IWD - Let's make this more than just a 'day.'
David Barrow, CITP FBCS
2024 & 2025 HDI Top 25 Thought Leader | Strategic Service Management Consultant | ITIL 4 Master_Ambassador | Author | Speaker | Humanising IT Trainer | Mentor | Ally | SIAM Champion | BSI,BCS,ISO20000 ITSM Committees
So here we are, it is International Women's Day 2025. This year's theme is 'Accelerating Action' for gender equity.
Did you know that at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to reach full gender parity, according to data from the World Economic Forum? This is not just a statistic; it's a call to action.
2158! REALLY - This has to be more than just a day. Take action now.
Lucy Grimwade and I are proud to have taken action by harnessing our raw emotions and concerns and turning them into stories from ourselves and others through co-authoring Allyship Actually – Why It's 'We' and Not 'Me', but we both realise we cannot stop there.
In our opinion, this theme of accelerating action is the core message of our book: Allyship is not about individual efforts but about delivering on a shared commitment to support and uplift one another, regardless of gender, race, or identity. It's about 'we' and not 'me'.
And its about more than just a day!
This cannot just be a 'day' or even a book. It goes beyond the here and now.
Having been inspired by Samantha Harman for some time now, I recently used an analogy when speaking, and I hope to build upon it here.
(Note: Go and engage with Samantha Harman for true style AND substance).
I want you to pause and reflect on the contrast between fashion and style.
Fashion is a moment in time – it changes with the seasons, trends come and go, and what's hot today may not be tomorrow - and with fashion, what goes around comes back around later - do we want to be stuck in this cycle forever?
#IWD can fall into this category for some.
Style, on the other hand, style is timeless. It reflects who we are, our values, and our unique perspective on ourselves and the world. Style is not just about clothing; it's about confidence, authenticity, and how we carry ourselves consistently over time.
This is what #IWD2025 should be to all of us - how we choose to express and act consistently in Allyship over time; that must be our style. True Allyship is not a trend; it's not a season or a day. It's a commitment to support and uplift others, to nurture a culture of inclusivity and equity that endures beyond any passing fad.
So please, don't 'celebrate' today conventionally; use it as fuel. Let's not wait until IWD is in vogue again this time next year, and please, let's not accept 2158 as an aspiration - take this day and every day to work on yourself and positively use your privilege to enable others.
Take action, today and everyday, make this your style.
Do you agree? What do you think we can do to speed up gender equity? Please let me know.
CEO
2 天前Love this, it was a pleasure to meet you and Lucy Grimwade and listen to such advocates!
'I've got nothing to wear' has nothing to do with clothes ?? STYLE STRATEGIST???? If you want to be money-making Market of One - you work with me on your positioning | Speaker | Author | Podcast Host
2 天前The analogy of fashion and style - love this! Thank you for the mention, and for being an 'ally' - it's really appreciated. I commented on a post earlier from another male ally about how most of the likes and comments were from women. I hope it's because the men who'd seen the post were taking the educational value and doing something with it, but we do need more men speaking up. I think when it comes to advocating we are all scared of *getting it wrong* so we stay silent - surely better to be someone who speaks up and takes on the risk of making mistakes (we all do)