Guest Blog: Inspiring Inclusion: Celebrating the Strength of Diversity on International Women's Day, by wo+men@NASH Employee Resource Group

I am delighted to be handing over the reins of my blog this week to our wo+men@NASH Employee Resource Group (ERG) so they can share some insight on all the wonderful activities they planned for this year’s International Women’s Day.

Before I do, I have the wonderful task of announcing the winners to the inaugural Nash Squared EmpowHER Inclusion Awards – founded by wo+men@NASH.  I was simply overwhelmed at the number of high-quality nominations from across the business - 241 in total!

All the winners should have been contacted by me directly today and we will be sharing a public post across our social channels next week, but in the meantime, all the winners are detailed below.

Congratulations to all who were nominated and of course, thank you to wo+men@NASH for co-ordinating the awards and enabling us to showcase the wonderful role models and allies we have across our business.

Bev

Champion of Success

• Tulsi Aghiri – HNTR USA
• Lauren Pratley – Nash Squared
• George Lynch – NashTech UKI
• Anshu Pal – HN India
• Louise Clarke – Crimson
• Karolina Fidrych – Flexhuis
• Sofie Pickaert – HN Belgium
• Cameron MacGrain – HNTR UKI
• Mui Pham Thi – NashTech Vietnam

Inspirational Role Model

• Keegan Banks – HNTR USA

• Lalitha Sharma – HN India
• Kayleigh Duddy – Crimson
• Jill Gees – HN Belgium
• Kirsteen Bell – HNTR UKI
• Loan Pham Thi Tuyet – NashTech Vietnam
• Chitra Singh – NashTech India

Rising Star

• Brenna Barnett – HNTR USA
• Grace Walsingham – Nash Squared
• Tanuja Sharma – HNTR India
• Olivia Yafai – Crimson
• Tatiana Paiu – HN Belgium
• Catherine Astier – HNTR UKI
• Von Tuong Thi Thuy – NashTech Vietnam
• Riya Sharma – NashTech India

Happy International Women’s Day 2024!  

We, The wo+men@NASH ERG, are thrilled to take over the CEO blog today to share some heartfelt reflections on this significant occasion. But before we dive in, let's set the stage: When we use the term "women" in this document, we're referring to all individuals who identify as such, regardless of their sex assigned at birth. At Nash Squared, inclusivity isn't just a buzzword; it's the cornerstone of our ethos.  

Now, let's get to the heart of the matter. International Women’s Day serves as an annual beacon, reminding us of the strides we've made in advancing gender equality, while also shining a light on the hurdles that persist.  

Despite the increasing awareness and actions taken to address gender parity, women continue to grapple with inequality, harassment, and discrimination in their everyday work lives. Issues such as childcare, flexible working arrangements, the menopause, the glass ceiling, the glass cliff, and the gender pay gap remain pressing topics of discussion and concern.

This year, the theme of International Women’s Day is ‘Inspire Inclusion’. It's a clarion call for organisations worldwide to foster environments where women aren't just included, but valued, respected, and empowered. When women are included, they bring a tapestry of perspectives, innovative ideas, and invaluable contributions to the table.  

At Nash Squared, we understand the power of diversity and the importance of cultivating a culture of inclusion, where every individual feels welcomed, heard, and appreciated.

But how do we translate this vision into reality?

It begins with acknowledging the specific challenges that women face in the workplace, from microaggressions and stereotypes to imposter syndrome.  

To address some of these issues head-on, we're excited to announce that we have hosted interviews with women across our global business to delve deeper into these topics. These conversations will revolve around key themes, including Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome, Balancing Act: Navigating Work-Life Integration, Climbing the Corporate Ladder: Challenges and Triumphs, and Mentorship Matters: Inspiring the Next Generation.  

You can access the interviews on via the Spotlight page on Nash Hub. HERE

Moreover, we encourage everyone in the organisation to take advantage of the plethora of resources available at Nash Academy (and available through the NashTech communications team) to educate, inform and provide invaluable insights and perspectives on fostering a more inclusive workplace.

EmpowHER Inclusion Awards

In line with the theme of 'Inspire Inclusion', we're thrilled to have launched the Nash Squared EmpowHER Inclusion Awards. These awards have been designed to recognise and celebrate individuals who have exhibited exceptional leadership and commitment to advancing inclusion within our organisation.  

By spotlighting diverse role models and allies, we aspire to inspire others to join us in cultivating a more inclusive workplace for all. International Women’s Day symbolises more than just a date on the calendar. Not only does it give a voice to those who perhaps haven’t been heard, it empowers, unifies, and fosters inclusion. It represents a movement where change is an outcome. A small token of recognition to celebrate women worldwide and the opportunity to voice individual stories is just a small step forward in the journey of a more inclusive and equitable future.  

When facing the challenge of gender inequality, your support is another step to creating a world where everyone can thrive, regardless of gender.

Thank you for embarking on this journey with us, and let's continue to inspire inclusion, today and every day.

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