At WIA we are proud to be supporting #internationalwomensday. We are fully aware that Gender Equality is an ongoing challenge not only in our society but also globally, and that work remains to be done regards women’s rights.

We are committed to real actions to deliver real results to support those around us, empower our people, eliminate the gender pay gap and set a positive example today and always. To support these aims WIA have implemented a range of measures; having an accountable Diversity Working Group, the voluntary submission of our gender pay gap, signed up to the RIBA Inclusion Charter, EDI training, reviewing and revising policies, flexible working, shared parental leave, blind recruitment, sharing experiences, mentoring, transparent and fair processes for all. We monitor, evaluate, report and adapt as we are conscious we must learn from experience.

Today we celebrate the accomplishments of woman in all areas of life as well as the diversity of our team and the women in WIA.

Some of our colleagues have shared their thoughts:

It’s fantastic to be part of the practice where women make up 50% of all employees. It is incredibly important and inspiring to me seeing women not only equally represented, but also having equal rights and opportunities for career progression.
However having recently become a mum, I realised that women face so many challenges I was completely unaware of: starting from postnatal depression, maternity discrimination, physical and mental household load that predominantly falls on women’s shoulders, the childcare affordability crisis that pushes qualified women out of workforce, women being seen as primary care givers as opposed to their male partners – are all the things that stop women from being able to progress their careers and to widening gender pay gap.
So as much as this day is our chance to explain our kids and celebrate together all the great women and men that fought for women’s rights, it’s also a reminder of all the struggles women are continuing to face and the long way we still have to go.

Tatjana Geta

Women’s Day is new to me as I have never heard of it until I came to the UK! It is great to learn more about these topics and celebrate the things women are able to achieve so far (and so much more to go). Just wanted to share something interesting around this:
Hari Kartini (Kartini Day) is an Indonesian celebration of a woman named Kartini, where she was able to fight for women’s education and equality in Indonesia during the Dutch colonization period. She was able to make education more accessible to other girls in Indonesia and has greatly impacted women’s rights at home.

Link for more info : https://www.indonesianpod101.com/blog/2021/04/20/kartini-day-in-indonesia/

Nicoletta Yoesdyanto

One book I like to go back to is ‘Letter to My Daughter’ by Maya Angelou. And a relevant instagram account that celebrates women who have offered us a lot through the years is ‘On This day She’.

Stalo Pitta

Days like international women’s day are so important because they don’t just celebrate all the exceptional (and everyday) things women have achieved to date, but because they continue to raise awareness of the issues women face daily and just how far we need to go before we achieve not just equality but real equity!

I have a lot to be proud of and grateful for, but my greatest achievement will always be my two girls. It is a great privilege to be a mum, but it’s also the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Balancing everything from work life, financial pressure, cost of childcare crisis, illnesses, the pandemic to remembering to buy nappies, do more exercise, attempt to rest, call the dentist, try to ignore the endless mum guilt, reply to the WhatsApp messages, and pack the wellies for forest school…!

For me supporting women to return to work following periods of leave is a key part to creating equity; flexible working, remote working, part time hours, 1:1 support are all ways WIA help both men and women with caring responsibilities to balance their commitments. Signing up to the inclusivity charter is our promise to keep challenging ourselves to do better.

Some amazing women driving change you can follow to learn more about mums returning to work:
Joeli Brearley – Pregnant then screwed
Anna Whitehouse – Mutha pukka

Lucy Smith

#DigitALL #Innovation # Technology # Equity #ClosetheGap