This International Women’s Day, we asked one of our Trustees, Jacqueline Ulrich, and one of our our Ambassadors, Zabina Zmitrowicz, to share their thoughts on what the day means to them;
Jacqueline Ulrich, Trustee
As we mark International Women’s Day today, I want to reflect on the strides we’ve made towards gender equality in the workplace:
Over the years, we’ve witnessed remarkable progress, with women breaking barriers, shattering glass ceilings, and making significant contributions across various industries. However, amidst the celebrations, it’s crucial to acknowledge that the journey towards gender parity is far from over, and that women continue to face unique challenges in the workplace. The need for comprehensive policies that support women throughout different stages of their lives remains; from maternity and parental leave, and childcare support, to flexible working arrangements and menopause support. It’s heartening to see more companies recognizing the importance of implementing such policies, but there’s still much work to be done.
Equality goes beyond merely mirroring the conditions experienced by men in the workplace; it is about creating an environment where women have equal opportunities to thrive, grow, and succeed on their own terms, acknowledging and addressing the unique challenges and barriers that women face, whether it’s the gender pay gap, lack of representation in leadership roles, or unconscious bias.
This International Women’s day, let’s celebrate the achievements of women, commit ourselves to the ongoing fight for gender equality, and continue to strive to build a future where every woman has the opportunity to pursue her dreams, unleash her full potential, and thrive in both her career and personal life. Happy International Women’s Day!
Zabina Zmitrowicz, Ambassador
I count myself extremely luck to have spent a year with the most inspiring women I could have dreamed of meeting during my commissioning course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. There has been a mountain of adversity during my military career and the only way I have continued putting one foot in front of the other was being able to call on those women, time and time again, over the previous 14 years for help and advice. They counsel me on every aspect of my life, professionally and personally. My wish for my Daughter is that she is privileged enough to meet her ‘wolfpack’ early in her life to have that same support and they inspire her and help her along her way to success, as mine have for me.