Let’s start this on perhaps a little unusual note: I don’t fully agree with having a day dedicated to a gender. Why? Because I want to grow up and exist in a world where individuals have the right to achieve amazing things both personally and professionally irrespective of gender; I want to live in a world where we don’t have to use our voices to overcome inequality.
But, I recognise we still aren’t there yet.
As a Gen-Zer, I know I owe a lot to names like Emily Davison, Bessie Coleman and Margaret Bourke-White (to name a few), and whilst I’m privileged to feel like an equal in my life, I am determined to use this platform and day to highlight the vast progress of Women’s Rights worldwide and to encourage continued progressive thinking.
This year’s theme for #IWD2024 is #InvestInWomen, and although the word ‘invest’ might make you think money... don’t worry, I’m not asking for that, promise! I’m just asking for your time: I want you to invest a little time in reading about some of the incredible female professionals known to us at VMA GROUP and to also to spare a thought to women who perhaps continue to face unwarranted challenges in their daily lives, all because of their gender.
Whoever you are and whatever gender you may be, I hope you can enjoy the read!
Sian Cargan - Internal Communications Director
Known to many as the #jobfairy is an internal communications professional who has been posting a variety of internal communications vacancies for 3.5 years and her posts always include a gif that either starts a conversation or leaves you with that Friday feeling. I know personally how grateful the internal communications community and the IC team at VMA GROUP are for this and for Sian so, we wanted to celebrate you this women’s day!
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
I think it’s an opportunity to celebrate remarkable women throughout history, and also spotlight incredible women who are doing great things today to inspire future generations.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #InvestInWomen what does this mean to you?
Having benefited from great mentors, formally and informally, in the past. I would like to invest some of my own time this year mentoring a woman who is new to the industry and who might benefit from my experience. I welcome anyone to contact me who might be interested.
Who inspires you the most and do you have a female leader or comms leader that inspires you to do more, say more and be the best version of you?
I would say my female friends inspire me most. I am lucky to be surrounded by women who have followed their own paths, overcome challenges, grown, and succeeded in many different ways. And they’ve been my biggest cheerleaders when I’ve needed it too.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved in my time at Activision Blizzard, it’s been such a journey from joining remotely in the pandemic, to managing our return to office and re-building the culture. There’s something special about our EMEA team. And this led to my proudest personal achievement too, as I bought my first property when I was made permanent back in 2021.
What advice would you give your younger self as a woman in the communication industry?
Take risks and say ‘yes’ to things that come your way – you can figure out how to do it afterwards. I think having this mindset has led to lots of opportunities for me and goes against what we are often told when we grow up.
Jo Coxhill - Internal Communication, Employee Engagement and Organisational Culture Consultant, Vision 29
A cheerleader, employee experience and engagement professional with a big heart and someone who I have only recently had the pleasure of getting to know. One of the things that stood out for me is that Jo takes chances, she bounces back, and she just goes for it! Jo has also recently been recognised as a LinkedIn Top Voice and I know her encouragement, insight and knowledge is appreciated within the IC community. Jo's different way of thinking always gets the conversation started – plus she inspires others to take a chance, try something new and believe in themselves.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To be honest, I'm a bit cautious of celebration days as they can be disingenuous. To me, we should always be beating the drum and championing the cause, not just on a single day. That said, I do see IWD as an opportunity to highlight the challenges and plights that many women all over the world are still facing today and as well as to celebrate the progress we've also made.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #InvestInWomen what does this mean to you?
Having researched the United Nations IWD theme of #investinwomen and the five key areas needing joint action, it made me realise how much there still is to do to achieve global equality for women. The themes are huge and so important, from human rights and ending poverty to gender responsive public financing and shifting to a green economy and care society to amplify women's voices. That's why we need to beat this drum every day, not just IWD.
Who inspires you the most and do you have a female leader or comms leader that inspires you to do more, say more and be the best version of you?
My biggest inspiration is my mum. My dad died when both he and my mum were 30 and I was 4. She dedicated her life to giving my brother and I a safe, happy, and secure childhood. She was an entrepreneur and a grafter; she gave us the best childhood she possibly could. She inspires me every day, she's my biggest cheerleader and confidant. She gave me the tools I need to believe in myself, learn from my (and others) mistakes, keep going when things get tough, not harbour negativity, and live and let live.
What advice would you give your younger self as a woman in the communication industry?
Don't let anyone rain on your parade and dull your shine. Everyone fancies themselves as a communicator but you're the expert and you know your shit!
Set clear boundaries, life in comms is rewarding and fulfilling but it's also hectic and full on. It's easy to find yourself working long hours, straying off track and spending time on the wrong things. Always bring yourself back to your why (personally and professionally) and stay true to it - even if it means saying no!
Believe in yourself more, back yourself more, aim high and believe you can achieve your goals. Surround yourself with the people that are going to help you achieve your goals, support, and cheerlead you.
Can you share one of your highest and one of your lowest moments of your career as a woman in the communications industry?
Highest moment: Physically seeing the culture change and engagement after a 15-month new office move engagement campaign. Delivering hybrid working and DE&I initiatives when I was in-house. Each of these were so incredibly rewarding. In each project, we took a different tactic to other companies, and I wholeheartedly believe it was the best and most authentic approach. They were all successful because of good, solid teamwork, being given the freedom and trust to get on and deliver and doing something that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Lowest moment: Getting burnt out. After the pandemic. The mental, physical, and emotional decline in how I looked, felt, and acted was hard. I didn't recognise myself in the mirror. I ground to a halt. But I learnt a lot about myself, my body, my abilities, my strength, my tenacity, my friends, family, and people around me. It's only now that I can really talk about it. I want to. I think it's important that people in comms and broader society are educated and supported when it comes to workplace related stress and burnout.
Eduvie Martin – Group Internal Comms Manager, BAT
Without a doubt Eduvie is an incredibly talented IC professional and the way Eduvie puts herself out there and takes chances to make things happen is just incredible. Eduvie is always happy to get involved and she is part of so many great initiatives that support women in communications and we are lucky to have her as part of the internal communications community. Eduvie said something when we met earlier this year, and it has stuck with me ‘you are in the room for a reason’ and that little gem has helped me show up and be the best version of me every day!
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Work! Well, I suppose this could translate to the fact that yes, there's still a lot of work to be done to attain gender parity and it becomes even more glaring on this day but what I also mean here is the actual work involved in executing this day for colleagues.
Having managed Internal Comms for almost 20 years with HR largely in my remit, International Women's Day was always one of my busiest days as I worked to conceptualise and implement initiatives to spark meaningful conversations around the key messages.
I know first hand how much work it takes to put a good IWD event together and I extend my positive vibes to fellow comms colleagues who will be in the thick of planning for the day. Good luck with it all!
This year will be the first in a while where I am not involved in the planning and execution of IWD and I am finding it hard to switch off so I have decided to take the day off to celebrate with fellow comms women in the industry while staying true to the theme by investing in myself and pour out my skills to communities I belong to.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #InvestInWomen what does this mean to you?
I love this year's theme, because I think self-investment is crucial. The UN puts it quite succinctly. Progress for Women benefits us all. I am a strong advocate of investing in self. It is the secret to all the adventures I've had on my career journey.
What advice would you give your younger self as a woman in the communication industry?
Don't be too shy or proud to build your network. Reach out to someone new and expand your network beyond your 9 to 5.
Sinéad Bell - Director of Internal Communications, Hanover Communications
IoIC London Network Lead and inspiring female leader who motivates and encourages her team to take chances and push themselves to grow professionally and personally, and I have had the pleasure of working with her on several internal communications events for the IoIC and VMA GROUP and her support and dedication never ceases to amaze me.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
First and foremost, my goddaughter was born on International Women’s Day, so it will always be special for that reason. Beyond this, I believe awareness days can be a force for good but not a means to an end.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #InvestInWomen what does this mean to you?
When people hear the word “invest” they often think of money, but to me, this year’s theme is about investing time – investing time and energy into women in your team or your network to help them fly.
Who inspires you the most and do you have a female leader or comms hear that inspires you to do more, say more and be the best version of you?
I was lucky enough to have a strong female role model in my first communications job – someone I could look up to and learn from. Now, however, I draw strength and inspiration from the young women in my team. I find myself wanting to work harder to support their ambitions, to help bring their ideas to life, and to make sure that I can be the strongest role model I can be – for them.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
My two proudest moments have both been during my time at Hanover Communications. The first was in 2017 when I was asked to fly solo on a client project. This showed how much faith my bosses at Hanover Communications had in me and gave me an opportunity to really grow my confidence. The second was being promoted to Director in Autumn 2022 – I title I could only dream of when I joined the company as a Senior Consultant back in 2016.
What advice would you give your younger self as a woman in the communication industry?
Have confidence and be kind to yourself. Communications is a fast-paced and challenging industry. Recognise that you have a lot to learn and embrace every lesson and opportunity, and don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get something right first time.
Ashleigh Carter-Adams - Senior Group Internal Communications Manager, Aviva
‘Don’t let the baby face fool you’ will always be one of my fondest memories when working with Ashleigh during her job search over the years. Ashleigh is an ambitious IC professional who knows what she wants, and she has this art of figuring out how to get there with such ease and grace. From taking chances, pushing boundaries, and most recently being nominated for awards there is no stopping her and I can’t wait to see what Ashleigh gets up to in her career as and IC Professional.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
My career is incredibly important to me and it’s only been possible with all of the work that’s been done to make sure women can succeed in the workplace. I’m a big believer in celebrating others’ achievements, so IWD should be all about shouting loudly and proudly about the amazing things that women do!
Who inspires you the most and do you have a female leader or comms head that inspires you to do more, say more and be the best version of yourself?
I don’t have just one person who inspires me and I’m lucky to have worked with countless bright, talented, exceptional women. So, my list is very long! Currently, I look up to Aviva’s Group CEO, Amanda Blanc, who is everything you could aspire to be in a leader – passionate, driven, resilient, warm, and much more. In terms of ‘closer to home’, I work for two amazing (and hilarious!) comms leaders, Fran Chambers and Annella Bradshaw, who are always ten steps ahead, are inspirational in their drive to experiment and champion me every single day. I’d highly recommend working for anyone where you genuinely laugh in your interviews! With their support and guidance, I’ve grown a lot, and I hope I can pass that on to others as I progress in my career.
This year International Women’s Day theme is #InvestInWomen, what does this mean to you?
I like the word “invest”. For me it means giving resources to something that is valuable and it will increase in value over time. I hope it goes without saying that women are valuable – we have a huge part to play in the economy, our culture and the future as a whole. Those resources can be everything from money (please pay us equitably!) to energy, time and even consideration. “The way that things have always been” haven’t necessarily worked for women in the past, so invest in making changes and we’ll have a brighter future for everyone.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
It’s difficult to pick out just one. Pivoting to launch Disney+ just as lockdown hit was a stand-out moment, even if my original plans were far more impressive. Taking over half of the M&S support centre to start the new financial year was also a wild ride I won’t forget. The time I’ve been most proud of myself though was last year when I was shortlisted for a Values in Action internal award at Aviva. Thousands of colleagues are nominated for these awards and the bar is high. So, to be shortlisted was very special, and I happy cried about it on numerous occasions.
What advice would you give your younger self as a woman in the communication industry?
I’d say: don’t be afraid of the curveballs, embrace them. I’ve moved around a lot in my career and a lot of the circumstances originally felt out of my control, particularly restructures. I also used to take quite a while to listen to my gut feeling, when the role wasn’t what I needed it to be at the time. However, if it wasn’t for those situations, then I wouldn’t have had the experiences I’ve had. They’ve helped me to be braver, stronger, and more resilient. I know who I am and what I need far better than if everything had run smoothly.
Frankie Freeman Day - Head of Internal & Executive Communications, Europe, Middle East and Africa, YouTube
One phrase sticks in mind: ‘if you don’t ask, you don’t know’. Frankie embodies this phrase with prowess and grace! She is ambitious and unafraid to ask the right questions. She is also just an all-round kind and intelligent woman...it’s hard not to feel inspired by Frankie!
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, International Women's Day is about celebrating the many and varied achievements of women across the globe while also recognising the challenges we still face in the pursuit of gender equality.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #InvestInWomen, what does this mean to you?
Gender equality isn't just for women - it benefits everyone. But it won't happen on its own. To make progress, we need real, material investment - both in women themselves, but also in the systems, organisations and structures that can aid their success.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
Managing to maintain a fulfilling career while also juggling two small children! I'm incredibly lucky to work for a flexible employer and have a very supportive partner, but the reality is that maintaining a successful career while also carving out the emotional, physical, and mental space a young family needs is incredibly hard. I don't always get it right, but both my career and family bring me great joy.
What advice would you give your younger self as a woman in the communication industry?
Take up space. Don't apologise for your presence and ideas. Your voice counts - use it.
As an NNC ambassador and one of the most memorable people I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Talita has a warmth and kindness like no other and a professional drive that truly inspires me. From first meeting Talita to now, it’s incredible to see how she’s gone and continues to go from strength to strength in her career.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate all the women who came before me and paved the way for my generation, but also a call to action and a time for reflection to understand my role in shaping the path for future generations of women.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #InvestInWomen, what does this mean to you?
This week, one of the consultants from the firm I work for published an article analysing how the new British childcare funding programme may positively impact the economy by bringing more female workers back into the labour force. This made me think about how creating policies or corporate programmes that empower women may have a knock-on effect on society as a whole. Several studies demonstrate this: when companies and lawmakers decide to invest in women or nurture an environment where they can flourish, everyone reaps the benefits of this decision. Additionally, I think the “Invest in Women” theme also extended an invitation for all of us to invest our time and resources in supporting and paving the way for other women in our communities.
Who inspires you the most and do you have a female leader or comms hero who inspires you to do more, say more and be the best version of you?
Throughout my career, I have had the honour to be led by many inspiring female leaders who encouraged me never to settle and always look to make an impact through my work. Among them, I would like to mention my mentor Débora Fortes, currently CMO at a global fintech. Débora was the editor-in-chief of one of Brazil’s most influential magazines when I joined the team as an intern in 2008. Her leadership style was crucial for my development in the early stages of my career: allowing me to share ideas, learn through my mistakes and grow. Years later, when we no longer worked together, she frequently found the time to have lunch with me—and I always learned so much from her. Last year, she became my official mentor and it's been an honour to reflect on my career with her help. Débora is the perfect example of a female leader who is committed to investing her own time in supporting other women.
What is your proudest achievement to date?
The first thing that comes to mind is to list some of the main achievements in my CV. However, the truth is that while those achievements were significant and had a positive impact on the organisations I worked for in the past, they only tell part of the story and the contribution I, as a woman, can bring to the world. That’s why, my proudest achievement so far is being the type of mom I am to my children. I believe that every time a mother lives purposefully, the next generations grow stronger, and this impact can reverberate through generations to come. For me, motherhood is the most lasting and rewarding mission I have on Earth—and it has the side effect of making me a better professional and human being.
What advice would you give your younger self as a woman in the communication industry?
I would advise her that her superpower as a communicator goes beyond simply telling stories in an interesting way. As communicators, we are first and foremost problem solvers: individuals who can anticipate crises, connect the dots, and encourage businesses and individuals to think from different angles. I gained clarity on this only recently, and I believe it would have been beneficial if I had utilized this ability with more purpose in the early stages of my career.
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