Celebrating International Women’s Day 2024
To commemorate International Women’s Day in 2024, we have asked some of our team to share some of the challenges they face, the barriers they’ve overcome, and what advice they would give to other women in the workplace.
You can find more resources on the International Women’s Day website.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally?
- IWD is incredibly important to me as someone passionate about equity and a big supporter of women’s rights. As a senior manager in a tech company, it’s vital for me to be a strong and visible role model to other women in the industry given our current gender split (28% of tech roles are held by women in the UK, and only 22% of senior tech roles go to women). Diversity of thought and experience is key to a successful business, so encouraging more women (as well as other minorities) into the industry and mentoring them into senior roles will create a significant impact.
I also have a 10-year-old daughter who I want to make the world a better place for, and I volunteer with girls and young women in my free time who I want to inspire to achieve their goals and ambitions. Having a day where the achievements of women are highlighted and celebrated is incredibly important for them – you’ve got to see it to be it.
Kirsty McLean, Chief of Staff - It is a reminder of the long road that so many women have travelled for us, and of the road that still remains ahead to be travelled.
Sara Blanco Muñoz, HR Manager
What challenges have you faced and triumphs have you experienced as a woman at work, and how do you see things getting better for women in the future?
- While some years ago the world of IT was biased as dominated by men, I see and experience that nowadays there are more and more women taking on this career path, as I am working with amazing women in my projects every day.
Emese Dudás, Delivery Manager - I have been asked certain questions about my personal life during an interview, I think the interviewer would not ask to a man. I think there are more and more women in high positions at the companies: directors, C-levels… and more and more women who are founders of their own company. That means empowerment and makes me feel proud and hopeful.
Sara Blanco Muñoz, HR Manager - Along with many other women, I’ve experienced some discrimination at work in the past – for example, it being assumed I was at a meeting to take minutes as I was the only woman in the room (despite there being other more junior male attendees), or being asked to make coffees or keep track of everyone’s birthday because “you’re just better at that sort of thing”. I’ve also experienced women being held to different standards than their male counterparts – when delegating work, I’ve been called bossy or pushy, whereas men are more likely to be considered assertive or natural leaders.
However, I’ve also had some brilliant experiences with both women and men championing me for progression, and recognising the different skills I bring to the table as highly valuable. And as I’ve advanced in my career, I’ve been able to do the same for other amazing women (and men!) I’ve worked with along the way – acting as a mentor, and helping them to gain the confidence to go as far as they want to go.
I do think things are improving for women in the workplace, but there’s still a long way to go before things are truly equitable.
Kirsty McLean, Chief of Staff - In my field of expertise I think precision and multitasking is a great advantage. Although I can focus on different things, context-switching between multiple tasks and projects is a challenge for me. I think working as a woman depends on your colleagues and work environment: mutual understanding and listening are the key.
Margit Máté, QA Engineer
Can you share a time when you felt being a woman affected negatively in any professional situation?
- I think there have been people who have felt comfortable enough to ask me to take on some of their responsibilities because I’m a woman, and I’ve wondered whether they would feel just as comfortable having a man in front of them.
Sara Blanco Muñoz, HR Manager
Can you share a time when you felt especially empowered or supported as a woman at work, and how did it affect you?
- My current team provides unwavering support, reinforcing my value each day. This sense of appreciation brings joy and adds fulfilment to my daily work experiences.
Fruzsina Ónadi, Senior QA Engineer - Once in a committee meeting when I was earlier in my career, I was trying to make a point on a topic within my specific work area. Every time I started talking, one of the more senior men in the meeting kept interrupting me mid-sentence, clearly feeling that he had more to add than I did. The only other woman in the room was the chair, and she dealt with it brilliantly – calling him out for being rude, and reminding him that I had valuable information to share.
It’s difficult to call out poor behaviour from someone senior to you, so I really appreciated her picking up on it and dealing with it so effectively. It also gave me the confidence to stand up for myself and others in similar situations going forward.
Kirsty McLean, Chief of Staff - I have felt very empowered when I have been able to set boundaries and make behaviors stop that I did not feel comfortable with. It feels so good when your thoughts match your actions.
Sara Blanco Muñoz, HR Manager
Are there any times when you felt you and your fellow female colleagues managed to work together on something you both disagreed on?
- I was assigned a role involving the management of an entirely different department, requiring close collaboration with a female colleague with whom I had previous interactions in my prior position. Upon assuming the role, my colleague expressed concerns, believing the challenge might be overwhelming for me and suggesting a reconsideration of the opportunity. As time progressed, our collaboration intensified, and I was pleasantly surprised when she admitted her initial misjudgment, acknowledging that I could competently handle the responsibilities of the position. While not a genuine conflict, reflecting on this situation brings a sense of satisfaction.
Fruzsina Ónadi, Senior QA Engineer - There have been many times, and some of them have been solved with open communication and respect. For the rest of them, sometimes you need to respect decisions that have been made, even if they don’t match your point of view.
Sara Blanco Muñoz, HR Manager - There have been many times in my career when I’ve worked with people with differing opinions – that’s often how you get to the best end result! Being able to manage conflict successfully comes with both knowledge and practice, regardless of the gender of the person you’re working alongside.
Kirsty McLean, Chief of Staff
What advice would you give to young women starting their careers, based on what you’ve learned in your own journey?
- Walk your own way, learn what is interesting for you and don’t let negative people pull you down. You can do anything if you are persistent.
Margit Máté, QA Engineer - Emphasizing the importance of respect is paramount. Regardless of your age or position, fostering mutual respect with colleagues is key to building a successful career. Embrace the initial uncertainty, recognizing that experience and time will bring clarity.
Fruzsina Ónadi, Senior QA Engineer - If you set your goals and fight for them, there is nothing you cannot do. You have to take all the opportunities that come into your way, be brave, and always keep developing professionally and personally as well. Dare to dream big and take action, girls!
Emese Dudás, Delivery Manager - Don’t be afraid to speak your voice, to set your boundaries and act according to your priorities… in short, to be yourself. You’ll fit in the right place.
Sara Blanco Muñoz, HR Manager - A few things – firstly, if you meet most of the qualifications for your dream job, then apply anyway and sell your transferable skills! Research shows that men will apply for roles where they meet 60% of the criteria, whereas women will only apply if they meet 100%.
Next, find a mentor – having someone who’s further along in their career than you who can offer advice and guidance is invaluable when you’re starting out. Try reaching out to a more senior woman who you admire at work and asking if they have time for a coffee – most people are happy to share the benefit of their experience.
Finally, don’t be afraid to highlight your achievements and take credit for the good work you’re doing. I’ve previously been a trainer for #IAmRemarkable, which really highlighted for me the bias around self-promotion – especially for women and other minority groups. As they say, it’s not bragging if it’s based on facts.
Kirsty McLean, Chief of Staff
