International Women's Day Celebrations

At Young Professionals we truly understand how important it is the future workplace is improved for our next generation, so we aim to promote Diversity & Inclusion.

We believe that everybody deserves the chance to have equal opportunities and we are proud to be partnering with countless global employers who share the same values.

International Women’s Day is a special time of year that allows us to reflect and appreciate the contributions made by women in society, as well as the progress made with gender equality. However, it is important to acknowledge that there is still work to be done regarding this matter, particularly within the workplace. As students like those within our network prepare to embark on their career journey, it is pivotal to recognise the role that women play in the modern day workforce and embrace inclusivity.

Historically, women have faced significant challenges in the workplace, such as discrimination, unequal pay, and limited opportunities for career development. However, times are changing and progress has been made. Today, women are making notable contributions in the corporate environment and are increasingly occupying positions of leadership. As today's students are the upcoming leaders of the future, they have the opportunity to contribute to this progress and help build a more equitable and inclusive workplace.

Diversity & Inclusion are both critical to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected, regardless of their gender, race, age, or any other characteristics. It also allows you to connect with different thinking people allowing you to learn from them and hear things from a different perspective that you may have not thought about. As you enter the working world it is essential to recognise the importance of this, not just from a moral standpoint but also understanding the benefits it has on creativity within a business environment. Research has shown that companies with diverse workforces and inclusive cultures are more innovative, have higher employee engagement, and are more likely to outperform their competitors.

Last week, we didn't host just one event to celebrate - but instead a whole week of events and were joined by over 1,000 female students!

At the infamous Vue cinema in Leicester Square, London we hosted our biggest event to celebrate International Women's Day. This in particular was a historical evening for us, as we had 500+ female students attend as well as some of the most senior female employees of our global employer partners. We were so excited to see the turnout meet our ambitious goal of over 500 female students, with the queue even extending to the streets of Chinatown due to the overwhelming response!

During the event, we had a number of experienced and accomplished women in leadership positions, in various industries, deliver informative presentations regarding female empowerment within the corporate environment.

The FTSE100 Property Developer, Berkeley, demonstrated the power of women in the workplace, as we were joined by two of their most senior female directors - Yolanda Jacob and Emma Nelson. Whilst giving an insight into their inspirational career journeys, they shared their advice on succeeding in a stereotypically male dominated industry. It was highlighted the importance of really supporting and raise other women up, by creating a safe and encouraging space for everyone to grow with you allows for the improvement of not only the workplace but also society.

The panel discussions hosted by Kav Sandhu and Isobel May-Smith, were highly motivating; delving into such poignant subjects, the fabulous panel shared tips and tricks that personally supported the incredible women with their own professional development and advancing their career path. 

‘If you’re the only woman in the room, you’re going to be memorable. Use this to your advantage.’

The apprentice panel really gave a platform to the new generation of female talent to inspire and engage the audience. Hearing from women just a couple of years older than those sat in the auditorium, gave such a fresh and raw perspective on how to conquer your early career.

‘If the shoe doesn’t fit, change the shoe!’

The event was a large success, illustrating the might of females uniting for mutual support and encouragement. Watching numerous young ladies absorbing wisdom from industry leading experts proved to be motivational, with expectations to witness countless of the students blossom into accomplished leaders in due time.

We were joined and uplifted by so many inspiring and successful women throughout the evening, just a few to note and thank include: Sgt Jeanette Kendall, Melissa Davidson, Samantha Street, Sukhi Gill, Louise Dell, Nazli Singh, Yanina Bondarenko, Flt Hannah Proffitt, Lydia Martelly-French, Kavita Varsani, Kavneet Nagpal, Marisa Kerai and Anna Jackson, Liza Smith, Yolanda Jacob and Emma Nelson.

‘Don’t be perfect at it, but be the first to volunteer to do it’ - Yanina

‘Fake it till you make it to reach your big, hairy, audacious goal!’ - Samantha

‘Take a stride a day to combat imposter syndrome’ - Lydia

As a final thought, International Women's Day serves as an occasion to honour and celebrate the accomplishments of women, draw attention to problems faced by them and promote parity between genders. Our event was a humble step in this direction towards achieving these goals. We are optimistic that we will keep encouraging female triumphs and motivating future student cohorts for years to come.