Regardless of your gender we can all play a large part in promoting equality especially in the workplace. This year’s the theme for International Womens’ Day is #InspireInclusion. It’s a great focus to have, but as a woman and as a company director, I think it all starts with confidence. Building self confidence and encouraging others.

As many of you may know, I have been a member of Women In Insurance for quite a while and for the past year have been on their organising committee. WII does some incredible work, celebrating and supporting women working within the Insurance and Professional Service sectors. This year we launched the WII Grant that allowed us to provide mentoring and educational programs for young women early in their careers. I currently mentor two wonderful women who have been working in Insurance for a few years now. It’s such a rewarding experience for me to be able to support them with practical advice (born from my own personal experience) and to see their confidence grow exponentially.

WII also organises great industry events. I was at one recently talking with a group of women when one told us of her ongoing challenges at her work around trying to be heard in meetings. From this story came more examples of how other women in the workforce felt they lacked the confidence to have a voice and actively promote their opinions. As someone who has worked in HR and Recruitment for many years, this subtle lack of inclusivity can lead to an unhealthy workplace environment and create road blocks to otherwise flourishing careers. It was great chatting with these likeminded women and we all felt empowered by sharing our experiences and advice.

No matter your gender we need everyone to play their part in creating a safe environment for women in the workforce. We should all be able to speak up, be heard and we feel valued in our role. If you need advice, not just career, but also how to handle situations in your current role that your find challenging, then please reach out. I’m always up for a chat!

Danielle Marshall
Haylo Director & Co-Founder
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