MARCH8 Magazine - July 2022 by march8magazine

JULY 22 | ISSUE No. 003 JULY 22 | ISSUE No. 002

MARCH8.COM MARCH8.COM

DIVE IN

MEET OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST MOLLY RENSHAW

HEALTH & WELLBEING

TACKLING TABOOS IN THE WORKPLACE

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH

SELLING SUNSET'S

EMMA H

E D U C A T E

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M O T I V A T E

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E L E V A T E

Accreditation S HOW YO U R business CAR E S A B O U T equality

E D U C A T E

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M O T I V A T E

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E L E V A T E

It’s about doing more C L I C K H E RE

MEE T the TEAM

STACY NORMAN

LUCY BUCHHOLZ

EMILY COOK

REBEKAH BIRLESON

COO

Editor-in-Chief

Marketing Manager

Creative Designer

MARCH8 Magazine is published by

WHO WE ARE... From the entire team here at MARCH8, welcome to our third issue. We are proud to represent a community continuously aiming to educate, motivate and elevate women in business and society. From young girls considering their career paths, to established CEOs at the helm, we are a platform ensuring that each story is heard, recognised and celebrated. We champion women from all walks of life and career paths, including outstanding athletes pushing their bodies to the absolute limit, to fearless females advocating women’s rights and gender equality across the globe. Through our social media platforms, bi-monthly magazines, short films, quarterly events, mentorship programmes and MARCH8 Academy, we are here to unite girls and women with one community, one voice and one aim. We are MARCH8, and we are here to make a change! Subscribe to our MARCH8 newsletters to recieve the latest news and information about what we're doing next... SUBSC R I BE

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HELLO AND WELCOME We’re well over halfway through the year – where has the time gone? Although 2022 is going quickly, it’s certainly been exceptional so far. Especially as the second MARCH8 LIVE show has recently come and gone, which, although I may be biased, was a truly remarkable occasion. If you weren’t lucky enough to attend, catch up with our amazing speakers on page 116. If you did join us on the day and you’re looking for future inspiration, I would recommend turning to page 28 to read the inspirational story of Shelli Brunswick, who is on a mission to encourage more girls to join the space industry. Or, head to page 46 to read how rebel Peony Li is conquering workplace taboos. As always, enjoy the issue and keep in touch.

LUCY BUCHHOLZ

lucy.buchholz@bizclikmedia.com MARCH8.COM

12 Column

Cryptocurrencies: Are they worth the hype?

16 How She Got There

Shelli Brunswick, COO of Space Foundation

ICONS

Amelia Earhart

14 Health and Wellbeing Everyone's business

28 Philanthropology: Meet three amazing women giving back

46 Real Estate

Behind the scenes with luxury realtor, Emma Hernan

68 Formula E

Getting girls on track with Julia Pallé

Rising Star Peony Li

54 8 minutes with...

Esther Stanhope

76 Top 8

Inspirational women

94 How to...

Overcome the motherhood penalty

116 MARCH8 Academy: Inspiring the next generation

132

Sport in the Spotlight Swimmer, Molly Renshaw

106 MARCH8 LIVE: Women in STEM

126 The Last Word What makes a good leader?

Harnessing technology to make wishes a reality. Microsoft Tech for Social Impact and Microsoft Surface are proud to help Make-A-Wish use technology to fulfill its mission of granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.

Learn More

I C O N S

Amelia

EARH

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ART

JULY 2022

Cry Cr y ptocurrencies:

Are they worth the hype? Whether you love them, hate them, or know very little about them, Cory McCruden, founder of Norstar Insights, is here to explain whether they’re a viable investment option

ryptocurrencies have been dominating headlines recently with the price of Bitcoin plunging to its lowest point since 2020. While crypto may not be for everyone, 18% of people in the UK and 16% of people from the US own at least some cryptocurrency, according to surveys. In addition to retail, institutional investors are rolling out their own crypto strategies including traditional banks, such as Bank of America. The most well known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was launched in 2009 by an anonymous developer or group of developers by the name Satoshi Nakamoto. While there are now more than 19,500 different cryptocurrencies with a total value of over a trillion dollars (as of May 2022), Bitcoin is the largest and most significant. Fiat currencies, such as the US dollar or British pound, are backed by governments, and their value is supported by the economic power of that particular country – Bitcoin value is determined by supply and demand. Since there is a limited supply of Bitcoin by design, when demand for it goes up, so does its price.

Bitcoin facilitates and records transactions on a shared digital ledger or blockchain, which means government entities and financial intermediaries are not involved. This makes it possible to transfer value faster in near real-time and at less cost with theoretically little-to-no transaction fees. As central banks cannot increase the supply of Bitcoin and therefore influence its price, some believe this reduces the risk of reducing value via inflation. Others see crypto as a means to serve communities that have historically been neglected by banks and traditional financial service providers. Bitcoin prices are extremely volatile, so using them to pay for goods and services at this stage is unrealistic: UK and US bank deposits are protected up to a certain amount of money, but this is not the case with crypto. But the jury is still out on how Bitcoin will evolve, as both a store of value and means of exchange. Governments around the world are still figuring out how to deal with crypto currencies, so regulation when it comes will likely impact the market in ways yet to be determined. That said, it’s definitely a significant trend worth following. MARCH8.COM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Everyo BUS 16

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

one's SINESS Periods, endometriosis and menopause: arguably three of the most taboo topics known to professional workplaces. But it’s time that employers start taking these health issues seriously, understanding that they affect everyone – and not just women MARCH8.COM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

omen account for 47.7% of the global workforce, yet still, there are many silent barriers that we face everyday. Although it’s commonly known that women face a great amount of adversity, health concerns should not be one of them. The first topic to touch upon is periods, formally known as menstruation. Anyone who has ever found their bag empty on that day of the month will know the sheer inconvenience and dread that rushes through the body. Asking for a tampon feels like an elite game of Chinese whispers, as the message spreads from woman to woman until a winner is found. And then there’s the mission of tactfully receiving it without arousing suspicion from those who find monthly bleeds uncomfortable, embarrassing or, dare I say it, disgusting. Slowly, the idea that women are impure, dirty, or sinful while menstruating is fading – but, when considering that 26% of the global population experience periods for two-to-seven days a month, it’s hard to understand how it became a taboo topic in the first place. Some countries are trying. Spain made headlines in May this year for becoming the first Western country to offer unlimited menstrual leave to women who can provide a doctor’s note. A grand gesture, but a poor performance in comparison to Indonesia, which passed a law in 2003 to give women the right to two days of paid menstrual leave per month, without the need for prior notice. But Japan can top even that: in 1947, a law was passed instructing companies 18

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

togrant menstrual leave for as long as a woman needs, if requested. Although the cynics out there may be rolling their eyes, a survey of 6,000 companies found that just 0.9% of eligible workers had taken leave.

Endometriosis in the workplace So now we move on to a condition that is often inaccurately labelled a ‘bad period’. Typically the most debilitating of women’s issues, endometriosis is woefully misunderstood by both the medical community and wider society at large. It’s a condition where cells – similar to those lining the womb – are found elsewhere in the body, usually within the pelvic cavity. Each month, these cells react to the menstrual cycle in the same way as those in the womb, building up before then breaking down and bleeding. Unlike the cells in the womb that leave the body as a period, though, this blood has no way to escape. “This leads to inflammation, pain, and the formation of scar tissue,” Faye Farthing, Communications Manager, Endometriosis UK, says. “Other symptoms can include chronic pelvic pain, painful periods, painful bowel and bladder movements, and fatigue.” Although this is an issue that affects approximately 1 in 10 women, it’s largely overlooked in the workplace. So much so, that a 2020 study found that 75.2% of patients reported being misdiagnosed with another physical health issue, a mental health problem, or both before they received an endometriosis diagnosis. Often, women have to endure an average 8.5-year-long wait before receiving a diagnosis, with some waiting much longer. “Endometriosis affects everyone differently MARCH8.COM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

– some may need time off work or other support to deal with the symptoms, others may not,” Faye explains. “Those experiencing endometriosis symptoms that impact their ability to work deserve to be given support, just like anyone with any other chronic condition would expect to receive. Unfortunately, the lack of public understanding of endometriosis means that many employers do not provide the support or flexibility needed to enable those with the disease to fulfil their potential.” Endometriosis UK runs the Endometriosis Friendly Employer (EFE) scheme. Since it launched in 2019, more than 100 organisations

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have pledged to provide support to those with endometriosis in their workforce. This includes raising awareness of the disease and tackling stigma, as well as implementing policies to support those with endometriosis, such as flexible working where possible. “Among the organisations that have become EFEs are law firms, media organisations, banks, police forces, and more,” says Faye. “We believe it’s important to show employees with endometriosis that they are valued and can expect support. Individuals also need to know that it’s okay to be open about their health, that they can create a trusting, supportive culture,

HEALTH & WELLBEING

The lack of public understanding of endometriosis means that many employers do not provide the support or flexibility needed to enable those with the disease to fulfil their potential — FAYE FARTHING

and a more engaged and effective workforce – as well as ensuring that those with endometriosis can thrive.” On the other side of the globe, the Australian government has also been celebrated for contributing AU$58mn in funding to help improve access to diagnosis, treatment and care for individuals who have endometriosis. The sum will be added to the National Action Plan launched in 2018, which has already totalled AU$22.5mn. Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the fund as a "welcome relief and support" for Australians with endometriosis, after sharing that his wife suffers from the disease.

DID YOU KNOW? Endometriosis is a disease that affects 1.5mn women in the UK, 6.5mn in the US and 25mn in India. Globally, this number equates to 190mn

Endometriosis impacts approximately 1 in 10 women and those assigned female at birth

38% of those with endometriosis say

they have often or very often had concerns about losing their job

28% said they have often or very often had to change or leave a job because of the condition

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Employers and managers need to realise that this is not something that is going to go away or that can ‘be fixed’. It’s something that every woman goes through, and it affects all of us, including men — HALEY WHITE

Menopause in the workplace In some ways, menopause can be viewed as the aunty of menstration, and even a distant cousin of endometriosis. Yet, despite most women that have periods ‘huffing and puffing’ over them, things can get even more challenging when our bodies change and we begin menopause. Hot flushes, night sweats, low moods, anxiety and problems with memory and concentration – these are just a few of the symptoms that can affect us when our time comes. Those used to a busy business environment will easily be able to understand how these symptoms can impact a woman’s professional career. In fact, 10% of women shared that they left their job because of menopausal symptoms, 14% had reduced their hours and 8% of women expressed that symptoms had deterred them from applying for promotion, according to The Menopause in the Workplace report. 22

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A word of advice Hayley shares her top tips for women struggling with menopausal symptoms First and foremost, remember that you are not alone – there is always help and support available. I always advise individuals to visit their GP for medical advice and ask whether there is a menopause-trained specialist in the surgery. If you have an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) use it to see a specialist.

What’s more, 44% of polled women shared that menopause symptoms affected their ability to work, 61% felt that symptoms caused them to lose motivation to work and 52% had lost confidence. Although these statistics may have you shaking your head, the worst is yet to come. A whopping 41% of women had seen either the menopause or menopause symptoms being treated as a joke by peers at work. Why is this the most shocking stat? Well, because it’s a direct reflection of the cause behind previous statistics, while also demonstrating the adversity that every working woman, at some point, will face. “Menopause and the symptoms associated with it are still seen as taboo,” says Haley White, menopause trainer and consultant at Menopause Experts Group. “There’s an assumption that the menopause only happens to older women, when in fact, menopause can happen at any age.” Haley also shares that menopausal women are the fastest growing demographic in the

Don’t be afraid to consider alternative therapies, such as taking supplements and vitamins, herbal remedies and CBD. The positive effects from eating the right foods, as well as engaging in exercise and meditation, cannot be underestimated. And, finally, try to be solution focused, not problem focused. Ask ‘How can I help myself?’. It’s important to know your body and be your own best friend.

workforce – nearly 8 out of 10 menopausal women are in work. “Employers have a responsibility for the health and safety of their employees. The number of tribunals citing menopause has tripled, yet staff training and the right policies are still lacking,” Haley adds. “Employers and managers need to realise that this is not something that is going to go away or that can ‘be fixed’. It’s something that every woman goes through, and it affects all of us – including men. “The more we talk openly about this, the less embarrassing it becomes. Organisations should start with training for both male and female line managers, run sessions that allow and encourage women to share their experiences, as well as having menopause policies in place. Organisations need to remember that this is not a box-ticking exercise – women’s health issues need to be taken seriously and embedded at all levels throughout the organisation.” MARCH8.COM

HEALTH & WELLBEING

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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Similar to endometriosis, though, increased exposure is leading some countries and workplaces to pioneer change – it just isn’t enough. In the UK, Wellbeing of Women reported that over 600 signatories have signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge, in a bid to make necessary changes to support women with menopausal symptoms. Australians are calling on the government and organisations to increase support, with a few companies leading the way, such as Future Super and Modibodi, which have introduced menopause policies. Likewise, across the Pacific in the US, there are a number of organisations focused on supporting women’s health issues, such as Evernow. Evernow’s primary mission is to build a new way of delivering healthcare based on science, innovation, and women’s lived experiences.

Final thoughts Change is happening – but not at a quick enough pace. Rather than seeing women’s health issues, such as endometriosis and menopause, as a female problem, employers need to understand that they impact the enitre business. “Workplaces need to remove the taboo and any barriers around the subjects – staff training is key,” Haley adds. “It’s wonderful that we have seen a huge rise in wellbeing and mental health support in workplaces, but employers need to start taking women’s health issues just as seriously. After all, the two are linked.” Once the perspective on these topics change, we can only hope that women will receive the support they deserve, making them less inclined to cut their careers short. MARCH8.COM

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MindGym: Behavioural Change is the Path to Better Leadership

Dr. Janet Ahn, MindGym’s Chief Behavioral Science Officer, on how behavioural change empowers leaders to build profits and a culture of performance For more than two decades, MindGym has built a reputation as a change-maker, equipping leaders with the tools to enhance the performance and well-being of the people within their organisations. “Through a mix of coaching and digital-live hybrid products, MindGym creates sustainable behaviour change that touches every part of the business, nurturing innovation and creating a culture of high performance,” says Dr. Janet Ahn, MindGym’s first Chief Behavioral Science Officer, and an expert at the forefront of behavioural science. A key partner to Moody’s, MindGym is rolling out its unique DE&I solution, built upon four cornerstones: judge wisely, value variety, forbid and forgive, and step up. “Moody’s already has a strong record of diversity, but

MindGym focused on a partnership to bring inclusion to the next, global level,” Ahn says. “Based on our four cornerstones, MindGym created a very comprehensive journey for Moody’s. The goal of our partnership is to build cohesion globally at Moody’s around the topics of power and inclusion, belonging, and psychological safety and, even more importantly, to help Moody’s leaders build a strong foundation and understanding of things they can do differently every day to ultimately lead that culture of inclusion.” Beyond DE&I, MindGym solves a multitude of problems in the human capital space, from leadership development to employee well being, establishing frameworks under which leaders are empowered to change behaviours when they spot opportunities. “People are what drives growth in revenue and innovation,” Ahn explains. “To create the best performing teams, we have to invest in their experience. How we do this is by leveraging the insights we have on behavioural science in terms of how we know people psychologically are most motivated and driven.”

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HOW SHE GOT THERE

Shel Bruns COO of Space Foundation

JULY 2022

lli swick From the US Air Force to Space Foundation, Shelli Brunswick shares the story of her fascinating career, while showing us that the sky is not the limit

MARCH8.COM

HOW SHE GOT THERE

Age: 16 Positive role models should never be underestimated – especially for young girls. Leading by example and showing that anything is possible with strong will, hard work and determination can help set a young girl’s life on a positive path. At least, it did for Shelli Brunswick. “My mum was a manager for a manufacturing facility,” Shelli shares, “which wasn’t a typical career for a woman in the 1980s.” “Growing up having a female role model who was in a supervisory position in a male-dominated industry showed me that there were no limits. From her, I inherited the attitude that, if I want something, I should go for it and not let being the only woman in the room stop me from doing anything.”

Age: 18 Some of us grow up aspiring to be an astronaut, a doctor or, nowadays, a social media influencer, but Shelli was different – she grew up dreaming of travelling the world. “I didn’t have the money to go to college after graduating high school,” Shelli says, “so I decided to join the US Air Force. Not only did this give me the opportunity to learn a whole new skill set, but I got to see different countries and experience a variety of cultures, too. “My journey started when I took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), which helped both myself and recruiters see which skills I possessed. Although I had no idea what the ASVAB would do for me, it ended up putting me on the path of the Air Force, so since then, I’ve always believed it to be important to seize every opportunity. I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and became a human resource specialist. 30

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Failure doesn't mean you can’t do something; it just means you didn’t get a ‘yes’ that time around

HOW SHE GOT THERE

Age: 22

Age: 26

As a young woman fresh out of high school, Shelli had little idea of what she wanted to do or who she wanted to become. But the Air Force proved to be an essential part of her life story, as it allowed her to fully immerse herself in different cultures. “I was stationed in Turkey and Germany, which would be an amazing experience for anyone, but especially a young woman,” Shelli says. “Not only was I able to make new friends, but I was experiencing different cultures that allowed me to open my mind to new ideas, concepts and insights.” Although Shelli had been busy exploring the world, she never lacked ambition or motivation. “I was going to night school,” she says, “as I initially joined the Air Force to earn enough money to pay for college. So, I was serving my country during the day, wherever I was in the world, and I was studying for my Bachelor's and Master’s degrees at night. After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I realised that I could become an officer in the Air Force.”

After working day and night, you’d think that Shelli had a pretty good chance of being selected as an officer. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong – she had just a 12% chance. “The Air Force was looking for STEM professionals,” Shelli says, “and I had a business degree. But, although the odds were against me, I wanted to give it my best shot and not let fear of failure take over. “I applied and was rejected. This meant I could either let my application go to a second review, or I could update it. I did the latter, because I believe in always putting your best foot forward, even if the answer might be ‘no’. The second time around, I was accepted. “Rejection taught me tenacity, not to let people put me into stereotypes and most importantly, that failure is okay. Failure doesn't mean you can’t do something; it just means you didn’t get a ‘yes’ that time around.”

HOW SHE GOT THERE

Age: 29

Age: 35

Finally, Shelli had been selected as an officer. But she realised that it wasn’t quite what she wanted. “I was in personnel, so it would make sense for me to be a personnel officer, right? Well, I had been assigned as a space programme manager. I had no idea what it was, and I didn’t want to do it,” Shelli says. “Calling all my mentors, I asked for their support, and they tried to make requests to get me reclassified. They weren’t successful, and I received a call to affirm my position as a space programme manager. “In that moment, I decided not to let the fear of the unknown take over, which consequently started my 25-year-career in the space industry. So, although people tell you to follow your passion, sometimes you don't even know what your passion is, because it might be something you haven’t even considered yet.”

Settling into her new career path, Shelli wasn’t too sure what to expect. But luckily, she had a supportive network of mentors and coaches to guide her along the way. “Nothing just happens in life,” Shelli explains, “so to ensure I was always challenging myself, I volunteered for hard projects that would push my boundaries.” “One of these positions was a military executive officer, which meant I would work for a senior officer. Although it was a lot of work, it provided me with the opportunity to learn from him, while also allowing him to get me to know me, which created opportunities.”

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Age: 42 By now, you’ve probably realised that Shelli isn’t the type of person to shy away from opportunities – in fact, she dives into them

headfirst. “‘Get out from behind your desk’ is one of the greatest pieces of advice I can give,” Shelli says. “As I was volunteering to be a military executive officer, I was invited to an event where all the space programmeme managers got together at a reception. I barely knew anyone, as none of my colleagues wanted to go. “When I was there, I saw my boss’s boss, so I went over to say hello – he introduced me to another man who turned out to be his representative at the U.S. Capitol Hill. The representative had been given a new assignment, so he would be leaving – thus, they needed to replace him. My boss’s boss looked at me and said: ‘How would you like to be a legislative liaison?’.” “I wasn’t just given the job, but I was offered the opportunity to interview because I had gotten out from behind my desk and built networks and relationships.

After the interview process, I was offered the role and told that I gave the best interview they had ever seen.”

Age: 47 You may be wondering how Shelli transitioned from a career in the Air Force to being chief operating officer of Space Foundation? Well, by continuing to do what had got her here in the first place: getting out from behind her desk. “The military offers a programme called the transition assistance programme. Some people don’t take it, but I took it twice,” Shelli says. “I then started reaching out to people and various offers came through – one being COO of Space Foundation. I instantly thought that it was out of my reach, but it was actually a colleague of mine who shared words that have stuck with me to MARCH8.COM

HOW SHE GOT THERE

this day: ‘Never disqualify yourself from something you haven't been offered’. And she was right, because out of 176 candidates, I got the job.”

Age: 50 Space Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on teaching children and young adults about space, while also helping entrepreneurs and professionals find success within the industry. “I’m often asked if I work in space or if I’m an astronaut because of my career in the space ecosystem,” Shelli laughs, “however careers in space are far more diverse in skill sets, regions of the world and opportunities. “There is a place in space for everyone, as every country and citizen use space technology – whether they realise it or not. Virtual meetings rely on space technology, as do ATMs, agriculture, transportation, public safety, and so on. “Space is creating more economic opportunities to help people find prosperity. For example, those doing agricultural activities could use space technology to increase crop yield, which will help to increase income and quality of life. This doesn’t just apply to America either, as we help people in Africa find clean water close by, then they don’t need to walk for miles and miss school or work.”

Age: 52 Although Shelli always sees room for improvement, she also prioritises passing on her knowledge and skills to the next generation. “For me, kids are the future. But what I love most about my role at Space Foundation is that it allows me to show kids, especially those from 34

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a disadvantaged background, that a career in space is a viable path,” Shelli says. “It’s not just important for us to encourage more women to pursue space careers, but we need to make it a more diverse environment too. In the 1960s, the United States was focused on sending the first man to the moon. Now, countries are focused on putting the first woman and person of colour on the moon.”

Age: 54 As busy as she may sound, Shelli always makes time for her passions: mentoring and travelling. “Later this year, I will be going to Morocco, as the Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) will be hosting their first International CanSat Training Workshop and Aerospace Symposium, with the theme ‘Building Tomorrow’s Global Workforce’. I have the privilege of joining experts and astronauts from around the world with the goal of empowering the next generation to lead the space industry,” Shelli says. “Throughout my career, I’ve made time to see the world. I’m an avid photographer, so I love travelling to Africa, particularly Tanzania, with my husband to capture images of wildlife – while, of course, building an understanding of how space technology can prevent poaching. My passion for space leads to my passion for Earth. The Earth is just the starship we’re living on, and we need to take care of our home.”

PHILANTHROPOLOGY

JULY 2022

PHILANTHROPOLOGY

Giving back is one of the most important and meaningful principles of life – and those with sizeable fortunes use philanthropy as a means of providing hope, promoting change and creating opportunities. Sandra Khusrawi from Active Philanthropy talks us through the foundations of philanthropy, before we explore the philanthropic ventures of three highly influential women

What is philanthropy?

Sandra Khusrawi Project Leader, Active Philanthropy

Although philanthropy can come in many different forms, Sandra Khusrawi from Active Philanthropy defines it as: “A potential force for driving innovation and leading transformational change. Apart from following a mission to change the world for the better, philanthropy offers individuals and families a chance to put one’s money where one’s mouth is and to take societal responsibility.” Philanthropic actions target varying issues – some may focus on children and women, others on the environment, and yet others on reducing poverty, for example. Active Philanthropy, a pioneering Berlin-based non-profit advisory, has made it its mission to enable individual and institutional funders to apply a climate lens to their giving and take an active part in dealing with the climate crisis. To achieve its mission, Active Philanthropy offers a mixture of tailored guidance, general knowledge tools, as well as direct opportunities to engage, next to closed-group expeditions. “Climate change affects all segments of society, but less than 2% of global philanthropic giving is dedicated to climate change mitigation,” Sandra adds. “Our expeditions to Greenland have shown great impact when it comes to guiding individuals towards climate action. The mix of science, the tangible experience of climate change, and the exchange with peers allows participants a unique change of mind and heart.” To anyone interested in beginning their philanthropic journey, Sandra says: “Be bold! As a philanthropist, you have a unique position and a key role to push for necessary change and towards a more sustainable future.” MARCH8.COM

“

There’s n in my min real stand generosit the peopl even whe going wit

BRYAN BEDDER / STRINGER IMAGE CREDIT ©

no question nd that the dard for ty is set by le who give en it means thout

PHILANTHROPOLOGY

MELINDA FRENCH GATES As one of the most powerful women on the planet, Melinda French Gates has carved her name in the philanthropic hall of fame by becoming a fierce advocate for girls and women. Starting her philanthropic journey with ex-husband and Microsoft founder Bill Gates, the pair were particularly saddened after reading a newspaper article detailing that millions of children in poor countries were dying from easily treated illnesses. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was founded soon after. Since launching, the foundation has spent US$53.8bn on philanthropic causes. Created to reduce extreme global poverty, enhance healthcare, and to expand educational opportunities, the fund has touched the lives of thousands, and has contributed to halving the number of children who die each year before their fifth birthday. “As a driving force behind the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we are in awe of what Melinda French Gates has achieved, addressing issues of poverty, disease and inequality and encouraging others to do the same,” says Caroline Underwood, CEO of Philanthropy Company. “Her vision, drive and determination has brought benefit to millions of people.” Signing a Giving Pledge in 2010, Melinda committed to giving away the majority of her resources over the course of her lifetime. But still, she wanted to do more, so she launched investment and incubation company Pivotal Ventures, with a mission to advance social progress. The organisation will use US$1bn to create opportunities for women in leadership positions, dispelling barriers women face at work, and ensuring businesses are held accountable for fostering gender equality. After nearly three decades of marriage, Melinda announced that she and Bill would be getting divorced, arousing questions as to how she would continue her philanthropic duties. Although the two still continue to work together through the Gates Foundation, the organisation will no longer be the recipient of the bulk of her wealth. Now, Melinda plans to focus her philanthropic efforts on supporting charities that help women, girls and other marginalised groups. MARCH8.COM

PHILANTHROPOLOGY

JULY 2022

IMAGE CREDITS ©

As a media mogul from humble beginnings, Oprah Winfrey has become one of the richest women on the planet, and has given generously to philanthropic causes. From a childhood in poverty to becoming the first Black woman billionaire, Oprah has become a historic figure, touching the lives of many across the globe. Through her philanthropic ventures, Oprah made it her mission “to lead, to educate, to uplift, to inspire and to empower women and children throughout the world”, which she has successfully accomplished through donating approximately US$72mn to worthy organisations. In a bid to encourage people to make a difference around the world, Oprah launched the Oprah's Angel Network in 1998. Her vision was to inspire individuals by creating new opportunities to enable underserved women and children to rise to their potential. All funds went straight to the charity programmes, and Oprah herself covered all administrative costs. The organisation had raised a whopping US$80mn by 2010, which went towards various causes, such as helping women’s shelters, before the organisation stopped taking donations and eventually dissolved. “Through her foundation, Oprah Winfrey has taken her ability to convene and highlight issues close to her heart and translate that into action,” says Caroline Underwood, CEO of Philanthropy Company. “She has used the power of her personality, celebrity and reach to tackle issues affecting millions.” As a fierce advocate for girls and women, it’s no wonder that Oprah has donated to the Time’s Up campaign, which aims to create a society free of gender-based discrimination. Another venture that Oprah is in favour of is N Street Village, a non-profit providing housing and services for homeless and low-income women. But Oprah’s philanthropic efforts don’t stop in the US; the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, provides just one example. Since founding the academy in 2007, Oprah is said to have spent over US$140mn on the school, providing a private education for underprivileged South African girls in grades eight to 12.

BEN GABBE / STRINGER

OPRAH WINFREY

OPRAH’S CHARITABLE IMPACT DOLLARS DONATED:

400MN PEOPLE EDUCATED:

72,000 MEALS SERVED:

75MN

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CAMERON SPENCER / STAFF IMAGE CREDIT ©

ccess ration to rongest when er on

PHILANTHROPOLOGY

SERENA WILLIAMS As the world’s second highest earning female athlete, Serena Williams has become a force to be reckoned with – both on and off the court. With 23 Grand Slam titles in singles, 14 in women’s doubles and two in mixed doubles, Serena quite easily clears the court of competitors, but recently, Serena has been focusing her efforts on philanthropic ventures. To honour her lifelong passion for helping children, Serena teamed up with UNICEF, embarking on a trip to Ghana to support the country’s biggest health campaign; five years later, she was appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador. As the champion of the UNICEF Schools for Africa initiative, Serena made it her mission to provide education to vulnerable and marginalised children. After her life-threatening experiencing giving birth to daughter Olympia, Serena has focused even more on aiding mothers and newborn babies, supporting the #EveryChildAlive campaign. “Serena Williams has used her profile as a leading, global sports person and personality to highlight awareness and drive help for children and families in greatest need around the world,” says Caroline Underwood, CEO of Philanthropy Company. But, in true philanthropic style, Serena was sure not to stop there. The Serena Williams Foundation created the Yetunde Price Resource Center to honour the life and memory of its namesake – Serena’s eldest sister. Through collaborations with local organisations, the centre offers trauma-informed healing programmes, as well as a space dedicated to nurturing, sharing, and supporting its local community while promoting healing and resiliency. Like many other philanthropists, Serena saw it as her duty to lend a helping hand during the COVID-19 pandemic. By teaming up with BELLA+CANVAS on the Masks for Kids campaign, Serena provided 4 million masks daily to underserved schools across the US. Serena has also become a long-time angel investor through Serena Ventures, with a portfolio of 60-plus companies, most of which focus on diversity. In the Serena Venture’s portfolio, 76% of founders come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, 53% are women, and 47% are black. MARCH8.COM

7 - 8 SEPT 2022

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Join us at SUSTAINABILITY LIVE LONDON Showcase your values, products and services to your partners and customers at SUSTAINABILITY LIVE LONDON 2022. Brought to you by BizClik Media Group SUSTAINABILITY LIVE LONDON, the hybrid event held between 7th-8th September is broadcast live to the world and incorporates three zone areas of Sustainability LIVE, B-Corp LIVE plus March8 LIVE in to one event. With a comprehensive content programme featuring senior industry leaders and expert analysts, this is an opportunity to put yourself and your brand in front of key industry decision makers.

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Ri ing tar

Peony Li

RISING STAR

Meet Peony Li, self-professed rebel and founder of Jude, who is on a mission to spark conversations about taboo subjects, while supporting thousands of women across the globe

RISING STAR

JULY 2022

RISING STAR

oving to the UK alone from Hong Kong when she was just 15 years old, Peony Li, founder of Jude, could barely speak three consecutive sentences in English. After having a hard time creating her new life, Peony developed a deep sense of empathy, which sparked her passion to help others. She has since led a number of successful initiatives serving underrepresented communities but has now focused her efforts raising awareness of bladder care – an issue affecting one in three women.

Hi Peony! Please start us off by telling us a little about yourself and your journey? My first career was in the financial sector, and I quickly realised it wasn’t something I enjoyed. I wanted to start a mission-driven business, so I went to the Founder’s Factory to learn different types of business models. During my time, I invested in over 60 different companies and fell in love with consumer healthcare, because it’s a sector that directly impacts peoples lives. From there, I joined DAYE as Head of Operations, where I helped the company scale and launch their pain-soothing tampon. Women would contact us to share how we’d changed their lives, which really inspired me and cemented my love for the healthcare industry. We then entered the pandemic, where I distributed over 6 million pieces of protective equipment to frontline workers in care homes, charities and distribution hubs. Through doing so, I met a lot of women in their 50s who began to share their healthcare problems with me. Bladder care was a recurring theme, not just for people in care homes, but for staff, too. I later found out that 2.3 billion people suffer from overactive bladders worldwide. MARCH8.COM

RISING STAR

So that’s when I started Jude, aiming to tackle and smash body taboos, while equipping people to understand the more awkward body parts and allowing them to live their fullest life while being super confident.

We want to know more about Jude – what’s your journey been like so far? It’s been amazing. We launched earlier this year in January, and we’ve already served over 5,000 customers. Our mission is to turn bladder weakness into bladder care and incontinence into a conversation, by 50

JULY 2022

representing a community of women who are often overlooked.

Why is it important to encourage more women to discuss these taboo topics? I read an article the other day, explaining that issues such as menopause get too much media coverage, which is consequently terrifying young women about an issue that won’t affect them for years. But I believe that if there is an issue that impacts people, it needs to be spoken about. If we don’t speak about taboo subjects, how do we find solutions? How do we equip ourselves

RISING STAR

mentally and physically? Because we saw topics such as periods, menopause and bladder health as taboo subjects, we’re now seeing the consequences, decades on.

You’ve obviously achieved a number of milestones throughout your career. What particularly stands out to you? Jude is definitely a great achievement because it’s helped me develop my mission in life, which is helping underserved communities. I’ve found myself doing this unintentionally throughout my career, as I love being a rebel and speaking about

taboo topics that others are either too afraid to or don’t necessarily agree with. Jude has therefore been a way for me to consolidate my skill sets, while being able to demonstrate why this industry is important to me.

On the flip side of that, what would you say has been your biggest challenge? Doing something that others don’t agree with requires a lot of courage, so I guess it’s been a challenge trying to know which feedback to take on-board and which to ignore. For example, when I was fundraising MARCH8.COM

RISING STAR

for Jude, some investors told me that the target market didn’t have enough spending power, that it “wasn’t the time” to prioritise bladder care, or that it wasn’t a “sexy enough” issue. I had to evaluate which feedback I wanted to listen to, and I came to my own conclusion that I didn’t care whether it was a sexy issue – I cared that it needed bringing up. After that, I continued to be a rebel and ensured that I wouldn’t get beaten down by feedback.

So what advice would you give to other women who are facing these challenges but are too afraid to talk about it or don’t know how to start the conversation? Join a community. The power of people coming together in a non-judgmental community is so important. So find one that makes you feel heard and supported. That was actually one of the first things we did at Jude; now we have around 700 women who have shared their stories and tips on how to cope with bladder leaks.

So what does the future look like, for both you and Jude? Jude is on a mission to bring science and conversations into body taboos we don't talk about. From leaks, urge to go, UTI to prostate, Jude is creating a "below the waist, above the knees" health category. I want to keep the conversation going and find other taboo health areas to talk about. We want to crack the code, to encourage more women to talk about these topics to make positive change, while still having fun. So everything from low libidos to sleep issues – we want to tackle the stigma around health issues to bring a new perspective to the table. 52

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RISING STAR

MARCH8.COM

BEHIND THE SCENES WITH LUXURY REALTOR,

H a m m E

IMAGE CREDITS © DJ ZED HOUSE: THE OPENHEIM GROUP EMMA: JASON KENT

n a n r e H

COVER STORY

Infinity pools, cinema rooms and chefs’ kitchens are just the start of luxury on reality TV show Selling Sunset. To help us understand what life’s really like as a Los Angeles realtor, we spoke to Emma Hernan, who gave us an exclusive insight behind the champagne and empanadas

he Hollywood Hills are home to the rich, the famous, and some of the most expensive houses on the planet – and Selling Sunset’s Emma Hernan has the pleasure of selling them through The Oppenheim Group. As a business woman and real estate agent, Emma has built an impressive portfolio of milliondollar homes that ooze luxury and overlook spectacular views of LA. Speaking to Emma, we discussed what it’s really like to be a realtor, while enjoying a sneak peak of the home of one of her most recent clients, DJ Zedd.

JULY 2022

MARCH8.COM

COVER STORY

Hi Emma! Please tell me about yourself and your career so far? My entire life I have been interested in business and investments, always knowing that I wanted to use my head to create a great future for myself and my family. When I purchased my first property in Los Angeles, I worked with Jason Oppenheim, co-founder of The Oppenheim Group, who encouraged me to get my real estate licence. So, I did, and I have been with The Oppenheim Group ever since! As I started investing in start-ups and the stock market from a young age, real estate was the perfect field to get involved with next. To feed my passion for business, I also own my own plant-based frozen food company, Emma Leigh and Co., based in Boston. The food industry has always been in my blood as I grew up in it, so I took my passion to cook and create and started my company, which is 100% women-owned and run by my family. Family means everything to me.

I love being an entrepreneur, and I am always looking for new business opportunities and ways to expand my portfolio to grow as a female executive.

What do you love about working in real estate? I am so lucky to work in luxury real estate in Los Angeles, especially as it’s home to some of the most amazing properties in the world. I love being able to help find people a place to call a home, or help someone find an investment property and run numbers to show them what that investment will mean in their portfolio in five, 10 or even 15 years. Helping others has always been a passion of

mine, so being in the space of real estate allows me to make a difference to my clients, while I thoroughly enjoy the process!

What is the most challenging aspect of working in real estate? Selling high-end real estate is of course very challenging. There is a lot of competition, as any realtor would love to be able to sell million-dollar homes, and of course, once you have the listing, you have the challenge of finding the right buyer, too. Managing client expectations while also being realistic and honest about the market is a hard balance, which is why it’s so important to really know and understand the market. MARCH8.COM

DID YOU KNOW?

◆

Single women are twice as likely to buy a home than single men

◆

In fact, single women are the second largest demographic of homebuyers

◆

65% of all realtors are women,

but women are less represented in leadership

◆

There is less pay inequality in residential real estate, compared to commercial real estate SOURCE: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

COVER STORY

For instance, if your client is selling a property and wants to list it for higher than market value, explaining the various risks can be tricky, so you have to have strong communication skills to make sure you’re on the same page.

Other than viewing some of the world’s most luxurious homes, what are the most rewarding aspects of being a realtor? I have great clients, and I work very closely with both my buyers and sellers to make their real-estate dreams come true. The most rewarding aspects are either selling a home for a client really fast and above listing price, or finding a buyer for the home that has everything they ever wanted. I put a lot of time into my deals and I am very hands-on by forming personal relationships, because I truly care about finding them everything they’ve ever dreamed of and more. So when we close the deal and I see the smiles on their faces, it truly warms my heart.

Selling Sunset portrays real estate as filled with glitz and glamour, but what hard work goes on behind the scenes? Behind the scenes, there is a lot of not-soglamorous work, but I love everything that goes into selling real estate. On Selling Sunset, you often see me in full glam once the home is ready to sell, but I am super involved in the entire process, from landing a listing and pricing it, to staging the home and having open houses. That part of the process is very demanding, and, as I am a perfectionist, I want to make sure everything is just so. Recently, I listed DJ Zedd’s house in Los Angeles for US$23mn – in order to sell a home at such a price point, MARCH8.COM

JULY 2022

H aving confidence is necessary in a competitive industry, but it's also super important to be a kind, good person MARCH8.COM

everything has to be spotless and the staging has to speak to buyers, so I spend a lot of time on the property making sure it is ready to sell. Most viewers may not know that I am present at all showings in person, and very often, my colleagues from The Oppenheim Group will stop by – we see each other a lot when the cameras are not rolling.

Putting all the drama aside, it’s clear to see that there are some great friendships at the brokerage. Is there ever a sense of competition? In general, I try to focus on my own work and abilities. I know I have a great eye for real estate and I trust my own judgement, so I really try 64

JULY 2022

not to feel pressure or allow myself to feel stressed. Having confidence is necessary in a competitive industry, but it's also super important to be a kind, good person. At The Oppenheim Group, we are supportive of each other and excited for each other’s listings, so it is a great environment to work in. I have the same motto in real estate as I do in life: everything happens for a reason and how we navigate through those things will affect the overall outcome.

Now you've sold us on real estate, what advice would you pass on to girls and women starting their career in the industry? For women looking to get into the industry, I would recommend going to a lot of open houses. Look at properties, listen to the agents and learn about the market – really just soak in information. It takes a lot more than getting a real-estate licence to become a successful agent. It’s a great career – you get to be your own boss and create your own fortune, but you also have to be a really focused hard worker.

And finally, could you share the secret to your success? Working really hard! My life is definitely not all champagne and empanadas – it is a lot of really hard work. My factory in Boston has more than 40 employees so I have a great responsibility to them. I am hands-on and I develop all my food recipes myself. I split my time between Boston and Los Angeles, and I am always working. From the outside, it may seem very fun and glamorous, but I put in a lot of hours. I have put together a team of great people who support my mission, and together, we work hard on creating success – teamwork makes the dream work. MARCH8.COM

Accelerating Cloud TV Transformation Powering Futureproof Viewing Experiences, Serving Millions of Users Worldwide

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How Kaltura and Vodafone joined forces and brought TV to the Cloud

came from a fragmented TV user experience and a costly and unwieldy environment to manage, built through a collection of legacy infrastructures and technology solutions.'

The future of television is called 'Cloud TV'. Think about Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or Apple TV+. It's the way most consume our content now – no matter what device.

Kaltura re-invented Vodafone's TV service. Subscribers now use a far more streamlined video platform to watch any content on any device anywhere. As for Vodafone, it no longer needs to run its own data centers and be wrapped up in a complex array of platforms to distribute content. Kaltura's solution takes the hard work out for them.

This is how Nuno Sanches, General Manager of Media and Telecom at Kaltura, begins to 'unbox' his vision of TV content delivery from now on. Two years of Covid constraints and living at home have played their part in the explosive demand for streaming services. But according to Sanches, this seismic change in how we consume video was inevitable. It just needed the industry to break free from the chains of linear programming. Kaltura's long-standing and ever-deepening relationship with the telecoms giant Vodafone was instrumental in forcing the video industry to embrace the change. 'Vodafone had a revolutionary vision of becoming a global and multi-device Cloud TV provider,' says Sanches. 'It was an advanced product concept, especially since Vodafone

Kaltura's robust Cloud TV platform – fine-tuned with astonishing success at Vodafone – is now used by millions of users worldwide and available to any video content provider, whether telecom, media company, or publisher. 'Our customers no longer need to worry about infrastructure or scalability servers or networks. We take on that responsibility,' says Sanches. 'They can experiment with all the content aggregation, delivery, and analytical capabilities we provide – without any "heavy lifting."

Learn More

8 MINUTES WITH...

minutes with...

ESTHER STANHOPE the CONFIDENCE coach Wave goodbye to low-confidence days with help from former BBC Producer, now international speaker and author, Esther Stanhope, who has made it her mission to elevate women in the workplace 68

JULY 2022

8 MINUTES WITH...

MARCH8.COM

8 MINUTES WITH...

onfidence is somewhat like electricity. You may not use it all the time, you may not know how it works, but when you need it and it’s not there, it can leave you in the dark. Although we all lack confidence from time to time, The Impact Guru – more formally known as Esther Stanhope – shares why she loves boosting women’s confidence and just how she manages to do so.

Hi Esther! Could you start off by telling us about your amazing career in showbiz? My background is in broadcasting, so I’ve been all over the TV and radio industry from my 10 years at the BBC – I’ve interviewed amazing celebrities, such as Madonna and George Clooney, but I guess you can say that my main role has been creating and nurturing talent. I began to have an obsession with understanding what makes people charismatic, because although I was behind the camera and very competent at my job, I never felt like I was confident. 70

JULY 2022

8 MINUTES WITH...

What made you want to leave this behind and become a confidence coach – or The Impact Guru, as you’re better known? I can remember the moment I decided to leave the BBC very clearly. An agent had asked me to “give an author some personality”, to help him feel more confident and comfortable on live TV. I didn’t realise it at the time, but that’s what I was doing with most people. It wasn’t planned, and I wasn’t using cognitive behavioural therapy or techniques like that, but I was pretty good at it. I spent half the day with him, and he went from zero to hero in a matter of hours. After speaking to a few friends, I realised that improving others’ confidence is not only a skill I have, but it’s exactly what the business world needs.

MARCH8.COM

So have you always been super confident? The first time I was asked to speak at a women's network event, I almost died of fear. Now, I’m in my comfort zone when I’m speaking in front of an audience of hundreds of people, but it definitely hasn’t always been like that. It came with a lot of practice and constantly stepping out of my comfort zone, but I also found that my passion for helping people outweighed my own fears. Even now, I still have moments when imposter syndrome strikes and I feel like I’m not good enough. 72

JULY 2022

It came with a lot of practice and constantly stepping out of my comfort zone, but I also found that my passion for helping people outweighed my own fears

How do you deal with those feelings and tackle days when you don’t feel confident?

That sounds a lot like your 80% perfect club. Could you tell us more about that?

A lot of it comes with experience. But when I feel afraid, I know it’s because I’m stretching my comfort zone, which is a good thing! Confidence is like a muscle – you may do something to grow your confidence one day, like public speaking or trying something new, but that feeling will drift away if you don’t keep practising it. So when I feel imposter syndrome or a lack of confidence, I remind myself that I need to keep stretching my confidence muscles.

Yes! The 80% perfect club allows you to do online coaching in your own time, while sending little missions that will stretch your confidence every Monday. It’s a reminder to do something different to make you feel good, such as speaking up in meetings or paying extra attention to your body language. We are currently offering the first month free! It came to be once I realised that there is a 60% issue. Men often only need to be 60% sure of themselves to seize an opportunity, MARCH8.COM

Want to look, sound, and appear more confident? Esther shares her tips that spell out 'POSE'

PO S E

osture

If you stand or sit up straight, you immediately feel and look more powerful

oomph Show off your energy to ensure you keep your audience engaged

peech

Speak up by raising the volume of your voice and leave tiny pauses between sentences, rather than filling them with ‘erms’ and ‘ahhs’

yes & teeth SMILE! Think eyes and teeth, and you will appear more engaging and friendly immediately – plus you’ll feel better (there’s science behind a smile)

JULY 2022

8 MINUTES WITH...

whereas women usually need to be 100% certain. So that’s why I’m telling women to stop being perfect – let’s just go for 80%, because we’re never going to be completely perfect as there is no such thing!

Why did you decide to specialise in helping women with their confidence? As Michelle Obama said, you can’t be what you can’t see, so I wanted to make sure that women have the right role models. I’m talking about typical women with a career, a busy life and kids, not just confident women on TV. Your inner confidence is self-belief, and if you don’t have much self-belief, it can be really hard to grow your confidence – but it’s my mission to get more women speaking up and believing in themselves.

What advice would you give to those who are just starting the journey of growing their confidence? Firstly, I would say don’t worry about what other people are doing. It’s so important to get on your own path and learn what’s best for you. Comparing yourself to others can just make you feel like you’re not good enough, or that others are always doing better. I would also say don’t worry, because everyone else feels like you! The best thing to do is just to dive in and face your fears head on. Feel the fear, stretch your comfort zone, and keep practising. Finally, I would say embrace failure, because when you fail, you learn something new. I try to do something badly, because it’s a reminder that if we fail, everything will be alright, and we won’t spontaneously combust. MARCH8.COM

JULY 2022

FORMULA E

with

Julia Pallé

MARCH8.COM

JULY 2022

FORMULA E

Describing her journey into the motorsport industry as “a complete alignment of stars”, Julia Pallé, Sustainability Director at Formula E, shares how the ABB FIA Formula E Championship is making motorsports an inclusive space for girls

omen have a thin history in motorsports, and even though it is one of the only sports permitting men and women to compete as equals, only 1.5% of the world’s total licensees are women. The FIA and Formula E are on a mission to increase this percentage, welcoming girls aged 8 to 18 to participate in the Girls On Track programme, supported by Formula E's long time partner ABB. Julia Pallé, Sustainability Director at Formula E, is responsible for all of the organisation’s sustainability actions, spanning four main pillars: environment, value for value, innovation and leadership, and social action – the latter of which features the Girls on Track programme. Through this position, Julia stands as a role model for girls, while fiercely advocating diversity in the motorsporting industry. “I always wanted to work in an impactful industry and I have always loved cars, but I never pictured a career in motorsport for myself,” Julia says. “To be honest, my career in motorsports happened through a complete alignment of stars. MARCH8.COM

“I was offered an amazing opportunity with Michelin, and I absolutely loved it! But I realised that, at the time, there were so few women in the industry and a lot of work to be done. From there, I made it my mission to ensure that women are welcomed into the motorsport environment, contributing their skills and talents to make motorsports a better place.”

Promoting diversity on the track FIA Girls on Track is a 360° project that helps girls to explore the various career

JULY 2022

It’s crucial for us to break the barriers and open the doors to young and talented women, because honestly, it’s important

JULIA PALLÉ TITLE: SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR COMPANY: FORMULA E INDUSTRY: MOTORSPORT LOCATION: LONDON, UK

opportunities available within the motorsport industry. Offering girls unique hands-on experiences, they are encouraged to explore all aspects of motorsport and beyond. Although school-age girls are known to thrive while studying STEM subjects, research shows that, globally, men are more likely to lead careers in the industry. Girls on Track is specifically designed to inspire and encourage girls’ interest in STEM subjects, with the aim of increasing female participation in these sectors, using motorsport as a medium of exposure.

Motorsport enthusiast Julia Pallé oversees all the sustainability actions at the world’s first fully-electric single-seat racing series, ABB FIA Formula E Championship. Through her role as Sustainability Director, Julia is able to support Formula E’s mission to accelerate electric vehicle adoption across the globe, to fight climate change and to offer solutions to air quality issues. As a Sustainability Advisor for Extreme E, the all-electric SUVs series, Julia helps to bring electric racing to some of the most remote corners of the planet, in a bid to highlight the climate change challenges faced by different ecosystems. Additionally, Julia is President of Sports and Sustainability International (SandSI), working to broaden and harmonise the international sport and sustainability movement, alongside other industry experts.

FORMULA E

“Girls can be anything in the motorsport industry – drivers, engineers, mechanics, presenters, press officers – so we want to break the perception that these careers are just for men,” Julia says. “Motorsport has a reputation for not being a very accessible sport, but the Girls on Track programme wants to change that by giving girls the opportunity to learn and discover new skills.” “It’s really important for us to show girls from a diverse social background that motorsport is a friendly environment that is accessible to everyone – not just boys and men. “To do so, we take Girls on Track as an entry point for diversity and inclusion, because then we can add the perspective of social representation, diverse backgrounds, sexual orientations, and so on. We do that by making sure that we have a wide representation of women in motorsport, and then ensure that everything is rolled out accordingly from there, to create a real diverse and inclusive environment.”

Providing knowledge, skills and inspiration

Through the programme, girls are exposed to a number of workshops teaching them about the various roles in motorsport. At the Berlin E-Prix, girls could undertake various challenges, such as engineering-based activities where they could build mini cars and mechanical tasks teaching them how to change a tyre, while Formula E sponsors ABB organised workshops to show girls what motorsport can look like on a software site. Girls also had the chance to try codingbased activities, experience time with the media, and tackle logistical challenges – and, of course, no motorsport programme would be complete without go-karts and a track for the girls to race around. 82

JULY 2022

WHAT IS FORMULA E? The idea of a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars started back in 2011, when Founder Alejandro Agag and FIA President Jean Todt noted the idea on the back of a napkin. Now, Formula E has become the fastest-growing motorsport series on the planet. The founding mission of Formula E was for some of the world’s best drivers and teams to race through the streets of iconic cities in all-electric cars. Formula E has proudly been net-zero from day one and is paving the way for a cleaner, better future for motorsport. Now in Season 8, Formula E has 12 teams and 24 drivers on the grid, and the championship has become a destination for the world's best motorsport teams and racing talent.

MARCH8.COM

WHAT DOES JAMIE REIGLE, FORMULA E CEO, THINK OF GIRLS ON TRACK? “At Formula E, it’s very important for us to encourage more girls to join the motorsport industry, beyond just the two people from each team that drive the cars. Yes, we want more female drivers, but we also want more female mechanics, engineers, computer scientists, and so on. Girls on Track is all about that. “It’s proven to be a really powerful programme, and, when you see the emotion from these young girls and their families, it’s pretty cool and something Formula E is really proud to be involved with.”

FORMULA E

Watching the girls race around the track is the really exciting part of the programme, because you can see how much they love it from the look on their faces Opening up the track

These workshops provide a ‘behind the scenes’ look to fill in the gaps of how motorsport is usually presented. “The media typically doesn’t present many women in the motorsport industry – for example, we don’t see many female drivers,” Julia says. “That’s why it’s so important that we’re able to take girls into the paddock and onto the tracks to show them all the different careers that are available – not just the ones shown on TV. “As they walk around the paddock, they’ll see that there are actually a lot of women involved in Formula E; we have a very even gender split. It’s crucial for us to break the barriers and open the doors to young and talented women, because honestly, it’s important.”

Although Girls on Track is doing a fantastic job of raising the profile of motorsports for girls, the main aim is to support and inspire those who want to join the industry. Those that attend the Girls on Track events receive follow-ups from their local branch of the FIA and are offered support, for example, when applying for university or choosing their first internship in racing. “Watching the girls race around the track is the really exciting part of the programme, because you can see how much they love it from the look on their faces,” Julia adds. “But it also gives us the opportunity to detect real talent, so if an individual is gifted, we ask if they’d like to be enrolled in the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission. Through this programme, girls would be supported to hopefully one day be part of the racing grade of Formula E or whichever championship they’re drawn to.” “We get some amazing stories from girls who thank us for supporting them through the process of choosing their degree, which then led them to the internship of their dreams. For me, that’s how we make an impact. Ultimately, Girls on Track is our way of one, showing them that it’s possible, and two, that there's no reason why it shouldn’t be them.”

MARCH8.COM

Better Digital Workplaces Start with Understanding Your Users

- Gain visibility into the digital employee experience - Implement automations - Optimize IT assets Hybrid work has fundamentally changed the relationship between employees and IT. We used to work at the office, now we work in a thousand offices. For IT, visibility into the true user experience in remote settings is critical for supporting a productive and happy workforce. Lakeside Software’s Digital Experience Cloud, powered by SysTrack, delivers that visibility by taking a more holistic view of remote environments so IT can quickly identify productivity roadblocks, thoroughly troubleshoot issues, optimize setups, and do more to improve digital experiences for remote workers. When Finastra shifted to a proactive IT model to support a distributed workforce, it identified Lakeside as a partner that could provide rapid insights to prioritize and proactively address the most urgent challenges affecting employees’ digital experience. “We identified that we needed to invest in a digital experience management solution so we could get that visibility and measure how well IT is doing,” said Russ Soper, CIO at Finastra. “We wanted to be able to see when users are having issues without just waiting for employees to phone the service desk. We can’t fix what we can’t see.” Lakeside’s Digital Experience Cloud monitors all the factors that impact end-user experience directly from the digital workplace and then analyzes that data to provide IT with an accurate view into the current state of your end-user computing environment. Finastra can now intelligently calculate an end-user experience score and view the data it needs to ensure that score is up to the company’s standards. This depth of visibility has enabled the Finastra IT team to design proactive IT processes that ensure an optimal end-user experience and deliver better outcomes for the business. “Lakeside has enabled us to be far more data-driven and proactive in detecting an issue before it affects the user experience,” said Soper. “We now see that quickly in a data-driven way, so we can now focus on addressing it before it manifests into an incident.”

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inspired Fill your social media feeds with these influential business women, all of whom have led inspirational career journeys while using their platforms to motivate their following

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Diipa Khosla

FOUNDER Inde Wild Born in a small town in India, Diipa Khosla is now a world-renowned fashion and beauty influencer and the founder of skincare brand Indē Wild. Inspired to make positive change, Diipa is also the founder of non-profit organisation Post for Change, which allows her to cultivate the immense power of social media by tackling important social and global matters.

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Grace Beverley

FOUNDER TALA & SHREDDY Fitness enthusiast and entrepreneur Grace Beverly is the founder of activewear brand TALA and transformation app SHREDDY. Though TALA, Grace focuses on producing high-quality sustainable products, which come without the hefty price tag. Now with two successful companies under her belt, Grace has become a leading influencer in the fitness and business industry.

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Brittani Hunter FOUNDER Mogul Millennial

Allie Miller CO-FOUNDER Girls of the Future Allie Miller is the leading lady in artificial intelligence (AI). As the global head of machine learning business development for startups and venture capital at Amazon, she plays a key role in advancing the greatest AI companies in the world. Allie is also the co-founder of Girls of the Future, an initiative encouraging more girls to pursue careers in STEM subjects. MARCH8.COM

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Eshita Kabra

FOUNDER Rotation While on honeymoon, Eshita Kabra saw first-hand the impact that textile waste has on her home state in Rajasthan, India. This experience influenced her to shake up the fashion industry by launching the sustainable fashion app By Rotation, which provides consumers with a social network to rent, lend and buy designer fashion.

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Céline Flores Willers

FOUNDER The People Branding Company Posting about start-ups, personal branding and all things technology, Céline Flores Willers has worked hard to build a platform to educate and support her followers. The entrepreneur has been named as a LinkedIn Top Voice for three years and is also the CEO and founder of The People Branding Company, which teaches users how to successfully grow their LinkedIn platform.

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Eleonora Rocca FOUNDER WomenX Impact With creativity at her very core, Eleonora Rocca has built a following discussing innovation, technology, digital marketing, entrepreneurship, and, last but not least, female empowerment. She is also the co-founder of WomenX Impact, an international event elevating women by providing opportunities for great minds to listen to and share professional stories.

FOUNDER Huda Beauty Following her passion for beauty, Huda Kattan launched Huda Beauty, her very own fun-yet-sophisticated make-up brand. Since launching in 2013, Huda has created an enormous social media following, which she says is: “A place for people to feel beautiful and comfortable, and to share their own inspiration and thoughts around beauty.” MARCH8.COM

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RT in the TLIGHT

Decorated with five gold, ten silver and six bronze medals, Olympic swimmer Molly Renshaw was clearly born to lead a life in water

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ompeting professionally in any sport is mentally and physically taxing – something that British swimmer Molly Renshaw has known since starting her career at just 14 years old. From travelling the world to missing competitions by a fingertip, we sat down with Molly in Derbyshire, UK, to discuss the highs and lows of her phenomenal career in the water.

Where did your love for swimming come from? My parents wanted me to learn how to swim as a child, just as a life skill so I would be safe on holidays – that kind of thing. I started off having private lessons, but when my instructor said I took to the water well, I was encouraged to join a local swimming club, Ripley Rascals. At age 10, I was scouted by a Derbyshire County Group called Derventio Excel, which is when I started swimming part-time. It was so fun because I was around a group of people the same age as me, all aspiring to be swimmers one day. But, of course, this is when things started to get a bit more serious, with early mornings and gym sessions. I had a really good year in 2011, where I dropped 10 seconds off my best time, making the European Juniors and the World Senior team. My career escalated very quickly from there. MARCH8.COM

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That summer, I competed in Shanghai, China, on the world stage with the likes of Becky Adlington and Jo Jackson. As a 14 year old, it was quite daunting and unexpected, but it allowed me to have longevity in the sport while growing my confidence. Now I’m a senior member of the team, I love being able to mentor younger swimmers and look out for them in the same way that others looked out for me when I was that age. 98

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Would you say that you were born a swimmer? My family would definitely say so! I am quite blessed because swimming did come very naturally to me, so even without hard training, I would be a good swimmer. Having that baseline talent is definitely a blessing, so any hard work is just going to build upon that and make me faster. I guess I’m not that good on land, so maybe I was born to be in the water?

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Competing in sport at a professional level comes with its fair share of challenges – what have been the toughest obstacles for you? Competing in the London 2012 Olympics was the absolute dream for me. I had a really good chance at making the team as I had made the qualifying times, I just had to perform on the day. Back then, we had trials in April and in June. In April, they would only take the top swimmer, and as I was second,

I was put on hold until June. I missed the qualifying time by 0.1 second, so I missed the Olympics by a fingertip. It was a lot to take as a 15-year-old, looking back. It knocked my confidence for a few years, and I was mentally in a hole for two, maybe three years. I was still making teams, but I wasn’t thriving at the same level. I wouldn’t wish that upon any 15 year old, but it’s definitely made me tougher in the long run – I’ve now done three Olympic cycles and am looking forward to my fourth. MARCH8.COM

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Do you think that women are getting more recognition in swimming – have you seen a change over the years? From 2008 to 2012, I felt like women – such as Becky Adlington, Jo Jackson and Caitlin McClatchey – were dominating the sport. But then Adam Peaty and Duncan Scott came along and shifted it more to the male side. Over the last year or two, though, I feel like the women are starting to creep back, so it’s feeling more equal. I think we are lucky to be in a sport where there's equal pay and equal opportunities, as I know this isn’t the case for a lot of sports.

As a professional athlete, you obviously get to travel the world with friends that you compete with. How is that? It’s probably one of the biggest perks of the job. It’s sometimes easy to get down in the dumps about how hard training is, and,

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by the weekend, all I want to do is spend my time in bed. But, a lot of the time, I have to pinch myself and realise that this is like my full-time job. And I'm very grateful that we do get to travel to some amazing places and train outside in the sun in places like Australia. So I have to take a step back and be thankful for what I do, the friends I’ve made and the life lessons I've learned. At the moment, I’m trying to stick to my motto and be a happy swimmer, and just take each day as it comes. MARCH8.COM

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Is it right that you were considering retiring after the 2020 Olympic Games? It was definitely in my head. I thought that, maybe at the age of 24, I was past it – which seems silly now because it’s so young, but as I had been in the sport for so long, I wondered when I was going to stop improving. But after the pandemic I was achieving my best times, achieving personal best and breaking British records, which obviously makes swimming so much more enjoyable. After that, I had the dream year, although I didn’t perform as well as I wanted in the Olympics. If I had done, I would have been more likely to retire to end my career on a high. But now, I want to give myself the time to correct what went wrong and achieve what I wanted to in the 2020 Olympics, just a few years later in 2024.

Earlier, you mentioned that you’re a senior member of the team. What advice do you give to young swimmers that you wish you knew when you were starting out? The biggest learning point for me was to enjoy the journey. There have definitely been times when I’ve taken things too seriously. I’ve had to take a step back to realise that yes, it’s a competitive sport, but if I’m not enjoying it, I won’t be performing to my full potential. So my motto is a happy swimmer is a fast swimmer, and, although that’s kind of cheesy, I’ve tried to live by the rule for the past 10 years. MARCH8.COM

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If you’re a mother – how many extra obstacles have you faced in your career since becoming a parent? Whether that’s managing a work-life balance, contending with mum guilt, or the challenges of reduced pay, we look at just a few ways in which workplaces can become motherhood-friendly MARCH8.COM

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enturing back into the workplace after having a child can be a time of unease and anxiety for mothers. Not only do they have to balance family life while pursuing their professional career, but more often than not, various other challenges rear their heads; sometimes, these are known as the motherhood penalty. As a result of this, almost half of working mothers decide to reduce their hours, with one in four quitting work altogether to care for their families, according to a study by Pew Research. But we want to see more mums in the workplace – especially as 55% shared in a Motherly survey that their careers empower them to be a better mother. Although the issue itself is complex, there are certain things that employers and fellow employees can do to welcome women back with open arms, while creating an environment where mothers want to stay.

Implement ‘returnships’ Easing mothers back into the workplace while ensuring they’re able to build on prior progress can be achieved through ‘returnship’ programmes: a high-level internship, specifically designed for those who have been out of professional work for an extended period of time. 108

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Employee work-from-home preferences by household type, % of respondents

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SOURCE: ANDREA ALEXANDER, AARON DE SMET, MEREDITH LANGSTAFF, AND DAN RAVID, "WHAT EMPLOYEES ARE SAYING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF REMOTE WORK,"

Employees with young children are more likely than their peers to prefer primarily remote working models

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In the 2019 Women in the Workplace report, company leaders reported that they believe returnships have helped retain and further develop talented women. Encouraging women back into the workforce after having a child has therefore contributed to their representation of women at C-suite level. PayPal is just one company focusing on welcoming women back into the workplace after maternity leave via the Recharge programme. PayPal Recharge is a 16-week paid returnship programme offering mothers the opportunity to update their skills and expand their network. There are a number of other companies that have implemented returnships, including JPMorgan, Amazon and Pepsico.

Reset norms around flexibility ‘Flexibility’ has well and truly been redefined over the past few years, and now, more companies are offering remote and hybrid working. In fact, the need for greater work-life flexibility is the top issue for both men and women at work, according to McKinsey.

Although many employees are enjoying the new-found freedom of flexible working, for working mothers, it can bring a plethora of benefits – from initial pregnancy to returning to work after birth. This flexibility not only eases the pressures of juggling meetings and deadlines with home life, but it puts mothers in a better position to focus on their own mental and physical health. Second study from McKinsey highlights that employees with young children are more likely to prefer remote working models and flexible work locations, with only 8% of mothers stating they would prefer to be fully office-based.

Avoid mum-guilting Subtly (and sometimes not so subtly), women returning to work post-pregnancy find themselves facing mum guilt. Mum guilt can come in the form of snide comments or sly remarks from others, rigid expectations, or it can be self-inflicted. Whatever source it stems from, mum guilt makes mothers feel as if they have their priorities wrong by working – and it most certainly shouldn’t be reinforced in the workplace.

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That being said, 70% of women with dependent children at work in the UK experience guilt about juggling a career while being a mother, according to the Office for National Statistics. In addition, since a study of 2,000 women from baby care company NUK found that 60% of women felt guilty about how they parent because of comments from others. Examples include feeling guilty about returning to work after maternity leave or working late into the evening. Although there are many different factors that contribute to mum-guilting, it’s most important to call out bad behaviours when they occur to support mothers. 112

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Make childcare affordable As the cost of living is on the rise, affordable childcare is just another barrier that women face in the workplace. In fact, in the UK, mothers are expected to miss out on almost £70,000 (US$88,000) worth of earnings the decade after having a child, according to recent data from the Social Market Foundation (SMF). This dramatic pay decrease is due to mothers not being able to work as much as they want to – limiting their career options – as well as the high cost of child care. To ease this burden, employers can look at introducing affordable childcare

reimbursement. If this is not possible, employers can partner with local childcare offices to provide parental discounts and a greater preference of time slots to book childcare during work hours.

Adjust policies and programmes Of course, any desired workplace change always comes down to policy change. And although the idea of advocating policy changes may not have you gripped and on the edge of your seat, it’s vital nonetheless. Attractive childcare-related programmes will not only increase the likelihood of women returning to work after maternity leave, but it will

demonstrate an inclusive culture to future employees – especially those considering having children themselves at a later date. Policies designed to mitigate the uneven burden on mothers may come in the form of increased childcare support, tutoring programmes or childcare resources. According to McKinsey, these policies should be viewed as long-term adjustments for employers, rather than short-term emergency actions – an example of the latter being the work-from-home flexibility introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has slowly morphed back into hybrid or fully office-based roles in many cases. MARCH8.COM

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Creating patient-centred solutions Paul Sanders is Managing Director for Clinical Systems at Civica. We talk through Civica’s partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. Civica is one of the UK’s largest software providers for the public sector. The company’s partnership with Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, a mental health and learning disability trust in the North East of England, started back in 2008. It involves four main areas, an electronic patient record (EPR), an electronic prescribing solution (ePMA) and a dvocuments and content management solution called Cito delivered on a cloudbased managed service. “I’ve been very impressed with the work they’ve done” Kam Sidhu, Chief Information Officer at the trust says. “Clinicians often come up with lots of different ways they’d like to work, but sometimes what they have on paper doesn’t transfer very well to a digital solution. Our development teams have been working closely with Civica to come up with solutions that are really fit for purpose.” Sanders explains that to do this they undertook more than 30 face-to-face workshops that brought together technical people, clinical staff and service users. “To bring this insight back to our technical team has been so powerful, because this isn’t

about software – this is about making things better for vulnerable people.”Looking ahead, Sanders says they aim to be at the forefront of new technologies like machine learning, robotic process automation, and patient chatbot technology, whilst continuing to deliver domain-focused, clinically usable features to enable Sidhu and her team to get positive outcomes. They have also created Civica NorthStar, an innovation lab focussed on creating enhanced outcomes for public services. “We’re one of the market leaders in housing and social care, so from an integrated health and social care agenda, we can join the dots between those systems’ technologies, and track the data journey as a citizen moves through the care system” Sanders says. The innovation lab applies fresh ideas around data, automation and new technologies to also enable the trust to improve patient outcomes. “Having data from different areas is very powerful because data in isolation doesn’t give you the complete picture of what’s happening to that patient” Sidhu says. “In terms of our partnership, this is only the start. Cito is the next phase, then the ePMA programme and the patient portal, and then there’s more to come.”

Learn more

Closing the Emily Cook, Day 1 host

As women make up only 28% of the global workforce in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), we see it as our mission at MARCH MARCH8 8 to share the voices of pioneering women in the sector. On June 23rd and 24th, we welcomed our MARCH MARCH8 8 community to Tobacco Dock, London, to indulge in keynote speeches from 11 amazing women, as well as two inspirational panel sessions, two informative fireside chats, and excellent networking opportunities. For those who weren’t able to attend the event, we’re happy to fill you in on what you missed out on. 116

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Anna Brailsford CODE FIRST GIRLS

Fireside chat: Digital transformation

Alice Williams SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC Why do we stop asking why: Recrafting the STEM narrative Alice Williams kicked off the event by sharing why it's so important to support women in tech as their careers evolve and how to do so. As an inclusive industry, Alice explains how to welcome women from diverse backgrounds – from marketing to the military – and why we shouldn’t put people with different lived experiences in rigid boxes.

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Anna Brailsford and MARCH8’s Emily Cook sat down to discuss how to support emerging female tech talent in an insightful fireside chat. The pair covered a number of hot topics, including why digital transformation needs to be driven by diverse tech teams, as well as how diversity ensures that we're coding a safe and fair future for all.

Nina Jane Patel KABUNI

Towards an understanding of the metaverse

Fannie Delavelle BPIFRANCE

Why having women on your board will help your growth Panel: Systemic Gender Bias Online

Nina Jane Patel is on a mission to ensure that the metaverse is a safe and inclusive environment for children to learn, grow and explore. In her keynote, Nina takes us back to 1995 – when the internet first emerged – to explain how the metaverse will change our futures in the same way that the internet did, even if we don’t know it yet.

As the creator of Make it She, Fannie Delavelle shared how to combat gender bias, while touching upon the importance of parity in making investment decisions and investing in female founders. After her keynote, Fannie was welcomed back to the stage to join the panel on Systemic Gender Bias Online.

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Eleanor Ludlam

DAC BEACHCROFT Women in law – challenges and strategy From being excluded from playing football to being paid less than her male counterparts for fulfilling the same role, Eleanor Ludlam shares how she has been treated as a result of her gender over the course of her life and career. Although she shares the many challenges she’s faced through being a female lawyer, she encourages all in positions of authority to ‘lead loudly’ and to make positive change.

Krishna Desai

CUBIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS The future of transportation: Built through the lens of a women Krishna Desai started her high-energy talk by highlighting the history of the mobility industry, while explaining why we need more women to join the sector. She continued to explain what we can learn about diversity and inclusion from Transport For London, as well as how to inspire children to enter tech roles.

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Katherine Gormley, Arungalai Anbarasu, Fannie Delavelle Panel: Systemic Gender Bias Online To round up a truly unforgettable day, Katherine Gormley, Arungalai Anbarasu and Fannie Delavelle took to the stage to engage in a panel discussion focusing on systemic gender bias online. Kicking off the discussion, Fannie explains that only one in three people on the internet are women, to then address the steps that can be taken to combat unconscious biases online. Katherine takes over following this to explain how AI systems can potentially learn our unconscious biases and perpetuate them online, before Arungalai shares how we can make the internet a more inclusive place for women.

MARCH8 LIVE

Lisa Lambie

MAROON INVEST GLOBAL

Steph Marques BERNADETTE You're not fake, you're fantastic; Panel: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion With such a catchy title, Steph Marques’s keynote was a fantastic way to get the second day started. Tackling the topic of imposter syndrome head on, Steph shares that it is a common issue that everyone feels from time to time, while highlighting tips to overcome the issue, as well as how to take advantage of it.

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Optimising investor returns supported by increased accountability and transparency in authentic impact delivery and innovation - reversing funding gaps in women’s health and health conditions disproportionately impacting diverse demographics Delivering a serious talk for serious issues, Lisa Lambie took to the stage to discuss a number of pressing issues, including increased accountability and transparency in capital allocation and maximising innovation, including diversity and inclusion – which she describes as a ‘must have’ in business.

Samantha Humphries EXABEAM Fireside chat: Barriers recruiting women in STEM

Mara Pometti IBM

Joined by the lovely Tanavi Patel and Paulina Laurie, Samantha Humphries discusses the various challenges that women face when aspiring to pursue a career in STEM and, most importantly, how to overcome them. Linking back to Steph Marques’s talk, Samantha continues to explain how women can thrive in STEM careers and how they can overcome imposter syndrome.

From Journalism to AI With a passion for elevating women in STEM, Mara Pometti shares her personal experiences as a professional in the sector, as well as a humanist. Focused on bringing women together to create a better future, Mara discusses how both the humanities and STEM can be used to humanise AI.

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Natalia Nicholson WOMEN IN DIGITAL BUSINESS

Idea to Profit: How to Humanise and Monetise SaaS and Tech Natalia Nicholson’s aim is to humanise SaaS and tech – and, by that, she means breaking the assumption that tech professionals are hidden away from other employees, as we are now, of course, in the digital age. She explains why it's paramount for businesses to digitalise and how, as the founder of Women in Digital Business, she helps others to achieve this.

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Samantha Karlin EMPOWER GLOBAL

An Ethical Revolution in Tech: How Women Can Lead the Way Have you ever wondered why Alexa and Google Home have female voices? While taking centre stage, Samantha Karlin explains how giving robots female voices reinforces harmful stereotypes. Taking a deeper dive into the issue, Samantha explores the pitfalls of having so few women in the AI sector, particularly in product development, and how to counter these.

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Paulina Laurie

FRANK RECRUITMENT GROUP Inclusive hiring: Why it matters; Fireside chat: Barriers to recruiting women in STEM After joining Samantha Humphries and Tanavi Patel in the fireside chat, Paulina Laurie stepped into the spotlight herself to discuss the importance of inclusive hiring and how to achieve it. Passionate about increasing diversity within the tech sector, Paulina disclosed a number of shocking statistics to showcase how inclusive hiring can close the gender gap.

Angie Vaux WOMEN IN TECH FORUM Panel: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Diving straight in, Angie Vaux defines what diversity, equity and inclusion actually mean, to then explain where the lack of representation begins when it comes to STEM. While highlighting how workforces can tackle these challenges, Angie expresses that the key piece of advice that she would give to other women in STEM industries is to understand the importance of being your authentic self – a truly inspirational way to close another fantastic show.

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INTRODUCING...

MARCH8 Academy wants to teach young children the importance of an equal and diverse world. Every single girl has the right to grow up knowing that she can achieve anything she puts her mind to, by working hard, being determined and having genuine passion. Through MARCH8 Academy, we will be working with young children aged six to 16, from all walks of life, to help them confidently create a place for themselves in the world. By working with schools, sharing books and hosting leading female speakers, we aim to educate, motivate and elevate girls, so they grow up knowing that there isn’t anything they can’t do. 126

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Girls think of everything Children’s book author and creativity expert Catherine Thimmesh is on a mission to get girls excited about STEM subjects by demonstrating all the amazing opportunities available through her fun and educational books 128

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irls Think Of Everything, Madam President, and The Sky's the Limit are just a few of the inspirational books that children’s author Catherine Thimmesh has published to motivate girls and young women to consider careers in STEM subjects. But Catherine hasn’t always been on this path. “I realised when I was quite young that I loved writing, but I didn’t necessarily think I could make a career out of it,” Catherine said. “But in my spare time, I took a class for writing for children at a gallery close by, and I really connected with the audience. When the gallery sadly failed, I was inspired to take a job in children’s publishing so I could learn more about the industry – and from there, I never looked back!”

Inspiring the next generation Although Catherine found her natural talent for writing, her biggest motivation comes from inspiring girls and making a positive impact on their lives. She describes one of her proudest moments to be when a four-year-old girl declared to her parents that she had changed her career ambitions from being a Disney princess to studying palaeontology after reading her book, Lucy Long Ago. But Catherine isn’t just interested in promoting STEM industries to girls – she wants to change the way in which they’re perceived. “There’s a common misconception that there are creative people and non-creative people in the world. Creative people like dance, art and music; non-creative people like science, MARCH8.COM

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Creativity at its core is looking at the world in new and different ways technology, engineering and maths – but that’s not true,” Catherine says. “Creativity at its core is looking at the world in new and different ways. Therefore, when you're presented with problems, you have to discover unique and creative solutions.” “Children also need to be taught the value that creativity has once they leave the classroom and enter the working world,” Catherine adds. “There are so many big companies that are looking for creative employees, and children need to have their creative muscles stretched, just like they do their maths and language muscles.”

Providing role models and positive influences Through each of her books, Catherine celebrates the many pioneering women who have come before us to provide girls with accurate role models, and to prove that they too can follow in their footsteps, if they wish. “Representation really does matter,” Catherine says, “So it’s really important that we encourage, not discourage, girls. “We need to show them that yes, there are hard parts of maths and science, but there are hard parts of every career path. Our job as mentors, parents and teachers is to highlight the really fun and worthwhile aspects of STEM. That’s why I love writing for children. I never want my books to be a chore to read. I want kids to pick up my books and feel inspired.” 130

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We took to our social media platforms to ask the MARCH8 community their thoughts on some of today’s most pressing topics

This month’s question:

What do you think are the most important attributes of a good leader? “A person who masters the balance between what should be done and what realistically can be done, with an empathic, resilient, and positive mindset. Someone with charisma who can inspire and challenge at the same time. Someone who always puts people first, ahead of anything else. Someone with a mind for business and a heart for connections. A leader that can build more leaders – we need more of those.”

Sorana Duca “A good leader needs to have authenticity, passion, and empathy. You will win everyone’s heart, respect and inspiration if you have these traits, and you will make your team deliver the best results.”

Dina Subuh

“Passion, vision, empathy, ability to inspire and to lead by example. Also to recognise that we are all different, we hold different perspectives and views, and it is the culmination and coming together of this diversity of thinking that often allows for the greatest amount of progress and the best ideas.”

Hali Khan

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JULY 2022

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MARCH8 Magazine - July 2022

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