#BreakTheBias

On 8th March 2022, the world celebrated International Women’s Day, and I wished the same to all my female colleagues, friends, managers, partners, clients, and acquaintances. This gives us a welcome opportunity to celebrate women (i.e. US!) and our many achievements.

This year’s IWD theme, #BreakTheBias, is a particularly topical and relevant theme for me as the new General Manager of National Crime Check. It’s one that I have been pondering for a while now.

I have been thinking about the unique position I hold at the cross-section of operations (a traditionally male field) and HR. (Note: though my title changed very recently, I’m still counting myself as a woman in operations!) And I feel a certain responsibility to use this unique position to make a difference for other women, no matter how big or small.

I have been thinking about the opportunities I have to support our clients in using National Crime Check screening technology to remove gender bias and discrimination from their hiring processes, along with the opportunities I have to support and mentor fellow women coming up in operations. It’s not always an easy road, and after ten years in the field, I definitely have some stories and expertise to share!

I plan to put thought into action throughout the rest of the year (and in years to come) by being particularly cognizant of how I can play an active role in minimising bias when working with NCC clients, and by more thoughtfully and actively supporting my fellow women in operations to forge their own path in the industry.

So that’s what’s on my mind as we celebrate Women in the month of March? What have you been thinking about? Let me know in the comments! #IWD2022 #BreakTheBias #TeamSterling #TeamNCC