International Women's Day 2023 - How do we #EmbraceEquity ?

We are proud to say that The TalentPool Company has partnered with many fantastic and inspiring women throughout the years. Many of whom operate within traditionally male dominated business functions such as sales, operations, supply chain and logistics. As a team we are committed to providing diverse shortlists to our clients and promoting female talent, however we believe it is important to also be transparent about our own journey towards gender equality in the workplace.

We currently have a consultant workforce which is 80% male.?

This is something we are committed to changing, and it is also something we have reflected on in line with one of the 2023 IWD themes of #EmbraceEquity. For the current and future women of TalentPool we want to ensure we are not focused merely on equality in numbers or opportunity, but more importantly, equity. This is the understanding that each person in our business has a different set of circumstances and as a team we are striving to provide the resources and opportunities to ensure that everyone can reach an equal outcome.?

To better educate ourselves on the importance of this IWD theme, I had the privilege of speaking with some of the amazing female leaders within our network to understand how they view equity in the workplace and what their experience has been as a woman building a successful career within traditionally male dominated environments.

What do you believe is the importance of equity over equality in the workplace?

“It’s like a race, we are not all on that start line together and we need to provide the right support and resources to ensure that we are on the baseline together and then have the equipment to make it to the finish line” Laura Watson (Operations Director, Red Bull)

“To be truly inclusive it’s important to recognise each person has different circumstances and allocate the exact resources and opportunities to reach an equal outcome. Giving everyone the same thing is a measure of equality but doesn't give everyone the shot of the same outcome.” Emma Heal (Managing Director, Lucky Saint)

“It's about really thinking about an individual set of circumstances required to get the best out of that person. Whereas I think equality is a bit more broad brush and it doesn't necessarily take account of our individual challenges or individual wants and desires.” Nicola Thompson (CEO, Made.com)

What do you think are the biggest barriers to achieving equity??

“There is a collective desire but not a prescriptive set of rules to follow to make sure it happens” Victoria Cobos M (Vice President of Operations EMEA, Deckers)

“I think in this day and age, most progressive organisations want to be doing it but it’s hard to know where to begin.” Kathryn Huxtable (EVP Operations, Gousto)

“Understanding - it’s super complicated and very individual. It is not until you speak to every individual that you understand what it means for everyone. There is not a one size fits all, or even a 2 or 3 or 4 size fits all” Laura Watson (Operations Director, Red Bull)

How do you and your leadership team attempt to drive a more equitable environment within your organisation?

“I have always fought for big (Learning & Development) budgets and in the end I had a really vibrant selection of different supporting tools and aids for individuals and that really really spoke to equity. What does that person need versus the other and it, as a result, created an incredibly high performing team” Clara Latham (Global GM, Della Vite)

“It is about really understanding both sides and just being empathetic to the fact there are different situations out there for everyone really. I'm super proud of the fact that I have some of the best women in the industry working on my Exec team who are able to balance?what they need and want to do with their career, with what they want to do with their personal life as well and I’m just trying to encourage them.” Sarah Smart (Managing Director/CEO The Collective UK & Europe)

“We've just started doing 360 appraisals. I find that the employees are much happier to take feedback when they feel it's collective and I think it's really nice to get a collective view on stuff and for everybody to have a voice.” Sarah Gilling (Managing Director, Ocean Saver)

What support networks have you found helpful in developing your career??

“I always think it's really important to have your work best friend. Someone who understands the inner workings of the business, that you can go to on a rough day whether it's for a virtual cup of coffee or a physical one and just almost have an opportunity to to vent but in a really safe space” Kathryn Huxtable (EVP Operations, Gousto)

“Having the right mentors hands down! Mentors in the business and mentors outside of the business. You don't need to be introduced to a mentor - I reached out to people on LinkedIn that just looked fantastic and said you look really credible, have you got 30 minutes for me? That's something you can do for free!” Clara Latham (Global GM, Della Vite)

What has been your experience of balancing work and your personal life?

“You can do both - you just can't do both at the same time! Do you need to work till five o'clock? Or is it better if you finish earlier?” Sarah Gilling (Managing Director, Ocean Saver)

“Ruthless prioritisation” Sarah Smart (Managing Director/CEO, The Collective UK & Europe)

“Making intentional choices and organising in advance” Victoria Cobos M (Vice President of Operations EMEA, Deckers)

What advice would you give to other women looking to further their career??

“Feel the fear and do it anyway!” Emma Heal (Managing Director, Lucky Saint)

“Our superpower is being a women, that’s what makes us different and that is really powerful!" Laura Watson (Operations Director, Red Bull)

“Find the thing that gives you energy, not the job title or even sometimes the business or brand. Just find the things that give you energy every day and then try and navigate your career towards those things” Sarah Smart (Managing Director/CEO, The Collective UK & Europe)

“Find in your organisation or in the organisations that you want to work for great examples of businesses that are showing a strong understanding of creating an equitable workforce. Ask those questions of the organisations you're interviewing with and ask to spend some time with senior female leaders in that organisation to ask them about their journeys and whether they feel supported.” Nicola Thompson (CEO, Made.com)

What has been the biggest factor in your career success?

“Fearless determination to chase what I want and what I believe is right, fuelled by curiosity and chasing the next frontier” Victoria Cobos M (Vice President of Operations EMEA, Deckers)

“Taking the more interesting roads, not necessarily the easiest.” Emma Heal (Managing Director, Lucky Saint)

“A lot of it is the right place, right time. So much is timing, but in terms of the factors that you can control I think it is taking charge of your own career destiny. So be clear with your manager about what you want. Make sure you're really clear in the expectations of what exceptional performance looks like, and be really disciplined about building towards that. So being very intentional about building your own career and not waiting for somebody else to help you build your personal development plan” Kathryn Huxtable (EVP Operations, Gousto)

Reflecting on these conversations it is important that we at TalentPool continue to provide and further promote a safe space for all our employees to be able to bring their authentic selves to work, have a voice and feel able to speak out for what they both want and need in order to move their careers forward. We will be focusing on getting to know each other as individuals and will be working on providing the necessary resources our team members need to be successful. I will also personally be embracing my superpower of being a woman!

Please feel free to get in touch with any thoughts, questions or insight into the topics covered and also follow The TalentPool Company for access to an upcoming series of spotlight interviews with female leaders from across the consumer & retail sectors.

#embraceequity #IWD #IWD2023 #IWD23 #intenationalwomensday #intenationalwomensday2023 #womeninleadership #womeninconsumer #womeninretail #inspirationalwomen