Recognising people’s unique circumstances with equity-based solutions is a must for all industries, but especially for those which have struggled with diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as tech.
International Women’s Day dates all the way back to the early 1900s when women were becoming more vocal in tackling gender inequality, and began campaigning for change.
German politician and activist Clara Zetkin was instrumental in the creation of International Women’s Day. In 1910, at the second International Conference of Working Women, Clara proposed that an annual Women’s Day should be celebrated in every country, allowing women to press for their rights. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries unanimously agreed, and International Women’s Day was honoured for the first time the following year.
Despite significant progress since the early 1900s, the gender inequality still exists today. While we see more female role models, and more women in the boardroom, there is a long road ahead before true equity is achieved.
At Smartr365, we celebrate and empower the women that drive our business forward. And this year, to celebrate International Women’s Day, we asked some of the women,and allies, at Smartr what advice they would give their younger selves, as well as to share their opinion on how to foster equity.
One Engineering Manager Fiona Moore, said “don’t be afraid of being the only girl in the room. Being in tech means you might be in the minority but let that motivate you. Always be yourself, and don’t try to be somebody else just to fit in. Your voice is important. Believe in yourself.”
Our UX/UI Lead Designer, Rehana Quadri, added “if you see a woman around you doing well, and trying to do great in the job, please support them and being a cheerleader and encourage them. It will come around to you as well, as you build that environment of supporting each other.”
To hear more from our wonderful team, watch our latest video here.