Faced With Grace

The world has been built by men For men In my work, I often hear this And there is no doubt at the male normative centricity of design, innovation, and the history surrounding the source of change and evolution. Still to this day in the workplace, men are more likely to have innovation and efficiency as their side of desk, while women are more likely to have people areas such as engagement, wellbeing and inclusion. And as for receiving deserved credit, we know there is a gap there too. When a man says what you said 15 minutes ago and suddenly people listen and validate it, the gap feels all too real. Many innovations were a collective effort. But when credit is given, history can literally feel like “his story”. Given its Women’s History Month, it’s time to reflect. Often, being the default is something you don’t notice. It’s takes intention to notice the things that fit and are comfortable. I can certainly say I spent years unaware of many of the things I challenge today. I could share a lot more thoughts on this. But I’ll leave you with two considerations We shouldn’t forget all the things that were created by women. This list isn’t extensive and there will no doubt be women never credited with what they created or invented. And secondly, we as men should be active in considering this, and ensure credit is given equitably. And where women aren’t considered, we should partner with them to quite literally “design her in”. Systems. Processes. Products. Spaces. Allyship is intention, inclusive action. That requires picking up the tools and to change the structures, bit by bit, day in, day out. Because if men built it We can be a part of fixing it It’s why Male Allies UK exists (we will be naming these women in our next post) Creating a better, healthier world for everyone And who wouldn’t want that?

Everybody has one, but few truly listen. ?? #InnerVoice ?? Your inner voice is always there, a quiet guide offering wisdom and direction. Yet, in the chaos of daily life, it often gets drowned out. It is a reminder to pause, tune in, and trust it.

AMENDED: ???? (again) and I am now going to bed! Thank you, Chat Gpt and everyone for making this into a mathematical debate. Celebrating International Women’s Day feels complicated. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need it. By 2025, equal pay, regardless of gender, race, or nationality, should be a given. But the reality? We’re still fighting. I debated whether to post this. The exhaustion of years climbing the mountain of worthiness, stepping into the ring with gloves on, only to end up on the floor questioning my value. Then I saw one of Cindy Gallop’s brilliant posts, and I asked GPT: How much more did my male colleague earn than I did in percentage? To clarify: - I earned $70,000 and he earned $180,000. Feel free to do the math. I couldn't care less about the right percentage at this point. The point is, it was a lot more. Full stop. - This happened nearly 10 years ago, and after blood, sweat, and tears, I managed to negotiate a significant increase. - And even then, I was still earning a lot less than him. That’s the real issue. And my point stands: Same industry. Same company. His role? Regional. Mine? Global. Why am I posting this? Because of women like Cindy who refuse to be silent. Because maybe one day, none of us will have to post this kind of thing anymore. So here’s to no more IWD postcards. No more platitudes. Just justice. I, for one, am tired of this fight. It has left me in tears and depleted too many times. I don’t want future generations to endure the same nightmare. We deserve better. Turns out, all the math debate gave this post more reach than I ever expected. Now, let’s focus on closing the gender pay gap. ????♀????? Good night! #IWD #EqualPay #WomenInLeadership

International Women's Day calls for a chat! Join board member, Andrew Stoute, and I for a casual talk on breaking barriers in the workplace and how Faced With Grace can support you! www.facedwithgrace.org