The Future for Women at Work Conversation
Posted by marie@thefoldlondon.com BigCommerce on 20th Jan 2023
EVERY FOLD WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
EVERY FOLD WOMAN HAS A UNIQUE STORY TO TELL
THE FUTURE FOR WOMEN @ WORK
The pandemic has prompted a profound rethink of how, where and why we work. It has upended our jobs and shattered ‘business as usual’. There’s no going back.
Eleanor Roosevelt famously once said, ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams’. Our latest Fold Woman series spotlights a cross-section of remarkable women who are challenging the status quo within their own sectors and building the future they want to see.
Our founder and CEO Polly McMaster talks to an inspiring group of women: Olympic gold medallist and broadcaster Denise Lewis OBE, environmental lawyer Farhana Yamin, financier and gender equality advocate Baroness Helena Morrissey, and presenter and diversity campaigner June Sarpong OBE. They tell us more about their career journeys, their attitudes towards style and their thoughts on the challenges – and possibilities – ahead.
‘Working through the pandemic forced us all to take a step back and rethink our priorities. We spend so much of our time working, so to be truly fulfilled as individuals, we need to love what we do. When we love our work, we throw everything into it, push boundaries and, ultimately, achieve our full potential. Unfortunately, as women in the workplace, we still face barriers on this journey and there’s still ground to be broken, which can feel unjust – like pushing water uphill. But the generation before us worked hard to make great strides and we have the opportunity to do the same. Is the future for women at work where fewer of these barriers exist? Let’s hope so!
The world of work has fundamentally shifted in many ways, including location, flexibility and work-life balance. But the importance of culture, human interaction and togetherness has really come to the forefront for me post-COVID. These are things that really contribute to a sense of fulfilment at work and even though flexibility brings many benefits, I hope we don’t forget how positive being together with our colleagues can be and that sometimes it can be healthy to compartmentalise work and life.’
Polly McMaster, Founder and CEO of The Fold.
DENISE LEWIS OBE
Olympic Gold Medallist and TV Presenter
‘As women, we’ve had to fight for every opportunity. In athletics, we were excluded from many Olympic events because we were deemed to be “physically incapable”: triple jump was only added in 1996; hammer throw and pole vault in 2000; and steeplechase in 2008. In business, we’re still struggling with gender parity – but at least it’s on the boardroom agenda. Whether forced or organic, conversations about diversity and inclusion are finally taking place. The first step is acknowledging that the system has been fundamentally broken for years.’
The pandemic has prompted a profound rethink of how, where and why we work. It has upended our jobs and shattered ‘business as usual’. There’s no going back.
Eleanor Roosevelt famously once said, ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams’. Our latest Fold Woman series spotlights a cross-section of remarkable women who are challenging the status quo within their own sectors and building the future they want to see.
Our founder and CEO Polly McMaster talks to an inspiring group of women: Olympic gold medallist and broadcaster Denise Lewis OBE, environmental lawyer Farhana Yamin, financier and gender equality advocate Baroness Helena Morrissey, and presenter and diversity campaigner June Sarpong OBE. They tell us more about their career journeys, their attitudes towards style and their thoughts on the challenges – and possibilities – ahead.
‘Working through the pandemic forced us all to take a step back and rethink our priorities. We spend so much of our time working, so to be truly fulfilled as individuals, we need to love what we do. When we love our work, we throw everything into it, push boundaries and, ultimately, achieve our full potential. Unfortunately, as women in the workplace, we still face barriers on this journey and there’s still ground to be broken, which can feel unjust – like pushing water uphill. But the generation before us worked hard to make great strides and we have the opportunity to do the same. Is the future for women at work where fewer of these barriers exist? Let’s hope so!
The world of work has fundamentally shifted in many ways, including location, flexibility and work-life balance. But the importance of culture, human interaction and togetherness has really come to the forefront for me post-COVID. These are things that really contribute to a sense of fulfilment at work and even though flexibility brings many benefits, I hope we don’t forget how positive being together with our colleagues can be and that sometimes it can be healthy to compartmentalise work and life.’
Polly McMaster, Founder and CEO of The Fold.
DENISE LEWIS OBE
DENISE LEWIS OBE
Olympic Gold Medallist and TV Presenter
Olympic Gold Medallist and TV Presenter
‘As women, we’ve had to fight for every opportunity. In athletics, we were excluded from many Olympic events because we were deemed to be “physically incapable”: triple jump was only added in 1996; hammer throw and pole vault in 2000; and steeplechase in 2008. In business, we’re still struggling with gender parity – but at least it’s on the boardroom agenda. Whether forced or organic, conversations about diversity and inclusion are finally taking place. The first step is acknowledging that the system has been fundamentally broken for years.’
‘As women, we’ve had to fight for every opportunity. In athletics, we were excluded from many Olympic events because we were deemed to be “physically incapable”: triple jump was only added in 1996; hammer throw and pole vault in 2000; and steeplechase in 2008. In business, we’re still struggling with gender parity – but at least it’s on the boardroom agenda. Whether forced or organic, conversations about diversity and inclusion are finally taking place. The first step is acknowledging that the system has been fundamentally broken for years.’
‘Whether forced or organic, conversations about diversity and inclusion are finally taking place.’
‘Whether forced or organic, conversations about diversity and inclusion are finally taking place.’
‘Whether forced or organic, conversations about diversity and inclusion are finally taking place.’
DENISE LEWIS OBE
FARHANA YAMIN
Environmental Lawyer
‘People may think that women are breaking glass ceilings and racism has ended – but that’s far from the truth. Of all the philanthropic funding to tackle climate change, 90% goes to organisations led by white people, and 80% goes to organisations led by men, according to a report by the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity. It’s shocking. My current work focuses on challenging traditional power structures and making sure climate philanthropy is focusing on achieving climate justice, especially by funding diverse and historically marginalised people.’
FARHANA YAMIN
Environmental Lawyer
FARHANA YAMIN
Environmental Lawyer
‘People may think that women are breaking glass ceilings and racism has ended – but that’s far from the truth. Of all the philanthropic funding to tackle climate change, 90% goes to organisations led by white people, and 80% goes to organisations led by men, according to a report by the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity. It’s shocking. My current work focuses on challenging traditional power structures and making sure climate philanthropy is focusing on achieving climate justice, especially by funding diverse and historically marginalised people.’
‘People may think that women are breaking glass ceilings and racism has ended – but that’s far from the truth. Of all the philanthropic funding to tackle climate change, 90% goes to organisations led by white people, and 80% goes to organisations led by men, according to a report by the Philanthropic Initiative for Racial Equity. It’s shocking. My current work focuses on challenging traditional power structures and making sure climate philanthropy is focusing on achieving climate justice, especially by funding diverse and historically marginalised people.’
‘People may think that women are breaking glass ceilings and racism has ended – but that’s far from the truth.’
‘People may think that women are breaking glass ceilings and racism has ended – but that’s far from the truth.’
‘People may think that women are breaking glass ceilings and racism has ended – but that’s far from the truth.’
FARHANA YAMIN
JUNE SARPONG OBE
Presenter, Author and Director of Creative Diversity
‘The pandemic has proved that flexible working is completely possible and, in some cases, even more productive. But, on the flip side, we know that the majority of women are still taking on the lion’s share of domestic responsibilities and at-home labour. As a society, we need to address that. Workplaces also need to make sure that women don’t pay a promotion penalty for working at home. So much happens as a result of proximity.’
JUNE SARPONG OBE
JUNE SARPONG OBE
Presenter, Author and Director of Creative Diversity
Presenter, Author and Director of Creative Diversity
‘The pandemic has proved that flexible working is completely possible and, in some cases, even more productive. But, on the flip side, we know that the majority of women are still taking on the lion’s share of domestic responsibilities and at-home labour. As a society, we need to address that. Workplaces also need to make sure that women don’t pay a promotion penalty for working at home. So much happens as a result of proximity.’
‘The pandemic has proved that flexible working is completely possible and, in some cases, even more productive. But, on the flip side, we know that the majority of women are still taking on the lion’s share of domestic responsibilities and at-home labour. As a society, we need to address that. Workplaces also need to make sure that women don’t pay a promotion penalty for working at home. So much happens as a result of proximity.’
‘We know that the majority of women are still taking on the lion’s share of domestic responsibilities and at-home labour.’
‘We know that the majority of women are still taking on the lion’s share of domestic responsibilities and at-home labour.’
‘We know that the majority of women are still taking on the lion’s share of domestic responsibilities and at-home labour.’
JUNE SARPONG OBE
BARONESS HELENA MORRISSEY
Author, Financier and Campaigner
‘We can’t let ourselves get into the situation where men are going into the office five days a week, while women are working from home. Bosses need to put clear hybrid-working rules in place – and lead by example. If you do work from home, make sure you’re still visible. Don’t assume that if you work hard and keep your head down, senior people will notice you. Book in 15-minute catch-up calls with your manager. Be more vocal than usual when you’re on Zoom.’
BARONESS HELENA MORRISSEY
Author, Financier and Campaigner
BARONESS HELENA MORRISSEY
Author, Financier and Campaigner
‘We can’t let ourselves get into the situation where men are going into the office five days a week, while women are working from home. Bosses need to put clear hybrid-working rules in place – and lead by example. If you do work from home, make sure you’re still visible. Don’t assume that if you work hard and keep your head down, senior people will notice you. Book in 15-minute catch-up calls with your manager. Be more vocal than usual when you’re on Zoom.’
‘We can’t let ourselves get into the situation where men are going into the office five days a week, while women are working from home. Bosses need to put clear hybrid-working rules in place – and lead by example. If you do work from home, make sure you’re still visible. Don’t assume that if you work hard and keep your head down, senior people will notice you. Book in 15-minute catch-up calls with your manager. Be more vocal than usual when you’re on Zoom.’
‘If you do work from home, make sure you’re still visible.’
‘If you do work from home, make sure you’re still visible.’
‘If you do work from home, make sure you’re still visible.’
BARONESS HELENA MORRISSEY