International Women’s Day 2023
International Women’s Day 2023 #EmbraceEquity
As strong believers in the power of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, we would like to celebrate International Women's Day 2023 with a short Q&A with one of our Executive Advisors, Mariana:
As a woman, how do you experience diversity in Open?
“At Open, it isn’t about labels; it’s about enabling you to become the best version of yourself, whether you identify as a man, woman or non-binary. Your gender or background isn’t the focus, rather the focus is on giving all Openers an equal chance to develop and grow, while making the most of our unique strengths and differences.”
Being a woman leader at Open, what impact do you hope to make on younger women in the working world?
“I aim to be a person whose actions mirror my beliefs and values, and I hope that anyone who may look up to me is able to see and be inspired by that. I never compromise my true self to fit within a box or others' expectations of who I should be, and I aim to always be kind. Experience and skills are important, but having the ability to see, listen, respect and guide those around you is what will set you apart.”
What do you think is important for young women to succeed with their dreams?
“I hope women are inspired to dream big and truly believe that the sky is the limit. If you stay focused on your goals and pursue your dreams with freedom and confidence, you will get there. Being open to change, comfortable with the unknown and risk-willing have created so many opportunities for me. In my experience, growth often comes from stepping outside of one's comfort zone.”
What else?
“I would like that they also remember to be kind to themselves, cut themselves some slack and invest on what gives them joy outside their roles at work, as a parent, partner or friend. Celebrating your own small and big achievements, doing things that put a smile on your face and being grateful for the here and now, and the people around you, is a great way to stay motivated, positive and humble. I constantly remind myself that I need to be kind and take care of myself, so I can be there for others - at home, with friends and at work.”
The power of diversity and inclusion is at the core of Open’s people strategy. It’s also a key topic that we engage with our clients on from helping find ways to communicate diversity and inclusion strategy to creating tools for engagement around these sometimes tricky conversations.