International Women's Day

Just over a third of Australia’s business operators are women (34%), and their numbers are rising (source).

International Women's Day is a time to not only recognise and celebrate the impact that women have in business, but also the social, economic, cultural and political contributions of women.

At IPS we have a predominantly female workforce; read below as some of our team share their thoughts about what being a woman in the workplace means to them.

Sana Turnock

Business Advisor

 What woman inspires you and why?
I have two: Jacinda Adern who is not afraid to show strength, kindness, and compassion in public. She is diplomatic, down to earth, relatable, and approachable. Michelle Obama is my second. She embodies intelligence, grace, humour, authenticity,  and she has some dance moves! 

What is the greatest challenge you have had as a woman in business?
Other women.
 
What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
​Ensuring that human connection (not just digital connection) remains a necessary part  of business interaction. 

Joanne Hill

Consultant
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What woman inspires you and why?
​I come from a long line of inspirational women. My great grandmother lived until she was almost 100. She kept and taught her native language, lived off the land and looked after her family. My grandmother raised 10 children, many grandchildren, and even when health impaired her ability to be mobile, she was still inspirational in being able to paint and be a great matriarch for her very large family. Lastly is of course my Mum, who taught me many life lessons and how to be a Moorditj Noongar Yok (Strong Noongar Woman). She cared for everyone and shared everything that she had.

What is the greatest challenge you have had as a woman in business?
The greatest challenge I have had as a business women was entering into a male-dominated industry with little to no knowledge of that industry. Luckily, I have a great support network and advocates that helped me through.
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What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
I think the biggest challenge for the next generation is not going to be the lack of opportunities, but the lack of self-belief, confidence and will for young women from our community to challenge themselves and try something out of the ordinary.

Nikki Griffiths

Business Advisor
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What woman inspires you and why?
My idol earlier on was always Anita Roddick - founder of the Body Shop.  Her book 'Business as Unusual' was a lesson in standing up for what you believe in.  Nowadays it's entrepreneurs like Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx and Melanie Perkins, founder of Canva.  I was once a very young founder (not quite on their level of course) and can understand how hard it can be to be taken seriously as a young female entrepreneur.

What is the greatest challenge you have had as a woman in business?
I don't mind challenges so I don't tend to focus on that sort of thing, but if I was to pick something, it would be nice to be considered solely for my skills and reputation and not just a female quota on Board selections. An executive recruiter once told me that was why I was being considered for a particular board.
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What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? 
​I don't think it will be any different from what it is now - handling prejudice and obtaining work/life balance. It's important to understand that there will always be challenges in life - and there is nothing more exhilarating than overcoming them.

Julie Broad

​Business Advisor

​What woman inspires you and why?
Malala Yousafzai for her ongoing fight for a girl's right to education. Malala is a Pakistani activist, and became well-known after she was shot by a Pakistani Taliban gunman as she rode home on a bus after taking an exam, in an assassination attempt in retaliation for her activism. In 2014 she became the youngest person ever to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

What is the greatest challenge you have had as a woman in business? 
Judging me because of my lack of having a degree, and not giving the appropriate worth to my achievements and life experience.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? 
Continuing to juggle family life with work without systems in place to support women who choose to be a mother.

Colette McEntee

​Innovation & Advisory Lead

What woman inspires you and why?
My Mum. She is an incredibly strong, successful woman who showed me what it is to work hard and be the best you can be. She gave me wings that allowed me to fly further than either of us ever imagined, and roots that will always keep me deeply connected to my home. I will be forever grateful to her. Despite enormous challenges in her life in the past few years, she remains open hearted, good humoured, generous, kind and curious. She is dignity and grace personified and I admire her greatly.

What is the greatest challenge you have had as a woman in business?
Without question, my biggest challenge has been, and continues to be, balancing my roles as a Mum and a woman in business.  I have never felt limited by my gender and I am lucky to have a life partner and co parent who is my equal in every way.  But, the working Mum struggle is very real! Can we really have it all? Hmmm I’m still working on that one! But, we can definitely have laundry. Lots and lots of laundry.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you?
Without question, girls and young women have more opportunities and open doors ahead of them than ever before. But, we still have a long way to go before we are close to anything that looks like equality. The challenges facing women and girls are very different based on socio-economic circumstances across the world. A young, Caucasian girl born in Margaret River faces very different challenges to a young Aboriginal woman born in a remote community in the Kimberley or a young girl born in Iran. So, it’s incredibly difficult to choose a singular, all encompassing challenge. I do worry that the world has become so hyper sexualised and image focused in recent years which places young girls under a level of pressure my generation just couldn’t have comprehended. We need to keep young women everywhere connected to role models kicking goals in tech, sport, entrepreneurship and anything else that keeps the focus off the image in the mirror or the camera and firmly on independence, self worth and pride. 

Melissa Charlick

Business Development & Communications Assistant
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What woman inspires you and why?
The women in my family constantly inspire me, especially my Gran. She was one of the first women to study at the University of Western Australia, and was constantly learning until the day she passed. My sisters are a source of inspiration, as is my Mum and my Aunties - all strong, powerful, and educate women who stand up for what they believe in.

What is the greatest challenge you have had as a woman in business? 
My background in farming saw me constantly having to challenge stereotypes within agriculture, which I knew was important to do but was also exhausting. Being asked for my 'husband' upon meeting and greeting fellows farmers and contractors, as well as constantly being viewed as incapable of performing mechanical and physical tasks was difficult, and it is hard to not let this external narrative enter your own.

What do you believe will be the biggest challenge for the generation of women behind you? 
There is still a lot of importance and expectation placed upon women in the workplace to dress and act a certain way, often requiring exhausting amounts of money, time and energy. The resources required to appear a certain way further increases the gender gap, yet this part of inequality is not often spoken about or challenged. I make a conscious effort to not wear makeup at work. One survey found that women spend about 55 minutes a day on beauty preparation—that’s almost two full weeks a year. (source). I believe that as we continue to move towards a more equal workplace, this will be increasingly challenged in the next generation.