Celebrating the International Women of Voly Group
International Women's Day aims to raise awareness in relation to the women's rights movement, celebrating social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women everywhere. While also recognising the challenges faced.
This year's IWD 2023 theme is #EmbraceEquity
We are proud to celebrate the international women who make Voly Group what it is today. For this year's International Women's Day, we asked them what it means…
Leslie Gillotte - Co-Founder & Director, Pinpoint Works
What does being a woman mean to you?
It mostly means incredible strength, love and adaptability.
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
I'd tell myself to think more critically and to stand up for myself and my beliefs more, even if they go against the "status quo". I'd also say don't take life so seriously at such a young age, despite the pressure to succeed/achieve/be productive from grade-school.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
I genuinely don't believe there is just one challenge, they all need to be addressed - equal pay, equal rights, period poverty, access to education, sexual harassment, violence against women, sex trafficking, etc. However, I do think the most important part of all of these individual efforts will be how to engage men in all of these challenges. Men still hold the vast majority of positions of power and influence making them absolutely mission critical.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
The easy answer is either of my grandmothers who were both extremely influential for me and I'd do anything to sit and chat with them again. But I suppose my someone who has made a contribution to women's equality it would Gloria Steinem. So many questions... Would love to hear how she thinks the movement and her ideas of being a feminist have changed over the years - and if she feels we're still making progress or if we've stagnated due to taking the hard work done thus far for granted. How she has so much energy for a cause that's deeply personal and therefore emotionally exhausting and potentially quite triggering. What she’s learned in hindsight and what she would have done differently. And what she would have done if she hadn't become the figurehead of the feminist movement.
“…don't take life so seriously at such a young age, despite the
pressure to succeed/achieve/be productive from grade-school”
Laura Slater - Implementation Co-ordinator, Voly Group
What does being a woman mean to you?
Leaning into my divine feminine side and feeling empowered by my vulnerable and nurturing abilities, in all the areas of my life. Using my ‘feminine qualities’ as a strength, as opposed to a weakness.
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Continue being fearless, intuitive, and resilient. Always do more, be more and ask for more! There is no rush to reach the milestones society teaches us are important, and having children is a personal choice, not a gendered one.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
Finding the balance between feminine and masculine. Its highly encouraged that for a woman to be successful she must be more ‘male’. Challenging this ideology is tough and will continue to be, it’s important to encourage that successes is subjective to the individual and what one-woman values will be completely different to the next.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
I would have diner Katherine Ryan. A a comedian and a feminist she questions gender roles and societal expectations associated with them. I think we would have an interesting discussion as we have very similar beliefs. I would ask her about the challenges she has faced being a women and mother who combines business and family, and how she overcame this.
“Continue being fearless, intuitive, and resilient. Always do more, be more and ask for more!…”
Aisha Patel - Finance Manager, Voly Group
What does being a woman mean to you?
Being a mother, and a protector to my babies.
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Follow your dreams and aspirations, don’t let anyone stand in your way.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
Equality, stereotype of what other people perceive a woman to be.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
My Gran, to understand the difficulties faced by women of different generations.
“Follow your dreams and aspirations,
don’t let anyone stand in your way”
Emily Smith - Client Relationship Manager, Voly Group
What does being a woman mean to you?
Being a woman means something different to me since having a child. I try to be a role model to my son, he watches everything I do, he sees how I handle my emotions, stress, reactions, and interactions with others. I want to show him how powerful women can be, whether that’s being the glue that holds a family together or a leader in other areas of life.
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Always know your worth.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
Dolly Parton, she has the confidence every woman should have. Coming from a very poor background but believed in her dreams and became the ‘Queen of Country’.
“Always know your worth”
Claire Bentley - Marketing Manager, Pinpoint Works
What does being a woman mean to you?
Sharing compassion, love, and knowledge.
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Believe in yourself. Don’t let self-doubt or fear overcome you.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
Being denied the freedom to choose whom they want to become based on the stereotypes and gender misrepresentation imposed on us.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
Marianne North – The English Victorian biologist and botanical artist who defied convention, travelling the world solo to record the tropical and exotic plants that captivated her. I would ask her what lessons travelling the world solo taught her about a women’s vulnerabilities and which fears she faced to enable her to follow her thirst for adventure.
“Believe in yourself. Don’t let self-doubt
or fear overcome you”
Lucy Darragh - Project Manager, Voly Group
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Don't worry so much about what other people think.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
Unrealistic expectation/pressure to 'have it all' - relationship, friendship, kids, family relationship, career, quality alone time.
“Don't worry so much about what other people think”
Anja Grlj - Client Experience, Pinpoint Works
What does being a woman mean to you?
Being a woman means I am capable of caring and looking after my loved ones, while also tackling the life coming my way. While I enjoy making family Sunday Roast and folding away laundry, I am equally as proud to be building a career on my own and to follow my life goals.
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Not to take life too seriously and to respect and love my body at an earlier age.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
In our modern world, where the gender equality gap is slowly closing, the women of the future will have to challenge the gender discrimination in undeveloped world. There are still many countries where women’s rights don't exist or they are not being respected.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
Angela Merkel. 'How to resolve the current world crisis the West vs East have found ourselves in?'
“Not to take life too seriously and to respect
and love my body at an earlier age”
Stacey Tite - Management Accountant, Voly Group
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Always try your best.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
The Queen, how do you find your inspiration.
“Always try your best”
Mia Tinsley - Graphic Designer, Voly Group
What does being a woman mean to you?
It means strength, power and perseverance. Stepping out of your comfort zone and forging your own path, even when it’s not the easiest thing to do.
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Keep going, keep pushing and you will get to where you want to be. Don’t follow everyone else, keep to your own path and you will eventually find yourself and become the proud, young woman you are today.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
Even though we are making progress, I still feel there are gaps to close and I think the generation behind me, and the generation behind them will face challenges, whether it be unrealistic stereotypes, equal pay, lack of equity etc. But things are changing.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
Lady Gaga, she has been an inspiration to me for years and I would love the chance to sit down and chat with her. I’d ask her about her journey, her struggles and the choices she made to get to where she is today.
“Keep going, keep pushing and you
will get to where you want to be”
Victoria Walshaw - Pinpoint Works
What does being a woman mean to you?
Strength, courage, and bravery.
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t waste your love and energy on those who take your greatness for granted. Spend your time being around the people who love who you really are, doing the things that make you happy, even if it isn’t classed as ‘cool.’
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
Underrepresentation as leaders in health, reproductive health rights, sexual harassment, and access to equal opportunities
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
Malala Yousafzai - At the age of 15, this courageous woman was shot in the head three times while traveling on a school bus for speaking out about education for girls. “I don’t want to be remembered as the girl who was shot. I want to be remembered as the girl who stood up”. She became the youngest Nobel laureate in history at the age of 25. Her strength to fight for what she believed in was greater than her life. I would like to ask; how she found the strength to carry on fighting at such a young age and being a part of a country with little to no rights as a woman.
“Don’t waste your love and energy on those
who take your greatness for granted”
Georgia Maddocks - Voly Group, Client Trainer
Being the woman you are today, what advice would you give to your younger self?
Be yourself, not what other people want or expect you to be.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
Not being heard and having no power to enact real changes.
If you could have dinner with one inspirational woman, dead or alive, who would that be and what would you ask her?
Rosa Parks and I would ask about the events that led up to her refusing to move on the bus and where her courage to do so came from.