International Women's Day #choosetochallenge

The past, the present, the future

 As I reflect on this day, International Women's Day, it feels like a whole lot to reflect upon. How do I fit it in to one post? The past, the present and the future for women in careers, society and the planet. With 2 daughters, I feel duty bound and a sense of pride in small acts to make the planet and bp a better, equal, inclusive place for all. Just like those who have shaped my career and life in the past, the present and continue to do so in the future. 

small every day acts lead to true greatness and leadership

 The past 

Surrounded by predominantly men in my industry, naively the concept of gender equality never occurred to me in formative years of my career. Through education, observing, listening, having children, the rise of movements like #metoo and role models and activists in industry only now have I really stepped up and leaned in to acknowledge, speak up and advocate for gender equality.

The past has taught me the power in sponsorship, male ally's and friendships. We need them all if we are to make progress. Men have played a pivotal, impactful and downright profound role in my career, 3 in particular include John MacArthur, Simon Bibby and Ben Taylor. My mum has been my true role model, a guiding light and the basis for my optimism. She introduced me to one of my mentors, Jacquelynn Craw, who continues to help me with my compass and make meaningful connections. They may think nothing of the advice, support and friendship they extended over my career but it meant the world to me. Small acts can have the most profound impact.

power in sponsorship, male ally's and friendships

 The present 

Aleida Rios, bp's Senior Vice President of Engineering, is one of the first women in bp that came to mind, who has helped me realise the importance of International Women’s Day and the #ChooseToChallenge.

 I had heard and seen Aleida in my short time in bp at various townhalls and forums but it wasn't until she became our neurodiversity employee resource group exec sponsor that I had the privilege to work with her. She embodies inclusion and is the authentic and empathetic leader that I aspire to be. In being the leader she is, she is empowering us to be ourselves and quite simply feel good about that.

 Recently bp celebrated Dr Martin Luther King day in the US with giving the employees a days holiday to reflect on the all the achievement and good in this great man. I had put one of my favourite quotes in my out of office signature:

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends

Aleida reached out to me sharing it was one of her favourite quotes. This small act, told me lots about the inspiration she is.

In one conversation we were having Aleida shared that she had taken a day off to just relax and to celebrate the historical election of Kamala Harris in the US election. The first female black Asian Indian VP in the US - 100 years after women in the US were granted the right to vote. She shared that this gives her hope and inspiration to continue to advocate for underrepresented groups in all walks of life to have a seat at the table, saying

I am even more motivated to push harder and faster.

I too was delighted with Kamala Harris' election, despite not being able to vote in the US, my family were rooting so much for this historic moment. A monumental victory in the right for equality and inclusion that is inspiring so many women. 

The future

So what can you do to shape the future for women? Simple - pay it forward, lift women up. I saw this instagram post that really spurred me to act. I posted it in our internal yammer pages and it got some clicks. I then said

wait a minute, I should be practicing what I am posting

so now every month in bp I name and celebrate 3 women, sharing why I admire them. In February I posted: 

• Sarah Hill, bp's Procurement Senior Manager Gulf of Mexico & Canada - empowering, encouraging and in the words of Nike, epitomises 'just do it'.
• Fiona Campbell, bp's VP Projects, GoM, TT, NS & Brazil- energizing, honest and inclusion champion (and fellow braveheart Scot).
• Candace McKinney, bp's senior business development analyst, Trading & Shipping - resilient, reliable, insightful and in the spirit of Top Gun, THE wingwoman!

 In March I will post: 

• Lorna Noble, bp's Data Manager, Production & Operations, outstanding champion for educating bp on neurodiversity and shows courage and humility frequently, delighted to have met Lorna.
• Nicola Reece, bp's Innovation Lab Lead, Production & Subsurface Science, championing and driving real change in bp, leaning out of her comfort zone, plus she makes Labs look cool.
• Aleida Rios, bp's SVP Engineering, for all the reasons mentioned.

 Since joining bp, I have had just as much male inspiration as female. It is important to recognize this. In 2017 I was lucky to have found someone who I call a rock star to mentor me, Akira Kirton, and if there was one person I would change roles just to work for, it is Akira. Lifting me up on every occasion, excited about this continuing. In 2018 I was introduced to Tucker Dupree, striving to make bp the most accessible energy company in the world and 3 time Paralympian medal winner, it feels good to pay it back and he lifts me up every week in our mentoring session. In 2019 I was part of a leadership development program in bp and one of my most treasured thing I walked away with was the friendship and ally in one person in particular, Pasha Eatedali, who has lifted me up in many ways, is looking out for me, balances my ?? rainbows and ?? unicorns and makes my future look bright. In 2020, Antoni Bohdanowicz, joined our Neurodiversity employee resource group and has continued to open my mind and challenge me cognitively in the most positive way. More recently in 2021 I have had the pleasure of joining a group of our future leaders who are advocating for the future of the ??. One in particular, Tolu Falade, is paying it forward, lifting women up which makes me smile inside to see this in our future bright talented leaders. 

I #choosetochallenge all my LinkedIn community to lean in to a better, equal and inclusive future. It is these small every day acts that are true leadership. Thank you seems an over used adjective/noun these days, so instead I celebrate ?? John, Ben, Simon, Aleida, Sarah, Fiona, Candace, Lorna, Nicola, Akira, Pasha, Antoni, Tucker and Tolu for your advice and support and lets continue to push harder and faster together! The time is now.

 Choose to challenge: International Women’s Day 2021 | News and insights | Home (bp.com)

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