All year round, we spend a great deal of time securing profile opportunities for the incredible women we work with within our clients’ organisations. Not only are they experts in their fields, but they are also consistently achieving new heights in their respective industries, ranging from construction all the way to tech. It’s a privilege to be able to bring these achievements to the fore. Reflecting on the successes of other women provides an immense sense of empowerment.
International Women’s Day is the perfect opportunity to reflect on how the women in our lives have helped to shape us into the people we have become. So, to mark the occasion, we asked the Refresh team to tell us a little bit about the women that inspire them…
Chloe, PR and Marketing Executive
“The woman who inspires me the most in my life is my mum. I admire the passion she has for her career in sociology and how this influenced the way she brought me up, with incredibly progressive and accepting views on the world. This especially impacted me in my later life when coming out, knowing I had her support and acceptance straight away.
“She continues to learn, even 25 years into her job, as she’s now working towards her doctorate which I also admire. She has always supported me in my decisions – whether that’s leaving the UK to travel the world or changing the career path I wanted to go down. I can only hope to be half the person she is when I’m older.”
Becks, PR Consultant
“The woman, or should I say girl, that inspires me is my daughter Ruby. It sounds cliché, but she inspires me every day. From driving me to work hard to showcase what women can achieve when they set their mind to it, to also ensuring I’m a present mother when I down tools after the work day or working week. I want Ruby to grow up knowing that women can support themselves, even against adversity, and achieve their career goals. They just have to learn to spin many plates and excel on little sleep!”
Robyn, PR and Marketing Executive
“A woman who inspires me is Lizzo. She is SUCH an inspiration to women everywhere as she encourages everyone, no matter their body type, to be unapologetically themselves. She exudes self-love and acceptance and shows the world that all types of beauty are valid. Her music provides a safe space for people to express themselves and be proud of who they are. She is an advocate for self-care, mental health, and overall wellness, and her courage to be her authentic self is an example many people should follow. Who doesn’t love Lizzo?!”
Naomi, Account Manager
“Cariad Lloyd is a woman who inspires me. Cariad is probably best known for being an actor, comedian and writer, but she is most known to me for her podcast, Griefcast. I find both her ability to tackle such a difficult and emotive topic in a sensitive, educational way, and her creation of a space for grieving people, very inspirational.
“Death and loss impacts all of us, and throughout our lives, we all have to navigate conversations about somebody we have lost, or with a loved one about a loss they have suffered. These conversations are usually very dauting and anxiety-inducing, but through her podcast and book, she has created a safe space to process grief, and is making those conversations easier and more meaningful for a large group of people.”
Elizabeth, Senior Account Executive
“A woman who has been a big inspiration in my life is my nana. She was an incredibly kind and empathetic person, two of the qualities I admire the most. While she was a massive home bird, she would do anything to help people and quite literally flew to the other end of the world to support me and my brothers when we were growing up. My memories of her have helped shape how I treat people and the effort I put into anything I do.”
Danielle, Account Executive
“This is a tough one, as all of the women I know inspire me in some capacity. If I had to choose one it would be my friend, Ariana. We met at university and I have admired her strong work ethic, ability to take risks and desire to get the most out of life ever since. Her career in law has taken her around the world – so far she’s worked in Belfast, Cape Town, London and New York. There isn’t anything that woman can’t do! In the last year alone, she’s been taken on as a trainee solicitor at one of the UK’s top firms, qualified as a yoga teacher in Bali and even found time to run the London Marathon, raising thousands for Cancer Research UK.
“Whilst all those achievements are incredible in their own right, what’s even more inspiring is that despite her busy schedule, Ariana prioritises those closest to her. Long distance friendships can’t be difficult to maintain at the best of times, let alone when one of you is so busy. Despite often living countries apart, she is always at the other end of the phone when I need her.”
Happy International Women’s Day from Refresh!