#BreakTheBias
Happy International Women’s Day!
It’s the 111th anniversary of International Women’s Day. In 1908, 15,000 women marched in New York demanding equal rights. This in turn inspired Clara Zetkin, and consequently the United Nations to create International Women’s Day. Its founding mission was to raise awareness of and to celebrate the progress of the Women’s Rights movement.
Today, this annual event is deeply-entwined with the continued quest for equality and equity celebrating the achievements of our grandmothers, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties, nieces, wives and girlfriends all around the world.
As a young woman in today’s world, I am forever grateful for the women in history and present-day who dared to be disruptors of the status quo with a mission to create better, fairer futures for their daughters. For, greater gender equality makes our communities healthier, safer, and more connected.
During such times of what seems to be continual uncertainty, its important for us to first and foremost lead with empathy and understanding whilst we #BreakTheBias. Be daring, be brave, unapologetically take up spaces that deserve your presence and perspective. If you can’t find spaces, make them. #BreakTheBias by choosing unity in a world that pits us against each other in competition. #BreakTheBias by using your voices to amplify that of others.
In 2022, the case for greater Gender Equality within the UK is just as urgent now as it was then. For example, in 2022, only 2.5% of Trustees on VCSE boards are Women of Colour; with no representation in senior roles in the Supreme Court Justices, Metro Mayors, Police & Crime Commissioners or FTSE 100 CEOs. In 2020, the McKinsey Report found that companies with female leaders outperform those dominated by men. It is clear that we only #WinThroughInclusionAndDiversity, and a strong way to do so is by ensuring the representation of diverse talent.
BeOnBoard was founded by Kalpna Woolf, a Woman of Colour, in response to the necessity for Boardrooms to represent the communities they served. #BreakTheBias by taking on leadership roles in our city’s boardrooms. So today of all days I encourage all my fellow sisters to step up and rightfully take their place in the Boardroom. #BreakTheBias and become a Trustee today. Sign-up here.
by Leila Modirzadeh
Sisters with Voices
