As a business owner with a predominantly female leadership team, I sometimes feel like I should be “all over” International Women’s Day.
And yet, if I’m honest, I have mixed feelings about it.
Somewhere along the way, the day has become a little too convenient for some organisations. A polished graphic. A strong hashtag. A panel discussion. Meanwhile, the gender pay gap remains. Sexist attitudes are quietly tolerated. Harassment is brushed under the carpet. But as long as there’s a post on March 8th, everything looks fine from the outside.
That doesn’t sit comfortably with me.
And yet, I also believe the day still matters.
Even if it has become tokenistic for some, it keeps women in the conversation. It keeps inequality visible. And until the bias disappears entirely (and it hasn’t), that visibility is important.
At Element, we try to support women every day, not just on one designated date.
Internally, we offer flexible working. Not as a perk. As a reality of life.
We understand that children get ill. That school holidays are a juggle. That working part-time to care for your children isn’t a “day off.” We understand the guilt parents feel when they’re late for pickup. Or the guilt they feel coming to work and actually enjoying a child-free day.
I remember returning to work when my boys were three months old. The sheer delight of nipping out for lunch with just a mobile phone and a credit card, no baby bag, no bottles, no pushchair, no 20-minute operation to leave the house, and then just as you lock the door they puke on you and you have to go back in and start all over!
There were days I wouldn’t even attempt to leave the house and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been to the loo on my own “is it a poo or a wee Mummy?”.
But supporting women isn’t just about supporting mothers.
Women who aren’t parents also need flexibility, breathing space and time off without justification. The reality is that women still carry more of the daily household load and have less leisure time than men. So at Element, we actively encourage proper time off, extended leave where possible, and opportunities to study, grow and learn new skills. Development and rest shouldn’t be luxuries, they should be normal.
These are the realities that rarely make it into corporate International Women’s Day posts.
Even now, nearly twelve months into being the sole owner of Element, sales calls still come in asking for my former male colleague, even though he was never responsible for systems, IT equipment, phone contracts or operations. The most insulting moment? A female contact who, after I politely declined her services, rang my business partner in the hope that he might actually be in charge.
Bias hasn’t disappeared. It’s just become more subtle.
That’s why culture matters.
We’ve ensured our policies protect the team against sexual harassment. If something happens, it won’t be brushed under the carpet. Too often women are questioned: Did you misunderstand? Was it meant as a joke?. We won’t allow that narrative to thrive here.
We’re also seeing more part-time placements than ever. We’re helping women find roles that genuinely fit their lives. Supporting returners after career breaks. Being their cheerleaders when confidence wobbles. Because returning to work can feel daunting and no one should have to navigate that alone.
Within our team, there’s no competitiveness. Just women supporting women. We speak openly about the challenges we face at work and at home. I’ve spoken openly about perimenopause and encouraged the team to prioritise their health.
We’re taught not to make a fuss. If we’re confident, we’re bossy. If we’re assertive, we’re passive aggressive. The language used to describe women is often designed to shrink us. To make us quieter. Smaller.
We need to do the opposite.
We need to lift other women up. To back them. To believe them. To create environments where they don’t have to second-guess their worth.
So how do I feel about International Women’s Day?
I don’t believe in hiding behind it.
But I do believe in what it stands for.
And I am incredibly proud that at Element, supporting women isn’t a marketing moment, it’s how we operate every single day.
To my team: you are bright, driven, supportive, hilarious, and completely trusted. I am proud of the culture we’ve built together.
You are all amazing.