International Women’s Day is back on the 8th March 2022 and celebrates women across the world. This year the theme is #BreakTheBias.
We’ve got so many amazing women across Norfolk doing incredible things so we’re celebrating them across the month of March. We’ve also got some inspirational women who work within Norfolk Chambers of Commerce, and we're shining the light on them too.
We asked Norfolk Chamber Member, Grace Appleby, Account Manager at Yawn marketing a few questions...
Why is supporting women in business so important?
I'd love to live in a world where there is no need to put additional effort into boosting women or for women-only spaces, but we're not there yet. There are countless statistics that prove women need to be actively championed, whether it's the percentage of women in senior roles or the ever-concerning pay gap, but I think if we're all being honest, we should know that it's true without reading any of them - but, knock yourselves out if you fancy it: https://www.prowess.org.uk/facts/
What do you or your business do to support women in your teams?
Personally, I'm very proud of the work I'm doing with Norfolk Women's Marketing Network - we're facilitating a safe space for women and non-binary folk to make genuine connections without the concern of being spoken over or ignored due to their gender identity. I love nothing more than shouting about the amazing women I get to meet and work with. We don't celebrate our achievements enough and I'm thrilled that I get to be a cheerleader for all of the fabulous folks in our community.
What skills do you feel are the biggest asset that women have in the workplace?
This question is difficult to answer because I think it all comes down to the individual and their unique skills.
What challenges do women face in the workplace that are different to men?
I can only speak from my own experience, but having shared these with other women in the industry, I'm reassured (and saddened) that they're shared. One of my biggest annoyances as a professional is when I ask a question, but my male colleague receives the answer. Or when I am the 'expert' in the room as far as a client is concerned, yet they look to the man in the room for his insight. In my first marketing role, I was always asked 'Oh, Grace, you'll make this look pretty, that's what you do, isn't it?!' and, every time, I found myself wondering if they would be saying the same things to me if I were a man. Everyone faces challenges in their career, regardless of gender identity, but I think women and non-binary folk have more obstacles to their progression in day-to-day life.
What advice would you give to male colleagues to support women in the workplace?
Champion your colleagues and make sure their voices are heard. If you have a team member who doesn't speak up in meetings or is often spoken over, make space and time for them to voice their ideas. If your colleague asks a question but the answer is directed to you, as a man, bounce it back to your colleague and ensure that they're able to receive it. At the end of the day, I think awareness is the most important thing. Don't dismiss sexism or unconscious bias in the workplace as something that 'doesn't really happen nowadays' - if they feel it, it's happening, and they deserve to be listened to and taken seriously.
What top tips would you give your younger self when it comes to business?
Stop apologising for things that don't warrant an apology. Stop dimming your shine when you think it'll make a man feel more comfortable. And, for the love of God, STOP putting 'I hope that makes sense' at the end of your emails.