn everyday — life is full of lessons.
Additionally, women should not tolerate any uncomfortable situations. Be bold enough to speak what is on your mind.
Aya Takahashi
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To be honest, International Women’s Day is not well-known in Japan, however, it is very telling that Japan has ranked 121 out of 153 countries in the Gender Gap Index by the Wold Economic Forum (WEF). And although this is a very desirable ranking, it is still not perfect. Women in Japan still feel pressure to be a “Yamato Nadeshiko”, or a Japanese ideal woman who personifies pure, feminine beauty. IWD helps us recognize that there is still progress to be made.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
Consilio provides a variety of work styles for woman. Although I have not had the chance to see how exactly Consilio women work, I know there are some taking care of kids while dealing with cross border discovery matters.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
As I am the only PM in the Tokyo office, I am always trying to bring value to Consilio.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
While doing what you can to uplift other professionally, do what you can to receive help and instruction as well.
Chan Vidhyananthan
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is an annual reminder of how far women have come in their quest for equality in both the workplace and the community. When I look back at the opportunities (or rather, lack thereof) for the generation before me, I am truly appreciative of the women (and men) who have helped move us forward towards achieving a more even playing field. Whilst there is still so much more to be done, we pause on this day to acknowledge the progress made and set future goals for a more gender inclusive future.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
Consilio’s Diversity & Inclusion program places a sharp focus on ensuring that women feel empowered and valued at their workplace. The program has promoted amongst others, initiatives championing Women in Technology as well as campaigns to celebrate International Women’s Day. In my experience Consilio has afforded women the same opportunities as our male colleagues with competitive salaries/bonuses, management training and promotions. With it’s flexible work options (including working remotely), flexi time off as well as maternity/paternity leave, Consilio has made it a priority to ensure that it retains its female talent which may otherwise be lost.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
I’ve had the opportunity to work in the legal field in multiple jurisdictions, in Asia, United Kingdom and the US, which has exposed me to diverse groups of people with cultural and geographical differences. But in my anecdotal view, one consistent thread amongst them may be the reluctance of young women to speak out and be vocal in charting their careers in their early years. Seeking out a mentor (a senior women, perhaps!), someone whose goals align with yours, bouncing ideas and seeking feedback from a mentor can be immensely helpful in molding one’s career and move you in the right direction. Whilst not directly in response to the question at hand, I’d also include in this bucket, women re-entering the workforce e.g. after a lengthy absence raising their family or due to a change in circumstances. They may find the workplace vastly different from their prior work experience, if any, and mentoring is a great way to understand and re-integrate oneself into the new work environment.