Their voices will forever echo through history
Laura J Robertson, MBA, AI
Transformation I Business Strategy I Process optimisation I Digital Innovation
After learning about Microsoft’s move to disband its D&I department last week and seeking sponsorship on behalf of Ai Forge for the largest Innovation Hackathon for Diverse Female Founders happening in October in Birmingham, we were shocked to learn that only 220 UK orgs have signed up to the UN’s Women Empowerment Principles in the UK. See here:
The UK is lagging behind many of its emerging nation counterparts! Are you on the list?
Often being the only women in the room full of tech-bros, I see firsthand the importance of the UNs endeavours and in particular Women’s Empowerment Principles…It should be common sense that we have a vision for Europe that is free from violence and stereotypes against women. In other arenas we should take a leaf out of the Olympics rulebook where in 2024 there is now gender parity in participation!.
Whilst we feel two of the UN’s 7 guiding principles are of particular relevance; improving corporate performance through participation of women at all levels and ending harmful gender-based stereotypes, this does not reflect even 50% of all the work that is still to be done.
1) Improve Corporate Performance:
"Gender discrimination, limited job opportunities, unequal pay, and pervasive sexual harassment were harsh realities for women in the 1980s and continue to impact corporate performance today." Kate Shiner, 8th March 2024
"Companies with more women in the workforce tend to have more women on the board, which correlates with better financial performance and increased returns on investment." [1]
2) End Harmful Gender-Based Stereotypes in Advertisement and Outreach Materials:
"A vision for a Europe free from violence and stereotypes involves portraying women in advertisements as progressive and multi-dimensional..." [2]
3) Knowledge Management:
And finally in knowledge transfer areas and Zukunft's mission to seek out storytellers, I am usually provided with a list of men who can tell a good story. Sadly, women do not often feature on it. The WEPs endeavours bring us back to a core truth:
Women also have their stories to share!
Women have always been storytellers, and their voices will forever echo through history, shaping our present and inspiring our future.