To inspire inclusion, we must lead by example, and this must start in the home and childhood

Caroline Murphy, founder & CEO of the award-winning West Cork Eggs and a business consultant & mentor.

Inspire Inclusion to me is how we should all be living. It is how our children should be raised, how we should be considered for work roles, how we should consider career choices.

It shouldn’t matter if I am female and wish to enter the construction industry, for example. If I have the right skills, I should be as considered for a role as a male. If I am a man and I wish to become a nurse, it shouldn’t raise eyebrows when I talk about it.

Why are there so few male students in primary school training schools and so few females on apprenticeships?

All children should be raised to know how to cook, clean the house and do the laundry. For me, we should all be allowed to fulfil our career or business and indeed life dreams regardless of our gender, but instead, because of our passion, skills, experience and personality. These are the pre-requisites to what we do, not gender or tradition.

To inspire inclusion, we must lead by example, and this must start in the home and childhood. 

We must teach our kids that they may not get get what they want, not because of their gender but because they need to learn or grow more, and if they do that then they will have the outcome they desire.

It is down to each and every one of us to inspire inclusion and to remember how far we have come, but also how far we must yet go.

The world can be a bonkers and often scary place and it is only by standing up for what is right and denouncing what is wrong - no matter how scared we may be - that we can change the world.

As women, we must stand together but it is only as a human race, leading by example of respecting all and encouraging everyone to fulfil their own dreams - which in turn will help us all - and by standing up to what is wrong, that we will change our world and there will be no need for annual themes for IWD because we will be living them.

So, on this IWD, I intend to do my bit, however small, and make sure my sons empty the dishwasher, my daughters do some farm work, and I treat whoever I meet with the same respect and dignity that everyone deserves. Happy International Women’s day to all!

Christina Fox, VP for Business Support in Statkraft Ireland, a renewable energy company based in Cork.

The success of every woman should be an inspiration to one another. Women should raise each other up, not tear each other down. 

We are not in competition with each other, and for me on International Women’s day it’s an important reminder to all women and girls to be strong, kind and humble.

 We should strive for inclusion in all we do and this year’s theme for IWD of Inspiring Inclusion is so important.

We want everyone to turn up every day as their full selves and feel comfortable in their working environment. A great line I heard before comes to mind… Diversity is being invited to the party but inclusion is being asked to dance.

Chef Orla McAndrew

As a mother of three young girls who has had to carve out a very unique career path in order to afford me the luxury of prioritising my family life alongside my own self-actualisation, the idea of inspiring my girls to know that whatever their heart desires for their future is within their reach is a key driver for all that I do.

I’m a part time wedding and event caterer/full time mum, and my belief system has always been that there is room for everyone in the market, whatever that market may be.

Several of my part-time employees have gone on to set up their own events/catering businesses with my encouragement, advice and blessing.

The inclusion I’d like to inspire is an inclusion in the right to create your own dream life. 

The idea of a sisterhood of supportive women who encourage each other to reach their own self-actualisation, whether that’s within the corporate world or the entrepreneurial world, is very important to me.

Including others in opportunities they might otherwise miss, and recognising that we have a right and duty to help promote each other wherever possible, actually means society as a whole reaps the benefits.

Here’s hoping you have a sisterhood around you who raise you up and desire to include you in opportunities, even when you’re not at the table. If you don’t, come and work alongside me!! Happy IWD 2024!

Ingrid Seim, Avenues Consultancy and Coaching

A lot of my work is centred on female leadership and making sure that organisations and workplaces, but also the lives we lead outside of work, truly allow us to embody balanced, meaningful and sustainable ways of living. And what that looks like will be different for everyone.

If we truly want to inspire inclusion, we need to acknowledge that, and look beyond our cultural biases of what certain things should look like in terms of success, meaningful work, caring responsibilities, and decision-making.

We need to have the structures in place to facilitate everyone’s ambitions in life and change our perceptions of how things need to be. It should be possible to have a successful career and still have work-life balance. 

It should be possible to intentionally diversify your workforce without seeing it as a box checking exercise. It should be possible to just accept that everyone brings something to the table, and that if we focus on results and outcomes and not on cookie cutter versions of what are often outdated work practices anyway, we will all be better off.

We create such narrow visions for ourselves sometimes that we forget that we actually have the power to change them. My hope is for a future where the intentional decisions we make will be with everyone’s best interest at heart and with infrastructure and political and organisational will behind it.

Karla Goodman, Director and Founder of Made to Measure Films Ltd, based in Kinsale.

I run a full service video production company, encompassing everything from corporate to documentary to short films.

Starting out as an actress has nurtured my inherent interest in people and their stories. However, there is more to it than just ‘story telling’ the past - I am interested in ‘Story - Leading’, and using video to inspire and drive companies and individuals to create purposeful change.

As the business world has no other option than to embrace healthy and more sustainable work practices, telling those stories of change and of leadership has never been more important. Those stories inspire.

‘Inspire Inclusion’ to me... there was and never will be another YOU, your presence is your purpose, so take your seat at the table, collaborate, educate and inspire.

I am personally inspired by the Indigenous Women of the world taking their seat at the table, and commanding change and making the world a better place. Indigenous peoples inhabit nearly a quarter of the world’s land surface, of which so much has been affected by discrimination and greed. In North America, Native women historically held equal status to men and held decision-making power. This was a balanced worldview that had been in place among many tribes for millennia.

In pre-christian Ireland, Brehon Law was a little more balanced with the worship of gods and goddesses! Can you imagine if that had remained untouched!

However, colonisation ushered in patriarchal views of women in society, the voices of Indigenous women were muted. Until women like Ethel Blondin-Andrew courageously fought for their voices to be heard. “To be fearless, is to know what you want, not to be defined by others,” said Ethel. She was the first indigenous woman elected to the parliament of Canada.

Her ‘story’ and others like O-é Kaiapó Paiakan, a member of the Mebêngôkre people in the Kayapó tribe of Brazil, cannot not fail to inspire and motivate. O-é Kaiapó Paiakan, after her father’s death, took on the role of ‘Chief’ and has become one of the greatest pioneers of Brazil’s Indigenous environmental movement.

These women not only put their purpose and commitment on the line, they also put their lives. They work inclusively towards a common goal; to save their communities.

There is simply no room for discrimination.Their stories commanding inclusion, inspire movement to a better future.

Sinead O’Flynn, Health4U

I am daughter, wife, mom (human & doggy!), business owner, nurse, nutritional practitioner and wellness lifestyle advocate.

International Women’s Day holds a special significance for me. It’s a day not just to celebrate the achieve-ments of women but also to reflect on what true inclusion means in both family and professional life.

For me, inspiration for inclusion stems from my everyday experiences. As a mother, I strive to create a home environment where diversity is not just accepted but celebrated.

My children are growing up in a world where inclusivity is not just a buzzword but a way of life. We engage in conversations about different cultures, traditions, perspectives and the importance of supporting each other, as females and males.

I want to foster empathy and understanding from an early age, and it is so important to me that our son recognises and embodies that allyship. A recent wonderful Network Cork event reminded the male community of the importance of being an ally for the females in their world, be that at home, work or socially, and calling out any unsupportive behaviours towards women.

In my role as a nurse and nutritional practitioner, I’ve had the privilege of caring for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Every client brings a unique story, and it’s essential to approach each encounter with an open mind and a willingness to understand.

Inclusion, to me, means providing equitable care that respects the individuality of each person, regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. 

I advocate for inclusive practices that make healthy food accessible to all. I believe that everyone deserves access to nutritious meals, regardless of their financial means or cultural background.

In my role as a Wellness Lifestyle Advocate, I am passionate about breaking down barriers and empowering my clients to make healthier choices for themselves and their families.

Inspire Inclusion, to me, is about creating spaces where everyone feels valued and heard, where differences are not just tolerated but embraced. It’s about recognising the inherent worth and dignity of every individual, regardless of their gender, race, background or, indeed, behaviours.

After years of attempting to drive change and feeling like I was banging my head against many walls, I learned a very valuable lesson that has long lived with me; We must Embody the Change We Wish to See in Our Society; it may sometimes feel like small steps, but it will become a cultural shift and that is when true change happens.

Together, we can each create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of who they are or where they come from.

Maev O’Shea, Everyman

The Everyman is forever central to everything we do on and off stage in our theatre! This is our motto and on International Women’s Day 2024, the theme of ‘Inspiring Inclusion’ is both a call to action and a guiding light in my work as Education and Community Manager at The Everyman and as Creative Associate to the Arts Council.

The Everyman’s community engagement programmes - Theatre Making & Citizenship Cork for both Young People and Older Adults, as well as The Everyman Young Company - are inclusive by nature. I have learned, through working with our friends in YMCA, The Lantern Project and others, that equality does not equal equity. We partner with community groups on our outreach projects to support participants on their artistic journey.

At The Everyman, the variety in our programme ensures there’s something for everyone: from quality drama to laugh-out-loud comedy, from Eddi Reader to Mother of All the Behans, and more!

To ensure our shows are inclusive for all our audience, we regularly organise ISL interpretation for our d/Deaf audience and Audio-Description with Touch Tours for our Blind/Low-Vision customers.

I’m proud to say that, for the first time ever, we produced a Relaxed Performance of our Christmas panto Beauty & The Beast this year.

Personally, I have a life-long love of the arts and believe in its transformative power. In my role as Creative Associate, I work with schools in Cork city and county to place the arts at the heart of school life. We engage collaboratively in the 2-year programme to create a bespoke Plan of Creativity for each school. I hold it to be true that everyone is a citizen artist. A key part of what I do is finding a way to unlock that potential by inspiring inclusion and empowering art at the heart of our community.

Edel Carmody, Marketing and Communications Officer for the Irish Association of Youth Orchestras (IAYO)

IAYO is the national support and resource organisation for youth orchestras across Ireland. We work out of Civic Trust House in Cork city.

To me, ‘Inspire Inclusion’ means bringing about parity and equity within the arts in Ireland.

We have so many amazing women working within the arts, whether that be on stage or off-stage. However, access to music education and to the arts due to financial constraints, sexual harassment, unsafe and precarious working environments and gender stereotypes still prevent many girls, women and gender minorities from participating fully or working professionally within the arts, whether that be as composers, conductors, musicians or any other role. In recent years, there have been sustained efforts to bring about greater equity and equality within the arts.

Safe to Create was launched to impact change on the culture and practice of the arts in Ireland, to provide safer working conditions for all. Safe to Create offers training on bullying and discrimination within the arts and also offers a reporting tool for bullying and sexual harassment.

Safe to Create also carries out research in areas such as marginalised voices within the arts in Ireland.

It’s crucial to strive towards an Ireland and a world where everyone is able to create and access the arts equally. I’m delighted to see so many Irish people working towards achieving this.

Bridge Forster, Founder of Be The Bridge 

Today, a consultancy helping organisations create more space for women and under-represented groups in senior leadership.

I’ve been a soldier, a lawyer and a humanitarian worker clearing unexploded ordnance from places like Libya and Palestine. 

I’ve worked in very male-dominated sectors and have seen first hand the importance of inspiring inclusion.

For me, it is about modelling behaviours to show connection and belonging. It’s about supporting and celebrating women’s achievements to normalise equity for girls and boys as they grow up, and focusing on allyship behaviours like listening, and being more aware of exclusionary language and micro-aggressions. The most important thing for me is connection and empathy.

Irene Terry, professional wedding photographer

I work with my husband Ray and we are very fortunate to be busy. When I started this journey many years ago, it was a very male-dominated area, there was very few women photographing weddings. Things have changed a bit and now there’s more women in the industry, but the attitude of some people hasn’t changed, for example I arrived at a bride’s house and the person that answered the door shouted, ‘Here’s the photographer and his wife!’ Sure, why wasn’t I the photographer also?

Another example... someone said to me, aren’t you very good for driving your husband around to the weddings! Sometimes Ray would be thanked and I would be excluded. I absolutely love my job and I wouldn’t do anything else, I would love to inspire and encourage any young person to go and do whatever you like in life, it doesn’t matter what gender you are.

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, but being a woman shouldnt be a weekness. We deserve to be involved and to be encouraged.

Sarah Abbott, Chief People Officer at Carbery Group, West Cork.

The theme for this year’s celebration of IWD, ‘Inspiring Inclusion’, is really important to me. In my role as a people leader, I believe that the most important thing I can do is to create an environment where everyone feels included and is empowered and supported to do their best work.

Creating an inclusive environment means that all of your employees feel supported and listened to, and inclusion is something that every person can ensure they are taking action on.

As a company, our vision is focused on enriching communities all over West Cork and globally.

Happy International Women’s Day 2024 to the women in our community, the female leaders across our business, those that are hands-on and working in our farms throughout West Cork, and all who support them. At Carbery, we want to encourage everyone to maximise their full potential, in whatever career they want to pursue.

Kathy O’Dwyer,Career Training Internships

 As someone who has dedicated a significant portion of my professional life to training and providing career-related professional internships to international students, the theme of ‘Inspire Inclusion’ resonates deeply with me, especially on International Women’s Day.

Having trained as a Careers Advisor and worked as a self-employed trainer, my journey reflects a commitment to advocating for equal justice for all individuals, irrespective of gender or background.

I have witnessed the substantial progress made over the years in creating more opportunities for women.

In the early stages of my career, discrimination based on gender was a harsh reality, encompassing issues such as pay disparities, biased interview questions about childcare responsibilities, and restrictive employment laws and conditions for females in the public service.

In 1971, as I began my own career in the public service sector, I entered under the conditions that I would step down from my position when I married, which reflects the contrasting societal norms of that period. It is heartening to see that present-day attitudes have shifted significantly, with discrimination practices not only frowned upon but carrying legal implications.

While acknowledging the positive changes, our society must continue influencing good practices and serving as role models for the next generation.

Regardless of gender, age, or race, we need to work collaboratively and purposefully to champion inclusivity within our spheres of influence. I firmly believe in leading by example and hope that my journey also inspires others.

As I reflect on these thoughts, I am filled with gratitude for the progress made and the support received from others, including men, who have played a crucial role in influencing the cause of equality and inclusion.

Lisa O’Carroll, Life & Business Mindset Coach

I work with ambitious individuals to achieve success in their personal and professional lives.

I believe that ‘Inspiring Inclusion’ begins in our immediate environment and that happens with the dialogue used in our homes and with those in our community. It involves in engaging in conversations with young girls about the host of opportunities available for them in leadership positions and roles in the STEM industry.

It’s about bolstering girls’ participation in sports in their local teams, especially during the critical teenage years where there tends to be a decline.

Inspiring Inclusion is the responsibility of everyone in society, it needs to come from teachers, parents and extended family members so that young girls can feel that every opportunity is available to them to be whatever they want to be.

Karen O’Reilly, Employ Flex, Employ Mum

Did you know that the UN theme for International Women’s Day is actually ‘Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment’?

IWD has become a bit of a farce, with companies tripping over themselves to tick the EDI (Equality, diversity and inclusion) box for the year. 

Companies with the most toxic reputations for inflexibility and long hours are often the ones shouting the loudest on IWD, while you can nearly hear the women eye-rolling around the world.

‘Count Her In’, guys - we need the men as authentic allies in the quest for genuine steps towards equality in every aspect of life; at home, at work and in society.