International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on where we are on the journey to equality for all genders. A quick trawl through LinkedIn will paint a rosy picture of empowered women working for enlightened businesses. You’d think the issue had been resolved once and for all.
But the reality is different. We still have fewer than 6% of female chief executives on the FTSE 100. Fewer than 1% of the UK workforce have taken up progressive policies like shared parental leave.
At Kin + Carta, We've made great progress across the group over the last few years to drive belonging for our communities.
We are all role models whether we chose to be or not and throughout my career representation has affected and has inspired me so I know how much other people need it too. As Associate Creative Director I have a voice and I use it to make sure everyone else does too. My sheer visibility and ability to affect change show others like me it can be done. And when you get to a certain level you’ve got to send the lift back down and when you send that lift back down you need to send it with a whole load of advice and support for other people.
Katerina Nishan Associate Creative Director, Connect
The fight for equality is more than just gender. It’s for all underrepresented communities to feel like they can be their authentic selves in all everyday experiences. And we are taking our clients on the journey with us by ensuring our digital products drive world class accessible and inclusive design.
Our founders have pledged to drive behaviour change across our core L&D programmes. This includes making our gender pay gaps visible across the world so we can hold ourselves accountable for fighting inequality in our business. We’re also holding the hands of our clients on the journey so that our digital products can drive world class accessible design. Action not words.
Today marks more than the fight for gender equality. Today marks the start of a programme of events that start the fight for inclusion, belonging and equity for everyone in the business. From the founders down we have action-focused programmes and pledges that drive deep behaviour change in our business. From transparency around the gender pay gap and our plan to close it, to Women and BAME leaders programmes to enable everyone to progress together. Equal is Equal.
Reeha Alder Employee Experience Director, Connect
So, let’s celebrate International Women’s Day. We’re marking the occasion by launching our Global Confidence Programme that helps all of our women (and allies) get better at selling their greatest skills – themselves. We’re also shining a light on over 200 of our women who have been nominated by colleagues for being remarkable. And you are remarkable (take a look here).
But let’s never get complacent. Sustainable change needs action as well as words. Get in touch with us to find out more about what we’re doing and how you can get involved.
I am proud to be part of a business that takes D&I seriously. We are about action and not just words. We must make it real. We are on a journey to close the gender pay gap at Kin + Carta, provide bespoke leadership programmes to our under-represented communities and to create environments that are inclusive and allow us to become the global best place to work.
Kelly Manthey Group Chief Executive, Americas