Today, March 8th, 2023 we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD). For over 100 years IWD has been recognized as a way to promote the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women all over the world. IWD is a time to celebrate how far women have come, raise awareness about gender discrimination, and take action to create a more equitable and inclusive world for all women.
The 2023 IWD theme is “Embrace Equity“. It is important to note the difference between equity and equality. Equity is not giving everyone the same opportunities, equity is about making sure everyone has what they need to be on an equal playing field. We do not all start with the same tools for success. It is only equitable if everyone receives the resources they need to reach an equal outcome.
At Consilio, we strive to create a diverse and equitable community. We value and support our employees’ professional and personal growth, exemplified through our Diversity & Inclusion commitment and Women in Technology blog series. Our annual International Women’s Day campaign is another way we strive to raise visibility and help forge positive change for women.
We have continued that effort and have spoken with several of our employees worldwide about what International Women’s Day means to them. We have included their answers below:
Laura Ramos
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a day to spotlight strong, powerful women that have battled their way through adversities and discrimination to pave the path for the women of our future.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Know your worth and be your own advocate.
Jasmine Garcia
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
First and foremost, I feel respected as a business professional regardless of gender, race, and age. My feedback is frequently solicited, seriously taken into consideration, and even used to make impactful decisions. My contributions have visibility and are acknowledged by both my peers and leadership. Seeing many of my female colleagues in senior leadership roles is a comforting and inspiring aspect of my job – it gives me confidence that we are on a level playing field and that I am an integral part of the organization.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Let your voice be heard, and project it with conviction. Our points of view are unique and valuable; the workplace ecosystem is better when all team members contribute ideas. Know that what you have to offer has the potential to spark change for the better. The battle starts within. Find a mentor who can help guide you in the direction you want to go. Gender roles are evolving because of women who have come before us and opened the doors to opportunities that were not available just a few generations ago; we need to hold that door open for those who come after us.
Kaley Bell
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on how far women have come in their personal and professional accomplishments while highlighting ongoing inequality and having conversations about closing those gaps for all women.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
Consilio creates culture where women are not the “exception to the rule” in leadership roles but are meaningful contributors at all levels of leadership. It is rare to see so many women in high-level roles in all facets of a technology and service-centered organization. That speaks to Consilio’s inclusive culture and awareness of the need for female leaders. Consilio also highlights its female employees’ accomplishments in the workplace and provides opportunities for women at all levels within the organization to grow and seek support from mentors to elevate their careers.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
Consilio has created a community where I feel l have a voice and a “seat at the table” to influence decisions that impact our organization. The leadership has been very accessible and open to new ideas making anyone who wants to contribute feel valued and heard. On a personal level, as a new mom, my team and the leadership have been supportive of my new role at home while also reminding me of my value within the organization and ensuring that I know that even the smallest tasks or assignments are appreciated.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Do not be afraid to advocate for yourself. Statistically, men are more likely than women to negotiate during the job offer process or ask for a raise, benefits, etc. It is your job to advocate for yourself in this job market, and do your homework on what is realistic for your role. Further, my advice is to keep a running list of long and short term goals and small steps you can do weekly/monthly/yearly to achieve those goals. As a mentor used to tell me, “You don’t always have to know how to get from Point A to Point B in your career path, you just have to know what Point B looks like,” and setting goals early is the only way to get there.
Amy Duncan
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Never be afraid to share, and most importantly celebrate, what you have achieved and learned. It can be easy to focus on mistakes made along the way but it is important to keep track of what you have accomplished and how far you’ve come – whether that’s one month into a new role or year.
Establish a strong network of mentors and peers from across the business who you can turn to for advice or a fresh perspective. Never underestimate the value of saying hello or introducing yourself to someone in the office – that person might influence your future career one day!
Meirav Manashe
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
I don’t see it as one day in particular, every day counts in my mind for women in the workplace or life in general. I feel that if you want something enough – you can strive to achieve it!
Both the men and women around us (our mentors) can help us reach the place where we need to be.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
I recently joined the company and it is refreshing to see how many women are in senior positions at Consilio ranging from sales, marketing, and operations. Since joining the company not only do I feel welcome but I also get a strong sense that women are on an equal footing with their peers.
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
I have been given access to lots of material and I am receiving training on several applications. There seems to be an abundance of resources available in a Sales/GRO role. I feel all areas are being covered thoroughly and this instills a high level of professionalism.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
One of Consilio’s mottos, the Sky is the Limit, seek a mentor, listen, learn, ask questions, ….remain inquisitive, conscientious, work hard and you will achieve your goals!
Jyothi Joy
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is a chance to acknowledge the accomplishments women add to society and the stereotypes that we all still encounter every day. It allows us to take a moment to think about how far we’ve come in terms of gender equality, educate ourselves about the harsh realities that many women in the world still suffer, take responsibility for our own thoughts and actions, and actively challenge bias whenever we see it.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
WE-Together (Women Employees Together at Consilio) is one of Consilio’s affinity groups investing in and strengthening the capacity of women-led movements to advance meaningful social, cultural, and economic change in our company and personal lives. It’s important to connect with your team members, be accessible and have the pulse on how others feel about the current environment. It takes time to create a level of trust and openness – the time invested is the foundation of a strong team. I am glad to be part of the Team that seeks ways to showcase diversity and celebrate success.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Bring an open mind to work every day. Everyone can teach you something. Embrace the fact that you are young and have so much to look forward to – Careers are nonlinear. At each step, choose opportunities based on what you think you will learn from them rather than on where you think it may take you. A diverse set of experiences is invaluable in building a rich career. View challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. The best way to do that is, to be honest, grateful, and enthusiastic. If you are good at what you do, success will come.
Gretchen Pharis
How do you feel valued in your role at Consilio?
After my first year with Consilio it is apparent to me that there is a real and tangible dedication to diversity here. I have witnessed a commitment to women in leadership, pay parity, and making space for diverse voices, including female ones. Personally, I have experienced transparent and accepting dialogue about the challenges females face in a corporate setting. As a mother to three young children with a robust career, I feel supported as I seek work-life balance. I appreciate these small wins and am confident Consilio will continue to work to #embraceequality.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
IWD is a time to pause and reflect both personally and as a community on gender parity: to celebrate successes, to ask about our progress and what we can do to continue to advance. I like to ask myself a few questions every March:
- What am I doing to #embraceequality in my own career and in the careers of the women around me?
- Am I taking that extra step to connect with my female colleagues to support one another in impactful ways?
- Am I making appropriate space for female voices including my own?
- Am I mentoring young female professionals?
- Do I feel my employer is working to identify and correct any potential biases?
- How can I aid in this endeavor?
Katie Karch
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
International Women’s Day is about looking outside my own corner of the world to connect with women across the globe, listen to stories that are different from my own experience, and understand how I can contribute to uplifting and providing voice to women from all over the world.
How do you think Consilio champions women in the workplace?
The culture I’ve experienced provides space not just for women, but people in all domestic and demographic situations to contribute in their own unique way. The factors I see here that particularly support women, but ultimately everyone, are the flexibility to work remotely, flexible time off, and acceptance of diverse leadership approaches and opinions. Consilio has accepted my creative and out of the box thinking without referring to my gender as a factor which is a scenario I hoped to experience as a young women studies major a “few years” back.
What advice would you give to young women entering today’s workforce?
Be yourself. Set boundaries. Reach out to women you relate to in the workplace and ask for their mentorship or partnership.