Inspiring words from the management team of a global HR in commemoration of the movement for diversity, inclusion and gender equality.
As a female CEO, I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by an executive team made-up of strong female leaders where everyone advocates equality and inclusion.
Together we champion and celebrate the successes of women around the world who are achieving great things. Though we still have a long way to go in creating a more equal world, together is the only way we will get there.
Organizations must live and breathe values that ensure diversity or risk impacting their ability to recruit top talent. This commitment to diversity has never been more important, as more people are coming together to vie for equality and inclusion of all kinds as the workplace of the future resets itself post-pandemic.
In my mind, choosing to challenge the status quo reminds us that we each must play a role to help create a more equal world. International Women’s Day is a great way to remind ourselves that diversity also plays a major role in how employees feel about their workplace—most notably, in relation to feelings of inclusion, happiness and trust in leadership.
It is my core belief that—from recruitment to development to establishing female-friendly policies—all organizations must strive to prioritize equality across every aspect to further accelerate progression. It is so important to be conscious of what a balanced team looks like, to include people from all walks of life and to be cognizant of what it takes to achieve this.
Breaking the Bias
In my organization, Charles Ferguson, General Manager (Asia Pacific), has felt the impact of the widespread shift to hybrid- and remote work. “Looking at the glass half-full, one might consider that the widespread shift to remote work over the past two years has contributed to breaking the bias. The pandemic brought a new perspective that remote and flexible work models are not a special entitlement limited to a specific group of people—they are in fact for everyone. Except for those working in the essential services sectors, remote work has leveled the playing field for employees globally.”
According to Ferguson, remote work has elevated trust amongst business stakeholders and provided voices for those who before this were reluctant to speak. In a positive way, this can foster more acceptance of the idea where diversity is embraced, and teams everywhere can benefit hugely from the multiple talents, expertise, and perspectives that this liberation brings to fruition daily.
Ensuring inclusivity bar none
Yet another inspiration for gender equality comes from my Chief People Officer, Richa Gupta, who had emigrated to the United States from India with just $4,000, a suitcase and a big dream.
Today, she is the firm’s Chief Human Resources Officer, making it easy for organizations worldwide to hire anyone, anywhere, no matter where they reside. Amid the current talent conundrum and the Great Resignation, Gupta said: “I’ve witnessed how the acceptance of hiring talent remotely has been particularly and positively impactful for women. With newfound access to jobs, women do not have to leave the workforce in the significant numbers of the past due to the pandemic sacrificing their professional and financial well-being. Families, and even communities, can stay intact.”
International Women’s Day is also a great time to remember the importance of how all employees feel about their workplace—most notably, in relation to feelings of inclusion, fulfilment, happiness and trust in leadership. “It is my core belief that from recruitment, to development, to establishing inclusive policies, all businesses must strive to prioritize inclusion across every aspect of the organization to accelerate progression further. It’s so important to be conscious of what a balanced and inclusive team looks like, to integrate people from all walks-of-life with empathy and to be cognizant of what it takes to achieve this,” said Gupta.
In unison, all of us agree that together we can foment the #BreakTheBias movement and champion and celebrate the successes of women around the world who are achieving great things. Though we still have a long way to go in creating a more equal and just world, together is the only way we will get there.
Our advice for other women is to keep learning, keep networking, hone your skills and most importantly, trust yourself and your superpowers (yes, you have many!).
