International Women's Day is celebrated every year on March 8th to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. It is also a day to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and to advocate for women's rights. One of the key themes of International Women's Day is women helping other women. This concept is deeply rooted in Women’s Business Link’s values. So as it is our tradition we wanted the celebratory event to promote a positive change in our communities and beyond.
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Together with GottaBe! we invited incredible women to take part in our panel discussions.
The Business Panel consisted of Lydia Finnegan, who talked about her journey and the support that Goldman Sachs provides for women in businesses, Amber Hunt LLB MA, who is an alumni of Goldman Sachs programs, Belinda Burton, used to work in a corporation and now empowers women through her photographs and amazing Carrie Briggs-Jones who provided a lot of empowering advice for women wanted to progress
their careers and businesses. The insightful panel was moderated by Alexandra Fiddler, who is a formidable businesswoman and an influencer.
The Equality & Diversity Panel discussed the challenges still faced by some people. Kanan Tekchandani ND Âû, who is a neurodivergent coach, told us about problems faced by autistic women; Jarmila Entezari, who is an immigration solicitor, spoke about clients who often face inequality of treatment based on the country they are from, this inequality is often greater for women and finally, Elaine Banton, who is a true trailblazer of equality and inclusion during her barrister work and after hours when she sits on diversity and equality committees. Elaine explained to us the difference between equality and equity. She also advocated helping each other and becoming a mentor.
After the speakers shared their stories and offered advice on how to overcome challenges and achieve success, the discussions continued during the networking.
Organised at GottaBe! London office, we enjoyed a great space in which to chat, build
connections, and create a supportive community and sample scrumptious Italian food
provided by Cin Cin Restaurant and wine tasting expertly led by its owner, David Toscano. No doubt his presentation and wines were a great ice-breaker and let to more
conversations and helped facilitate connections.
As we recognise how lucky and privileged we are to be able to celebrate together like this, it is our tradition to use this momentum to help other, often disadvantaged women. This is why, International Women’s Day is traditionally a fund-raiser.
This year the proceeds went to Female Dignity. Its
funder, Amanda Alexander described how the organisation aims to restore menstrual dignity to vulnerable or economically challenged women, to provide menstrual education and to produce natural and biodegradable sanitary products.
We loved what she does and when she said: ‘When ‘Me’ becomes ‘WE’, a great team is
formed and WE can achieve great things together!’, it really resonated with us.
As a picture is worth more than a thousand words, we encourage you to visit our social
media to see the moments beautifully captured by two great photographers: Belinda
Burton and Ewa Karaszkiewicz.
When women help other women, they create a ripple effect that can have a positive impact on their families, communities, and society as a whole. By working together, women can break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create a more equitable and just world. International Women's Day is a reminder that we still have a long way to go to achieve gender equality, but it is also a celebration of the progress we have made.
Let us continue to support and lift up one another, and let us never forget the power of women helping other women.
WBL Team
