For International Women’s Day 2020, we have chosen to support our friends at Plan International by raising awareness of issues around the world faced by women today, and by sponsoring a girl through their programme. We’ve also celebrated the women at NKD and discussed different ways we can support women in the workplace. We used this occasion to learn more about their experiences and challenges.
Some of their reflections revolve around the things they wished they knew sooner, advice for women entering the workforce and their hope for women and equality.
Sandy Willoughby
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
I would like for all of us to accept that it is who you are inside that really matters, beauty is who you are and not what you look like.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
We need to stop feeling guilty about having a family or commitments outside of the workplace. It is our life experience that makes us a valuable asset.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
My hope for women is to be there for other women. Let’s lift each other up, not tear each other down. Let’s show the world that we succeed through our integrity and solidarity.
Sara de Castela
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
I wish that I’d known there are more women facing the same challenges as you are (will face). We can go through this together and united.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
You are just as capable of taking any leadership position as the opposite gender.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
I hope that we keep on sharing our successful stories and show the world that we deserve equal rights, equal pay, equal respect.
Laura Cracknell
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
That my differences are my strength!
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
You don’t have to make yourself smaller to make men more comfortable with your being. Be yourself, demand a seat at the table, take up space.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
That one day we can raise boys and girls the same way.
Magda Forrest
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
To listen to my instincts more.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
My advice to women entering the workforce is to be confident and to be brave.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
I hope that all women will have access to education.
Asia Ciesla
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
As a woman, many times I faced stereotypes like “women are not smart enough to work in IT / run a business”. I’ve heard: “you are too pretty to be intelligent”, “no one will take you seriously”, “you should be working with your body”. I had to prove that actually I have a brain and fight for respect. Looking back, all of this made me stronger
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
You know the best what you are capable of. Never give up!
Diana Dimofte
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
As a woman, YOU have the right to make decisions, for YOU. Establish what your values are, establish what makes YOU happy and don’t worry about pleasing others. If they love/care for you, they will be happy to see you happy. Be mindful of others, but remember YOU are the priority and YOU are best placed to judge what works for YOU.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
Take calculated risks, even if you might fall once or twenty times, you will become stronger every time. Nourish that seed inside you, taking risks provides you with the essentials to enable growth into the beautiful flower you are. Calculated risks = opportunity and self development.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
My biggest hope is that every woman is given an opportunity from the day they are born. Poverty and unfair cultural customs/traditions deprive women of basic rights and essential developmental opportunities. Whilst globally we have made great progress towards equality in certain parts of the world young girls are set up to fail and have a miserable life, since before they have even been born. This needs to change to achieve that enabled world!
Fahmi Hossain
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
Trust my gut feelings.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
Don’t let your differences stop you from taking up on the opportunities that you come across.. let your differences become part of something, and build your own ‘something’.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
Having been grown into 2 distinct cultures I’ve observed that each woman has her own meaning of equality. My hope for women is for them to know that they have the freedom to choose their present and future – under their own terms of equality.
Natasha Odoi
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
Everything happens for a reason. Most of the time you’re happy when some things don’t work out the way you imagined them to.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
My advice to women is for us to speak our mind a bit more. Our voice has value.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
I hope that as women we understand our value and strengths.
Sue Stoneman
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
Trust your gut, speak out loudly for what you believe in, and the more you give away [time, advice, content]… the more you get back.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
Be yourself, don’t try to compete on mens terms, help each other out.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
To make the world of work a more compassionate and inclusive one.
Adeline Tudara
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
I wish I had learnt sooner that looking someone straight in the eyes and speaking calmly will show that I am confident and relaxed in everything that I do.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
My advice for women entering the workforce is to stand-up for what you believe in, speak confidently and show everyone how great we are.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
My hope is that women are seen and treated as equals.
Alice Johnson
NKD: What do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?
Standing up for myself and having an opinion does not make me “argumentative”, it makes me present.
NKD: What advice do you have to women entering the workforce?
YOU are in control. Don’t ever feel like a backseat driver.
NKD: The theme for IWD2020 is: An equal world is an enabled world. What is your hope for women?
I hope women receive the exact same opportunities, education, and pay bands as men. No matter where they are from.
At NKD, we have women throughout our business, from leadership to tech, from consultancy to Customer Experience. Despite this we know it’s important to keep raising the issues that women face in the ever changing world of work.
If you have any thoughts or suggestions, or if you want to share how you celebrated this International Women’s Day, then get in touch with us.