Alex Marshall’s Post

Here's a preview on the beautiful, intelligent and strong woman of Defy Appliances.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining in a thought-provoking discussion hosted by Sarah Merriot from Wallace LLP & Caroline Boston from New Minds in honour of International Women's Day. This year's theme, #inspireInclusion, set the stage for the conversation that touched on various aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) focusing on SMEs. The discussion was broad and led onto the evolving landscape of hybrid working and flexibility, especially post-pandemic. The room had a variety of participants who shared some great examples of how their businesses are reinforcing commitments to gender neutral DE&I policies. I was struck by how progressive and inclusive these were, from additional paid dependent days, 9-day fortnights to Kudos points systems linked to values and support the DE&I policy. Some businesses are reverting to more face time in the office, for a multitude of reasons. On the one hand there was some debate to suggest that this compromised commitments to the DE&I policy, however others suggested that without this facetime there was an adverse effect on collaboration,continuous learning, and the learning opportunities for those joining the workforce. There was also an important point raised about the benefits that we as social beings feel with regards to our mental health by regularly working in an office environment. Therefore, SMEs need to think about striking the right balance to reap the benefits but also promote the brand and DE&I. It was refreshing to hear that some businesses were trying to attract a wider inter-generational pool of talent back into work, encouraging return to work schemes and initiatives to enable diversity, equity and inclusion.  Some practical ideas were also shared where SMEs were creating an environment where people felt more comfortable to have “open calendars” and were vocally championing flexible working. What really stood out was the consensus around the room on role modelling which then sparked some 1-2-1 discussion around behaviours and values that businesses could embody. Having an environment of trust, keeping an open mind that “one size does not fit all” and an appreciation of how enabling initiatives are perceived came through as the key themes. Another take away included that, deep organisational thinking will be needed to encourage how DE&I policy evolves and how the notion is embedded into the culture of a firm. #InternationalWomensDay2024 #inspireInclusion #thepowerofconversation #positivechange #DE&I #iwd2024

More women and diversity in leadership and teams bring different perspectives to our work, allowing us to better reflect and work closer with the communities we serve and achieve our mandates. Learn more about the crucial work of women peacekeepers: https://lnkd.in/ey2Rpzt6

International Women’s Day 2024 – Friday 8th March 2024 The theme for this year is “InspireInclusion”. As the first female Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire I have been giving thought to International Women’s Day and this year’s theme - #inspireinclusion. We have some amazing role models to look to – locally, nationally and globally. More and more we can now see equality and inclusion is enabling women to showcase their skills. In the business world, schools and education, religious organisations, and health care, in the world of sport, leading charities and their teams of volunteers. In construction and the built environment and importantly encouraging more girls to choose STEM subjects at school. Women becoming more visible in these roles can only be a good thing to inspire the work-force, business leaders, volunteers of the future. There has never been a better time to be female! #inspireinclusion #iwd2024 https://lnkd.in/dGX7T8X

🦋Today marks a moment of reflection for me, serving both as the Chair of AWTE (Association of Women Travel Executives) for the past 20 months and as a board director for a whole decade. 🦋It's been an integral part of my daily life, a journey filled with content creation, networking, and advocating for the association and being a positive disruptor. 🦋Alongside countless remarkable women, over those 10 years, whose wisdom and support have indelibly shaped my personal and professional growth. 🦋As per our tradition, every two years, the entire AWTE board, including the Chair, must step down and undergo nomination and election by our members. This process injects fresh energy, fosters innovation, and ensures the future of our core values, enriching the membership experience. 🦋Today, we gather for our AGM, embarking once again on this transformative journey. 🦋The past two years have presented formidable challenges, particularly as every role within AWTE is voluntary. 🦋Amidst an enormous event and conference season in 2023 and undertaking an expanded role overseeing Europe with Holiday Extras, I experienced burnout for the first time. 🦋This experience brought forth both physical and psychological hurdles which led to a period of recovery and recharge. 🦋This was the epitome of, 'You cannot be all things to all people,' compelling me to prioritise self-care and embody the principles I advocate for. 🦋I extend my heartfelt best wishes to the new board as you embark on this new chapter. 🦋I urge you to harness a culture of mutual support and understanding, recognising that struggles may not always be visible from the outside. 🦋Always check in on each other. 🦋Embrace courageous conversations surrounding gender, equality, allyship, and advocacy, and never shy away from catalysing positive change. 🦋Here's to the AWTE board of 2024 and beyond, may your journey be defined by resilience, camaraderie, and unwavering commitment to a shared mission

🌟👑 Honouring International Women’s Day 2024 but let’s talk about #blackandglobalmajority women👑🌟 In the tapestry of progress, International Women’s Day illuminates our path forward, a beacon guiding us toward #equality and #empowerment. I was honoured that #BRIG asked for my reflections. Whilst it is a great day for celebration, I could not help but consider that it is important to reflect, act, and elevate the voices that too often remain marginalised - those of black and global majority women. Let's not just talk about #inclusion but about #belonging for black & global majority women. It’s time to #breakbarriers, #amplifyvoices, and take #meaningfulaction. Together, let’s create a world where every woman feels valued, heard, and empowered. #Equity #BlackandGlobalMajority #IWD2024 Atif A. Siobhan Harper-Nunes BSocSci MSc Urban Regeneration Jagwant Johal Dr Karamat Iqbal Lorna Shaw

We're saying "yes!" to this interview with SAS channel leader Jenifer H.. Check out the sneak peek below, and watch the full interview to hear more about Jenifer's channel journey and experience. 🎥: Women of the Channel

I discussed with Ellan Dineen and the team from the Luxembourg Stock Exchange the work that Pro Mujer is doing in Latin America. The conversation took place in the context of the announcement of a major milestone: our gender bond issued in Argentina is now listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange! We talked about promoting the use and creation of innovative financial tools in the markets to support social organizations become more sustainable while advancing towards gender equality and social impact. If you want to learn more about this, check out the article 👇 https://lnkd.in/d63aT4RA

🌟 Celebrating International Women's Day! 🌟 Despite the nonprofit industry being a female-dominated industry, it's crucial to recognize the challenges and barriers that women still face in achieving equal representation and leadership roles. Women are drawn to the nonprofit industry for its emphasis on social impact, community building, and the opportunity to make a difference. Reflecting on my master's degree journey, one of my favorite projects focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within the nonprofit sector. Interestingly, the facts below were discovered during my DEI research. Sadly, in Florida, political constraints limit our ability to address DEI effectively. Nevertheless, let's persist in championing diversity and inclusion efforts wherever we can. Together, we can strive for a more equitable future for all women in the workforce. #InternationalWomensDay #DEI #WomenInLeadership #professionalwomen #nonprofitprofessional #fundraisingprofessional

Friday is International Women’s Day and the theme this year is “Inspire Inclusion”. "When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment." – IWD Theme 2024. I will be celebrating by walking with my Rexel USA co-workers. We are participating in a charity walk to support, Dress for Success. How will you celebrate? Here are a few suggestions. *Write a sincere note or letter to a woman who has inspired you; let her know that you recognize her work and the impact it has had on you. Maybe this is a family member, a friend, a co-worker, or a woman in the community. Tell her that you appreciate her. *Make an all-female playlist and have a dance party on Friday night *Support a woman-owned business in your community *Are you a reader? Make it a point to read books by female authors in the month of March *Volunteer with an organization that supports girls or women in your community *Recognize and celebrate the important role that women play in our organization and in our communities; and acknowledge where there is still work to be done before we are truly equal across the globe. Learn more about International Women’s Day https://lnkd.in/dNU3wwsM