Parallel x International Women's Day 2023

Kaitlin McAndrews

This International Women’s Day, Parallel Consulting has chosen to challenge employers to start normalising conversations about women’s health (physical/mental) in the workplace.

 

Parallel Consulting is a global recruitment firm focused on the technology sector, which means we speak with business leaders and talented experts on a daily basis. This year we have chosen to embrace equity ourselves to start normalising conversations around women’s health (physical / mental), in the workplace. We are asking employers to embrace equity by addressing the way in which women’s differing health needs – from confidence and imposter syndrome to menopause and beyond – can perpetuate gender inequity in the workplace.

We want to make use of this privileged position to shine a spotlight on women’s differing health needs, and particularly the way in which issues such as confidence, imposter syndrome, fertility challenges, menopause, new or aspiring mothers, lack of DI&R policies or lack of female role models, can perpetuate gender inequity in the workplace.

We need to acknowledge that women face health issues that are too often treated as taboo subjects, brushed aside as inconsequential and misunderstood by employers. We want to shine a spotlight on fertility challenges, endometriosis, post-partum depression, imposter syndrome, confidence and the many other under-recognised health conditions that can affect women’s productivity in the workplace and damage their careers and potential to grow.

We want to start a long overdue conversation about how we can truly embrace equity, influencing employers and educating managers to create healthier workplaces for everyone.

Hear from our employees!

“On this International Women’s Day, it’s important to reflect on the progress that has been made towards gender equality, but also to recognize that there is still much work to be done. I have worked at Parallel for 5 years and I’m proud to see the growing number of females in our management team including myself. We have an opportunity to evoke change and empower females in our organizations and beyond. There are many ways we can ensure we do this, such as fostering a culture of inclusivity, providing support and resources, enabling women in our business to have a voice, and as part of our current management team it is super important, we lead this message from the front.”

  • JADE CAMPBELL

“Today, I wanted to reflect on this year’s campaign of #embraceequity – It got me thinking about what does equity really mean? It means fairness. For me, rather than looking at the ever-existent gender diversity gap, I wanted to think about a world in the future, where my beautiful daughter has fair and equal opportunity, one which has been fostered by continuing to educate men and boys, like my incredible son, around positive masculinities and recognising the continuous work that needs to be done. Let’s not let it be 300 years until we have closed the gender gap worldwide, let’s keep talking, keep educating, and driving positive and impactful change that will allow our future to have what they deserve. Happy International Women’s Day to all my network and to all the incredible women that have, and continue to, inspire me every day – especially this little lady below – I am beyond proud and honoured to call you, my daughter. ”

  • AMEL STEEL

“I joined Parallel in London 2 years and I’m so proud to now be part of the leadership team at a global recruitment firm supporting International Women’s Day and challenging itself and its peers to do more to create a fairer society. This International Women’s Day, Parallel Consulting has chosen to challenge employers to start normalising conversations about women’s health (physical/mental) in the workplace, specifically addressing the way in which women’s differing health needs can perpetuate gender inequity in the workplace.”

  • OLIVER DAVIES

“I am extremely proud to have a high percentage of the US workforce as Female. This is something that we always set out to do to create more ideas, diversity and balance in our workplace as we strive to be better every single day, I often see firms with a strictly male management team – all from the same era. What do you expect apart from the same ideas week after week?

I joined Parallel in London in 2012 and now manage our business in North America. My team of professionals includes an even split of men and women, and we are fortunate to spend our days dealing with the very brightest talents in technology… the people who are doing their best to improve lives every time they go to work. But International Women’s Day reminds us that the benefits of these innovations and opportunities are not always equally available to everyone. The theme of the campaign this year is #EmbraceEquity, and at Parallel we have chosen to challenge ourselves, our colleagues, our clients, our friends and our peers to start normalizing conversations about women’s health at work.

You are all superstars and such a key part of our business.”

  • JOHN BEVAN

Read our interview with Victoria Wall, Executive Coach at VWA Consulting on Equity and Confidence in the Workplace here.

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