What does International Women's Day mean to you personally, and why is it important for Canada Life to celebrate this day?
It means many things. It recognises the extraordinary in the mundane and that you can make a positive difference to others “just” by being a mum, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a friend and a colleague. I asked my 9-year-old son about what he knew about International Women’s Day, and he told me that it was a celebration of the great things that women have accomplished over the course of history to present day. There are currently posters up in school about Mary Shelley, Queen Victoria, Emily Pankhurst, JK Rowling and Major Charity Adams. It reminds us to take a moment to appreciate what we have and to not take for granted our freedom to be creative, stoic, daring, outspoken and self-driven. Ok – he didn’t quite say it like that, but he appreciates that these individuals fought for something they believed in and our lives are all the more better for it.
take a moment to appreciate what we have and to not take for granted our freedom to be creative, stoic, daring, outspoken and self-driven.
What are some of the biggest challenges you see in achieving gender equality in the finance sector, and what actions do you think individuals can take themselves to create a more inclusive culture?
I think the finance sector is moving in the right direction when it comes to gender equality, and I like to think that there are opportunities to move up/down/sideways. That said, very real challenges still do exist. These may take the form of childcare, eldercare and even your own healthcare, and rarely do these fit conveniently outside of your core hours at work. Being a father, husband or son doesn’t mean you aren’t also shouldering these same responsibilities. Collectively, this can have a lasting impact on the overall pool of talent and creativity available in Finance.
We all play an important role in creating a more inclusive culture and many dedicated communities for our colleagues to join. But I think we can also go back to the mundane; there is no need for grand gestures if we want to make people feel included. We just need to remember that it doesn’t cost much to pay attention, show curiosity and be compassionate when the occasion calls for it.
