Guidant Global ‘Inspires Inclusion’ for International Women's Day with panel discussions and guest speakers

We marked this year’s International Women’s Day with events in the UK and North America, where the Guidant Global team and Impellam Group colleagues spoke about the challenges women and other minority groups can encounter at work, and how we can support more fair and inclusive workplaces and opportunities for everyone. 

Impellam's IM Womxn Business Resource Group hosted a London event with guest speaker Lauren Neal, author of best-selling book 'Valued at Work'. Lauren shared the stage with Hoa Ngo, Managing Director at Comensura, Hayley Klaff, Director of Projects – STEM and Laura Browne, Client Services Manager at Guidant Global. 

They discussed the question, ‘Why do we need to inspire inclusion?’ 

Lauren spoke about the bias and sexism she’s faced in STEM settings while working on engineering projects, and said inclusion is about ensuring that everyone feels appreciated by having their voice and contribution acknowledged in the work environment: “If we don’t have an ability to have everybody take part and be valued for taking part, we’re going to miss everything.” 

Hoa Ngo believes that fostering inclusion should be a daily practice that we can each embody in how we communicate with our colleagues and express appreciation for others. She stated that there have been men who have been supportive and encouraging to her throughout her career and urged more men to support their female colleagues and ‘open the door.’ 

This was a point of view shared by Hayley Klaff: “Everyone has a part to play in this. It’s important that people feel they’ve got an opportunity to contribute, and their voices will be heard – this is why we ensure that we’ve got an inclusive environment [at Impellam].” 

The panel also talked about the problems with companies that just check boxes to meet Equality, Diversity and Inclusion recruitment goals, instead of thinking about why they want to hire women and people from other overlooked groups. 

Claire Marsh, CEO, Impellam North America, hosted a panel event in Atlanta, Georgia, with Jillian Montgomery, HR Business Partner, Danielle Keane, Senior Director - VMS Implementations, Impellam, Lizzie Verbeek, P&D Business Partner, Impellam, Briana Moglia Boyajian, Principle Mobile Recruiter, Lorien, Jillian Montgomery, HR Business Partner, Impellam and guest Kahlila Alexander, Associate Director and Diversity Advocate, Kimberly Clark. 

The panel explored ways to collaborate as coaches, mentors, allies, and sponsors to build more fair workplaces and offer equal opportunities for everyone. They also talked about spreading the word on what you know by telling your story to others to 'put yourself out there.’ 

One idea that resonated with many was 'The Platinum Rule'. This is treating others the way they want to be treated, over and above treating others how you would like to be treated (the ‘Golden Rule’). As Claire said: “[Adopting] this approach allows us to build more effective relationships and recognize the unique strengths that everyone brings to the table.” 

Inspiring Women in Leadership 

We work with companies across the world with women in leadership inspiring inclusion. For more on some of their thoughts and insights, click on the links below: 

Clare Lewis - Recruitment Lead, Europe and Global Recruitment Lead Risk & Broking at WTW 

Sharon Doyle - Chief Product Officer at Deem, Travelport 

Cheri Vander Moren – Lead Indirect Sourcing Manager at Amway 

Laura Loader - Services Director at Burberry