As the managing director at DBC Training, I have had the privilege of working alongside many incredible and talented women over the last 23 years. I have seen first-hand the immense value that women bring to the workplace, and I am proud to say that my company is committed to fostering a culture of gender equality with 66% of our current workforce being women.

International Women’s Day is an annual day that celebrates the achievements of women around the world, as well as to recognise the challenges that women continue to face in their pursuit of equality. Of course, these struggles are an everyday battle for women and celebrating our successes should be something we all try to incorporate into our daily lives. Without the women of the past, who fought for gender equality, I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wouldn’t have the right to vote, to receive an education or to even run my own business. In the workplace, women continue to face barriers to advancement, including unconscious bias, limited opportunities for training and development, and a lack of representation at senior levels. Although women make up 47% of the global workforce, they are often in lower-paying jobs and industries and only make up 29%, globally, of senior management roles. As a managing director, it is my responsibility to ensure that my company is doing everything possible to create an inclusive and supportive environment for all employees, regardless of gender. DBC is committed to creating a community where everyone is able to reach their full potential, where all members of staff have equal opportunities and feel valued.

One of the most important steps we can take as leaders is to provide women in the workplace with opportunities for growth and development. This includes offering mentorship and coaching programs, as well as actively seeking out women for leadership roles, in fact, five out of six members of the board at DBC are women. We must also prioritize diversity and inclusion in all of our hiring and promotion decisions, and work to create a culture that values and respects the contributions of all employees.

As a woman and particularly, as a woman in business, I feel as though I have a responsibility to ensure the next generation of strong and powerful girls are able to have a career they love, without facing the barriers put in place against women today.

On this International Women’s Day, let us all commit to supporting women in the workplace, in our personal lives and through representation. Together, we can create a world where women have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their full potential, where women feel safe and secure, where women have access to the same opportunities as given to others.

To all the incredible women who make up the DBC team, we want to say thank you for your contributions and the value you bring to our team.