International Women’s Day (IWD), held on March the 8th every year, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. This special day is also a call to action for accelerating gender parity, serving as a call to action for speeding up women’s equality everywhere.
International Women’s Day has been celebrated for well over a century now, with the very first IWD gathering taking place in 1911 which was supported by over a million people.
Fast forward to today, and the IWD is not a country, a group, or a specific organisation. No government, Non-Governmental Organisation, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network, or any media is responsible. The day belongs to all groups collectively, everywhere.
This significant day has evolved over the decades to:
- Celebrate women’s achievements
- Educate and raise awareness for women’s equality
- Call for positive change advancing women
- Lobby for accelerated gender parity
- Fundraise for female-focused charities
This year, the International Women’s Day has a campaign theme – ‘Inspire Inclusion’ for when we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, together we can help forge a better world. And consequently, when women are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment.
IWD and Kempston Controls
At Kempston Controls we value and nurture a diverse, inclusive workplace, with offices, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities in countries across the globe. Each location features a rich tapestry of both male and female employees covering all manner of roles from dispatching goods, dealing with orders, travelling up and down the country visiting customers to marketing our product range.
We asked some of our female colleagues for their thoughts on what challenges they have overcome in industry and what, if anything, has made them proud.
We spoke to some of the women working at Kempston Controls
Nina Lister – Sales Manager
What would you say to women that are unsure about joining the “electrical industry”?
‘The electrical industry supports many individuals and their interests, regardless of gender. If it’s an area where your interests lie, there are a vast and diverse number of roles and opportunities. With plenty of successful women within the electrical industry, and the numbers continually growing, why not join in!’
Alison Coombes – Business Software Services Analyst
What challenges have you faced as a woman in your field or community?
‘Working in a male dominated industry can have its challenges when it comes to getting your foot in the door and working your way up to more senior positions – Kempston’s being an exception to this.
What is your proudest achievement whilst working at Kempston Controls?
My proudest moment was moving up from my starting role of a BI developer to managing projects and more recently becoming a team manager.’
Sarah Spalding – Phone Team Leader
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
‘This day should be about celebrating women. It should be about being there for each other, uplifting each other and having respect for one another.
Reminding ourselves that we can achieve anything if we put our minds to it.’
Diane Hyslop – Application Team Manager
What is one thing you’d like to see change for women in the world?
‘Equality. In an ideal world, gender equality would be a universal reality, ensuring that women have the same opportunities as men in all aspects of life, including education, employment, and social structures. Striving for a world where women face no barriers or discrimination based on their gender is a goal that would contribute to a more just and inclusive society.’
What challenges have you faced as a woman in your field or community?
‘Women in Engineering face challenges including – underrepresentation, gender stereotypes & bias, non-inclusive workplace cultures, lack of role models and balancing work & family life.’
What is your proudest achievement whilst working at Kempston Controls?
‘My proudest achievement to date would be qualifying as a Certified Machinery Safety Expert. Whilst on the course I was surrounded by Robotic design specialists & nuclear experts to name a few & I remember feeling out of my depth & I put unnecessary pressure on myself being surrounded by men. I can honestly say that I will never forget the day I received an email to say I had passed the exam!’
Hansi Satharasinghe – ERP Consultant
What challenges have you faced as a woman in your field or community?
‘The underrepresentation of women in leadership roles within tech companies, alongside a shortage of female role models, presents significant hurdles for aspiring women in the industry. Additionally, the insufficient visibility of success stories among women in tech can undermine the confidence of others aspiring to achieve similar success.’
What is your proudest achievement whilst working at Kempston Controls?
Shortly after joining, I had the privilege of visiting Kempston Controls in Rushden, UK. During this visit, I had the chance to immerse myself in almost every department of the company, gaining invaluable insights into its operations and processes. Being able to witness firsthand how such a large company operates has been a truly enlightening experience for me.
At Kempston Controls we are proud of our inclusivity, insisting on fairness for all and encouraging a workplace environment that depends on the abilities of all our individual employees rather than just their gender.
Is International Women’s Day Still Needed?
A resounding yes! There can be no place for complacency. According to the WEF none of us will see gender parity in our lifetime, and perhaps our children may not either. Gender parity won’t be attained for well over a century.
Collectively, we can all work to help forge women’s equality – sooner and faster.
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