5 ways you can make International Women's Day really count...

And not just be an excuse to make pink heart hands on social media...

Welcome back to Lead with Intention! Today’s post is FREE to read - so please do share with anyone you feel might benefit from today’s message.

It’s on a topic close to so many of our hearts - how to really make a difference for women at work.

As we head into a week capped with International Women's Day (8th March), please remember:

⭐ Get your source data and inspiration for campaigns from the UN (and from what you can see going on around you) and NOT from the website that is more marketing fluff than meaningful advocacy. (This is typically where the twee pink heart hands come in - last time I checked, that’s not going to address the gender pay gap…)

⭐ The UN theme this year is "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment." Think about what this really means in a world increasingly hell bent on taking all of that away.

⭐ If you want women to speak at an event, PAY THEM (shocking the amount of stories I have heard from women being asked to volunteer their time and their value to organisations on a topic literally designed to eradicate this type of nonsense.) If this is your company or organisation, please step up and make your voice heard! The wonderful Cindy Gallop has some words to say on the matter too and recently shared this powerful tool.

⭐ And if you want to be a real ally, cut the fluff and consider actionable steps you can take. Mine is making sure female leaders are given the support they need to be at their best in a male-dominated world. What’s yours? (Consider this your challenge from me, your pocket coach, for today!)

⭐ If you work in PR / Comms (and even if you don't), then read the excellent piece Emma Padden has written on all this for PRWeek - and get ready to have a courageous conversation with your own leaders about any of the points raised within it.

Emma includes the depressing figure that in an industry filled with women, the gender pay gap for PR is around 11% (vs the 7.7% UK average).

Plenty of scope to take action there then... And PR is of course far from the only profession (it just happens to be my former one) where this is happening.

And last thing, if you are a PAID subscriber AND female, and you’re reading this, then I’d love to offer 3 of you 30 mins free coaching time with me.

I’ll select the first 3 paid subscribers (female) to reply to this email and we can book a slot to talk about whatever you need in terms of careers and leadership./

This isn’t to disadvantage male allies (thank you!!), but to do my bit towards the UN stated goals for #IWD25.

Here’s to making it count,

Louise