08 Mar A Promise: International Women’s Day #choosetochallenge

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is choose to challenge.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

I am a feminist. That is a label I have never shied away from. I wear it with pride because of the women before me, with me, and after me.

Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my Grandmother, a formidable woman who led a life of many trials with her head held high. My mother, who raised me on her own, put herself through university and brought ethics and hard work to her government job.

I am blessed to have multitudes of amazing women in my life. Specifically, my “found sisters” – our friendship was galvanized over 25 years ago in Engineering college. There isn’t a week that goes by where we don’t connect in some fashion. I love these women more than you can ever know. Life is easier when you have a sisterhood.

Empowered women empower women. I have been blessed to mentor and guide young women in their careers and in life. It is part of my responsibility, to reach behind me and pull another woman up. I have to do what I can to make it better and easier for the next woman.

I’m not perfect. I have blind spots. Like Brene Brown says, “I’m not here to be right but to make it right.” I am super comfy in my whiteness and the privilege it brings. Did you know that women are interrupted 50% more than men? And, if you’re a woman of a visible minority, double that rate. That’s not right. If I have to make it better for the woman behind me, I have to make it better for ALL women behind me.

The main driver behind Red Blaze solutions is to make things better. This is not limited to teams nor organizations. This also applies to the environments we work in and we create.

I promise to create inclusive environments, where all voices are heard and respected. I #choosetochallenge gender bias and inequality. If I hear it or see it, I promise to call it out.