This year’s International Women’s Day theme #BreakTheBias has a mission to support the following:
Women in Technology
MISSION: To elevate and advance gender parity in technology and celebrate the women forging innovation.
Women at Work
MISSION: To forge inclusive work cultures where women’s careers thrive, and their achievements are celebrated..
Women Forging Change
MISSION: To elevate women forging change via technology and sustainability in communities, workplaces and beyond.
Women Creatives
MISSION: To celebrate the work of women creatives and elevate visibility for commercial projects and commissions.
Women’s Empowerment
MISSION: To shine a spotlight on activity uplifting and inspiring women to pursue goals without bias or barrier.
Women’s Health
MISSION: To assist women to be in a position of power to make informed decisions about their health.
Women and Sport
MISSION: To celebrate women athletes and applaud when equality is achieved in pay, sponsorship, and visibility.
How great are all these missions, but where is the ‘Women in Business’ mission?
It is not there, because women in business are in all these mission areas. As women in business, we have a fantastic opportunity to support these missions and #BreakThe Bias.
As Leaders, our Entrepreneurial Spirit enables us to rise up and be diverse role models to each other and those around us.
We are lucky enough to no longer be in a business environment of one woman against another, we are no longer competing, together we are so much stronger, we are there to pull each other up. As Business Owners and employers, we need to act, support, retain and advance women.
Having been personally exposed to challenging workplaces and situations, I am a huge advocate for supporting women and equality, but I am also aware that sometimes with these great campaigns, it brings challenges in the small business space.
Let us look to support each other, there is no need to go at it alone. Mentors and business groups are a fantastic way to listen, learn and share.
One small way as Women in Business can contribute is by putting on your own life jacket first. Find your tribe and have open and honest conversations.
In Tasmania, we are so fortunate to have numerous women’s networks and mentor-based initiatives and if you haven’t already been involved with at least one, I strongly recommended you reach out to them and find the one that is the fit for you.
Please see the list that I have compiled for you to check out (these are a combination of in person and online offerings): Note that these are formal connections and there are many informal Facebook mentoring groups awaiting your discovery.
Migrant resource Centre Tasmania – they host Migrant Networks meetup and Women’s Networking Session. Follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mrctasmania
This is not an exhaustive list, but an example of what we have available to support each other and keep the #BreakTheBias Conversation going.
Women in Business, can play a part in setting the stage for equity in business and the workplace.
