Suga Lakshmi Janardana Iyer’s Post

180 Women. 10 Villages. One Powerful Movement. - The Azad Women Club Story! Meet the incredible women of the Azad Women Club, who have turned challenges into opportunities. They represent not just their skill but their determination to uplift themselves and their communities. These women entrepreneurs are on a journey towards economic independence and self-reliance in the region. Through their craftsmanship, these remarkable women produce handmade slippers that symbolize hope, resilience, and entrepreneurship. When you support them, you're contributing to a cause that drives economic empowerment and social change, creating stronger, more resilient communities. Purchasing these slippers means more than just buying a product—it's about supporting a cause that empowers women and fosters independence within the community. Supporting women-led enterprises is crucial for promoting economic diversity, reducing poverty, and fostering social inclusion. Women entrepreneurs often reinvest in their communities, advancing both social and economic development. By supporting these initiatives, we contribute to sustainable growth and the strengthening of communities. This isn’t just about a product—it’s about transformation, independence, and building a brighter future for rural women. Watch the journey unfold. 🎥 https://lnkd.in/gEYJ9AAt Netherlands Embassy in India #AzaadWomenClub #WomenEntrepreneurs #EconomicIndependence #ResilienceInAction #StrongerTogether #EmpowerPeople #SocialChange #SupportWomenLedBusinesses

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐧? 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐠𝐲𝐧𝐲 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫? If you are wondering what I am going on about, I got you. The Balanced Ladies Network invites you to a transformative event where we tackle misconceptions around feminism and confront the roots of misogyny. The conference theme, "𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐥𝐥," is all about shifting mindsets, empowering women, and fostering unity. In this age where feminism is often misunderstood as a battle against men, we hope to set the record straight. We will explore feminism as a movement for women’s empowerment—encouraging girls and women to spread their wings and soar. At the same time, we’ll delve into the impact of misogyny, which is hatred towards women. Misogynists are not born, they are made through experiences and exposure. We aim to raise awareness and inspire change among both men and women. Date: 30th November 2024 Time: 10:00 AM Venue: God's House of Refuge Headquarters, No. 8 Ikot Ebido, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State Fee: FREE (Registration Required) This isn’t just a conference—it’s a movement towards positive change. Secure your spot today and be part of the transformation! https://bit.ly/PowerPlay24 #PowerPlayConference #FeminismVsMisogyny #BalancingPerspectives #TransformingMindsets #TBLN

I had the pleasure of contributing to Reset! network's Atlas of Independent Culture and Media, which is out now. In its third volume on Expanding Cultural Bonds, I discuss why independence is key for a thriving online community, which is what we are trying to create at Lazy Women. You can find all 8 volumes here: https://shorturl.at/adzA7

International Women's Day is commemorated annually on this date. It is increasingly evident that an escalating number of women are actively participating in the process of nation-building, making substantial contributions to the country's economy. However, this day also serves as a poignant reminder of the situation faced by homemakers. Unfortunately, their labor often goes unrecognized as work. Many Indian women dedicate their entire lives to serving their families. The respect due for this work is comparable to any esteemed profession. The marginalized status of women is a result of patriarchal societal norms, but it should not be viewed as a coping mechanism to perpetuate the status quo. Whether it's our mothers, wives, or sisters working as homemakers, they essentially serve as the CEOs of our homes. As a younger generation of legal professionals, we have the opportunity to engage in a meaningful dialogue to bring about the necessary change. In picture as quoted, we need to change our perception. I don't believe in a day or two for celebrating women's day. But taking this as right time to spread awareness from my end is perfect use of the event(8th March). Happy International Women's day 🎉

#IWD #InternationalWomensDay #InspireInclusion I am feeling so disappointed - yet another year of messages of support and solidarity towards women, lots of words - but action? I wear several hats, as many women do! I am a keynote speaker, panellist and host (I have my own Youtube Channel). I also run a speaker agency OUTSpokenSpeakers and one in India/New Zealand. This often means, I either get invited to deliver talks or I get enquiries for speakers for talks/panels. Every international women's day, organisations promote #IWD, which is great. We all need allies. However, in my experience as a speaker agency, over the last 20 years nothing much as changed in this space when it comes to paying a fee for a speaker. For some reason, commercial/for-profit organisations seem to think it is fine to invite women to share their lived experience or their expertise for FREE. And what is even sadder is that women do it for free. Today, I called out a person who invited me to on a insta live with a few other women on 8th March. When I asked for the budget, they said it was free. And when I questioned her, she said women actually paid their company to be on the Channel for PR (now, that can get me started). Again, when I questioned it, she said, she never considered paying a fee. I was shocked! She called me rude! My point is that women need to support other women. We ALL rise when we stand up for each other and with each other. It is not wrong to ask for a fee. We need to be confident that our time is valued. We are valued. Can we make a pledge this IWD: 🎙 As an organisation to pay a fee to all our speakers (including women and those who are non-binary) 🎙For our women NOT to accept any talks without a fee (except of course community led organisations that we need to support as well)

How can organisations recognise International Women's Day in a meaningful way? I remember in my role as an Office Manager, many moons ago, me and some of the HR team would look forward to celebrating International Woman's Day. We'd sit and brainstorm the posters, any significant women we'd want to spotlight and organise an afternoon tea to unite all the women across the business. We had the best intentions. But on reflection, we were missing the point. These efforts did nothing to actually change the status quo for women within the business, it didn't address our gender pay gap, it didn't address microaggressions women endure, it didn't confront our lack of women within Senior Management. So what can organisations do to recognise International Women's Day in a meaningful way? 💫 Host an educational workshop focusing on the challenges women face in the workplace. Perhaps bringing in an external speaker, like Young Women's Trust, to share their insights. This gives an opportunity for learning, discussion and raising awareness within your organisation. ❤️ Organise a volunteer activity or project that supports or raising funds for a women's causes. This could involve participating in mentoring programmes for girls, supporting a women's shelter, or initiatives aimed at improving women's health. Giving back to the community reinforces the organisations commitment to social responsibility and gender equality. 🤝 Use IWD as an opportunity to commit to reviewing your policies and practices to ensure they are gender-inclusive and promote equal opportunities for all employees. This could involve assessing recruitment and promotion processes or reviewing your flexible working policy and culture (amongst others!). This proactive approach to creating a more inclusive culture and equitable workplace will be appreciated and valued far more than a few free cakes (however well intended the cakes may be)! 📊My personal fave, Invest in addressing your gender pay gap with training for the team. Gender pay gap expert, Michelle Gyimah, has a great training package on offer at the moment. What plans does your organisation have to recognise International Women's Day? #internationalwomensday #flexibleworking #genderpaygap

I view listening to others' problems as a privilege, rather than a burden. Engaging in this act of empathy is essential for fostering connections and enhancing our collective well-being. It can significantly uplift our feelings about ourselves and the world around us. I extend my gratitude Phalak Betab, for initiating this insightful discussion and to Xuanyu Chen, for skillfully shaping it in the digital realm. Both of you exemplify mastery in your respective fields, and your contributions are invaluable.

I have an amazing mother and mother-in-love, beautiful sisters, wife and daughter. I also have friends, colleagues, partners, mentors, mentees and close circle of amazing women who are very dear to me and have contributed significantly and still contributing to my growth till date. When ImagineMiah Africa was relaunched in 2022, I ensured women's empowerment was core to our key performance indicators (KPIs). We explicitly stated that high priority would be given to women in our incubation program. For this cohort, 80% of the selected incubatees are women. The primary reason is that I understand that thriving economies and societies don't leave their women behind. 👌🏾 I dislike seeing women with potential living below their God-given potential, citing their gender as an excuse. I want my daughter to grow up with the mindset that she is limitless. 💪🏾 The world is hers to conquer. She was not created for a man's pleasure or a baby manufacturing machine. When she decides to marry in the future, it won't be because of societal pressure that she's of age and has to settle for whoever is available. Instead, it will be because she's found someone she can grow with, and together they'll make each other's light shine brighter. Not someone who feels threatened by the brightness of her light. So, when I get the opportunity to speak to or engage with women on women's empowerment, I don't take it for granted. Tomorow Friday, I'll be speaking to a dedicated group of women on empowerment. The session promises to be explosive and filled with vital information to transform women's lives, especially married women and single mothers. See the flyer below for more information. #WomensEmpowerment #GirlPower #WomenInAfrica #AfricanWomenEmpowerment #EmpoweringWomen #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenInBusiness #WomenEmpowermentSession #ImagineMiahEmpowers

Today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate the grit and perseverance of women who are working tirelessly to bring about change in our systems. Uphill and upstream, women of color carry the burden of emotional labor as they advocate for social justice and equity. For me, completing a doctorate while (un)balancing work, family, and cultural community expectations was no easy feat, but for many women, easy isn’t an option. As we celebrate the progress we’ve made, let’s also remember the work that still needs to be done. Let’s support and amplify the voices of women who are leading the charge for change. Let’s create a space where we can rest, recharge, and power up with our allies. Because together, we can change the system to work better for all of us. Happy International Women’s Day! #internationalwomensday2024 #womeninbusiness #womenceos #changeleadership

Such a key consideration that is often missed, are we actually doing more harm than good? From increased conflict and violence to less time for care and feeding practices, let's make sure our programmes are designed to consider how to mitigate challenges whilst increasing empowerment. They must also be closely monitored nd course corrected to reduce/eliminate unintended negative consequences.