Back to Blogs
Iwd 2023 (7)
Share this Article

IWD: #EmbraceEquity with Heather Yardley

  • Publish Date: Posted about 1 year ago
  • Author:by Heather Yardley

​​This International Women's Day, we interviewed some of our team asking them to share their thoughts on how we can #EmbraceEquity.

Equity can be defined as giving everyone what they need to be successful. The IWD 2023 campaign theme seeks to forge worldwide understanding about why equal opportunities aren’t enough, and a focus on gender equity needs to be part of every society’s DNA.

International Women’s Day belongs to everyone, everywhere. Collectively, we can all help create a diverse, equitable and inclusive world.

#EmbraceEquity with Heather Yardley, managing consultant at Eames Consulting in the UK.

1. How can companies strive for more equitable talent attraction?

By trying to create as positive a culture as possible, one that encourages equality and diversity and consistently works towards its own diversity targets. This could be by benchmarking measurements, investing in business-wide training, conducting internal analysis or looking externally for fresh ideas.

2. Within your market/industry sector, what progress have you seen businesses take to progress gender equity?

Equality is at the forefront of my clients talent attraction strategies. Some firms run specific female attraction initiatives like blind hiring to reduce unconscious biases or asking for equally gendered short-lists.

3. What is your top advice for making job descriptions more inclusive? 

Highlighting that the company champions equality and diversity, including salaries on adverts and offering insight into flexible/hybrid working arrangements.

4. What does being an effective ally for women look like to you?

Having awareness of gender bias and emotional labour, listening to other women speak and creating opportunities to do so where needed, challenging others, and not being afraid to step up if something isn’t right.

5. What advice would you give aspiring women in the industry you work in?

To connect with other women. It’s so important to build connections in the workplace and within your industry that you can reach out to for advice, guidance, support or just as a general sounding board for any challenges you might be facing, or ideas you might have.