At the end of last week, information channels across the world were bursting with content about International Women’s Day. The theme this year was ‘Real equality doesn’t end with representation, it ends with ‘inclusion’ and it struck me just how true this was when I considered how many people had embraced and acknowledged this one day in our year.
From the younger generations to grandparents, educational institutions to global companies and celebrities to politicians, millions of people across the world joined the #IWD conversation, recognizing the achievements of women and reflecting the role they play in society from a magnitude of perspectives. It really was inclusivity in action.
One of the things I value most about working in EMEA is the natural diversity we see when bringing people from different countries together. From our cultural experiences, language differences and local histories, we have a continuous opportunity to learn from each other and foster inclusivity. Without a doubt this diversity leads to better results for our patients and is fundamental to our ability to be a better partner when it comes to building more resilient and equitable healthcare systems in our region.
At J&J, we’ve dedicated the month of March to celebrating the women in our organization who are leading the way, and without whom we wouldn’t be who we are today. My team in EMEA is made up of some truly inspiring women who are challenging the norms and shaping the future of healthcare: Geraldine Schenk, Roxana Botea, Julie Enevold Brooker, Nina Ekholm-Wenberg (She/Her/Hers), Maria Fernanda Prado, Tuba Albayrak, Júlia Dvorszki, Katarzyna Lukowska, Ana Maria Vargas, Liat Gottlieb, Anne Sveaass, Laetitia Decroix Guilloux, Katerina Pogodina, Roz Bekker, Delphine Aguilera Caron, Dominique Inghelbrecht, Lada Hruba, Charlotte Garrigues, Anouk De Vroey, Saskia De Haes, Filipa Mota e Costa and Liz Daly.
These women consistently bring innovative ideas to the table, they make tough decisions, and they guide their teams in often challenging circumstances to deliver for patients. The world is becoming a more complex place to operate in, and we’re going to need more phenomenal leaders like these women in our team. Only by fostering inclusivity and embracing diversity will we achieve this.
When it comes to impactful women, one of my favourite anecdotes is a conversation between Clementine Churchill and her husband Winston illustrated in the image below.
Food for thought for us all.
Vice President - Airline Partnerships at Uplift Inc.
5moParticipating with this Women Leading Travel & Hospitality organization is always time well spent, bringing together interest & inspiring women from all across the Travel landscape. Big Thanks goes out to Hannah DeMaio, Sally Holtgrieve & the WLT team, along with the inspiring Key Note Kristen Brown, CSP and Panel Carolyne Truelove, Amanda Marcello, Lisa Nucci, Delia Osegueda and Tiffany Yvonne, CPA, Speaker • Team Culture Consultant for making this event!