Did you know that 75% of women of colour have experienced racism at work, with 27% having suffered racial slurs? (according to a joint report by the Runnymede Trust and Fawcett Society titled 'Broken Ladders: The myth of meritocracy for women of colour in the workplace,') These statistics shed light on the barriers that women of colour face in their professional journeys, barriers that are often overlooked due to a lack of holistic intersectional understanding.
That's why I recently organized an event at Deloitte for the Multicultural Network in honor of Women's History Month and International Women's Day. The event aimed to provide a platform for open dialogue and inspiration. I had the privilege of being joined by a remarkable cross-industry panel of women who are doing incredible things. I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Sarah Guerra (She,her), Rabia Khan BSc, MPH, DPhil (Candidate), Yusra Ibrahim, and Ololade Adesanya for sharing their experiences and inspiring everyone in attendance.
Throughout the panel discussion, we gained valuable insights from each speaker. Sarah discussed how socioeconomic background affects career prospects, highlighting the lack of interview coaching for certain individuals. Yusra shared her experiences of how wearing the hijab has impacted her career, while Rabia spoke about the additional layer of challenges faced by individuals with disabilities. Ololade shed light on the additional workload often placed on women are examples of some of the thoughts shared. Each of these talented women left me feeling personally inspired, and I hope to achieve even half of what they have accomplished one day.
This post is slightly late, not during Women’s History Month but that was purposeful as it's crucial to continuously address the barriers that women face in the workplace. We need allies who support us every day by recognizing and actively working to overcome these barriers.
Let's strive for a future where equality and inclusivity are not just celebrated on specific days or months, but where they are embedded in our everyday actions. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive work environment for all
Annie Wong Puja Shah
#internationalwomensday #IWD2024 #IWD #InspireInclusion
Well deserved! Proud to see Infosys leading in inclusion!