A time to reflect on the success of women everywhere

INTERNATIONAL Women’s Day takes place on March 8 and is a perfect occasion to celebrate and reflect on the major achievements of women in business. There are few areas of business that women do not play a significant role in which is a measure of the success that has evolved over many decades. This success has taken many forms of progression, not all of which have been easily achieved.

The past year has also seen the rise of the #MeToo and #TimesUp campaign which started in the US in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein allegations. But the true measure of its power is when it prompted women all over the world to speak out against sexual harassment. Forums like this are contingent on the unified response of women for what is often a codified problem. But online campaigns only reach a certain audience and the fight for rights and societal change must not rely solely on social media as there’s an onus on women to try and reach all corners of the globe – even sometimes our own localities – to target, educate and eradicate the scourge of manipulation and abuse which comes in various disguises.

International Women’s Day 2018 have adopted as this year’s theme and global appeal the ‘Do not be complacent’ and a ‘strong call-to-action’ slogans which are key phrases to consider. Gender discrimination won’t be eradicated overnight which is still a little perplexing to have to say in 2018. But nothing worth fighting for was ever achieved easily.

As stated at the outset, business is but one of the ways in which women have responded forcefully to discrimination and limited opportunity in the workplace. As you flick through these pages you will see many positive examples of women who have succeeded across a wide range of businesses. Their story is but part of the global collectivism of women everywhere whose fight to prosper in whatever ambition they aspire to is one built on the foundations of those who have gone before them.

Women have, to a large extent, progressed beyond the stage of tokenism in the workplace and many leading companies, be they local or international, are now run by successful women who have demonstrated much greater empathy, understanding and acumen then those who once felt they were unfit for such jobs.

Business should be a level playing field, one where talent and not gender defines the pathway to success. Societal and workplace inequality towards women is finally in a state of transformation, albeit slow and cumbersome in some cases. But what remains a leading cause of concern is the latent sexism that still prevails. The very fact in still remains tells us that more work needs to be done in educating young people about gender equality. This work should start in the home and continue through to the classroom and place of work. Society as a while, and not just women, will reap the benefits of this process.