A few years ago I spoke at AIM’s International Women’s Day debate. It was a career highlight to be thought of to speak at such a prestigious event and represent women in general http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3MaVLduRAw .Since then I like to reflect on this special day on what we have achieved together.
I am fortunate enough to work with a dynamic crew of gals, all unique, intelligent, talented professionals and lovely inside and out. Below are each of their thoughts on what they are celebrating this International Women’s Day and who they look up to…when I read my teams comments I felt very proud of the people they are and what they believe in.
Fleur Madden- Topley –
Celebrating: I will be celebrating that powerful and successful women are being more accepted in society. You can wear a fabulous dress, be intelligent, dominate a boardroom and still have a loving relationship with your partner. I will also be celebrating the smaller wins for women in disadvantaged situations around the world – what we may see as a small step, may be a major achievement in other cultures.
Women I admire: So many women….here are a few – My lovely mum for many reasons – raising me to believe I could do anything I ever wanted, to be well presented, independent and to stand up for what I believe in. I also admire her for launching her debut novel this year, proving you can do anything at any age if you set your mind to it; my sister-in-law Genevieve who is a tremendous new mother and doing a great job raising such a beautiful little boy; and lastly Deborah Lee Furness who has tirelessly campaigned for the Australian International Adoption laws to change, someone has to and that someone is her. In general though, I admire women who are strong in their convictions, well spoken, always do their best, support other women and rise to the challenge.
Madeline Maguire –
Celebrating: On International Women’s Day this year I’ll be thinking about the struggles women have been through, and continue to go through, around the world to bring us closer to equality every day.
Women I admire: I will always look up to my late grandmother, who instilled the value of education within all the women of my family and told us that we could do and be anything we set our minds to.
Rodica Titeica –
Celebrating: The fact that women can indeed have it all. While it’s bloody hard to be all things to all people, we are in a privileged position to choose the life we want to design for ourselves.
Woman I admire: Oprah Winfrey. May sound contrite to admire a TV personality, but Oprah proves that it doesn’t matter what sex, colour, religion you are or what kind of upbringing you had and how much money you started out with in the bank; Anyone can do anything. She is the voice of reason for so many people and is singlehandedly opening the eyes and minds of women around to world to a broad range of issues.
Danni Trewin –
Celebrating: I will be celebrating the fact that I work in a successful and flourishing business that is completely comprised of amazing, inspiring and ambitious women.
Women I admire: The females I look up to the most are all the working mothers (including mine, although her days of looking after us are well and truly over… or so I’d like to think) out there who manage to maintain a healthy work/life balance and look after growing children – I hope to be able to emulate your talents one day.
Fleur Maxwell- Garrett –
Celebrating: On IWD I will be celebrating all the ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in history to fight for equality in communities all over the world.
Women I admire: The female I most look up to is my wonderful mum. I’m grateful that she’s raised my sisters and I to be strong, independent and successful women.
Mia Hamilton –
Celebrating: It may have been a long time coming, but we have definitely harnessed the power of femininity and are using it to our advantage! While women must still cover up in the courtroom, in other industries sky high heels and bright coloured dresses empower us. The public relations industry has been built by amazing women and it’s great to be in an environment where femininity is celebrated on a daily basis. IWD is a reflection of how far we have come.
Women I admire: Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s pro-democracy leader and Nobel Peace laurea and Quentin Bryce – Australian Governor General
Sam Fisher –
Celebrating: My Mum, the number one rule in my house growing up was – men and woman will be treated equally, no better, no worse. She is just a mother from suburbia, without much technical, medical and legal experience, but fought in a battle with the large public company Energex to stop them from building an electricity sub-station in her street, which she felt would be unsafe. This win has set a precedent in legal cases worldwide and when she was not working on this court case, she was writing her 3 books, taking lectures and public speaking and not once did she miss a graduation, awards night, birthday or family matter. She continues to be the most amazing mother, wife and friend!
Women I admire: Mine would have to be hands down Angelina Jolie. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards. Jolie promotes humanitarian causes, and is noted for her work with refugees as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). She has been cited as the world’s “most beautiful” woman. She also continues to involve herself into humanitarian causes, has 6 children, a what looks like – very happy husband, she continues to kill box offices with her movies and still has time to put on a beautiful jaw dropping dress and grace us with her presence at award shows. What a truly amazing woman… wouldn’t the world be a better place if we all lived our life, giving back as much as she does.
Gemma Cobb –
Celebrating: I’ll be celebrating the fact that we can have the freedom, and opportunity, to be whoever we want to be!
Women I admire: I look up to all the ladies in my family – my magnificent mum, superstar sister and gorgeous grandma’s. They’re all inspirational to me in their own special ways and I’ve learnt so much from each of them!
Alex Vickery –
Celebrating: This International Women’s Day, I am celebrating the incredible women I work with. Each member of the Red PR team is fiercely intelligent, creative, talented, inspiring, hilarious, sassy, supportive and not to mention smoking hot! In an all-female office, what could potentially be an oestrogen overload is instead, thankfully, a work environment that is a pleasure to walk into each day.
Women I admire: A woman I admire is Australian writer Zoe Foster. After spending her 20’s as beauty editor of Cosmo and Harpers Bazaar, Zoe (still only 30) is now a fiction and non-fiction writer, beauty and relationships expert and businesswoman in her own right. With acerbic yet relatable wit, Zoe offers astute and (sometimes spookily) relevant relationship and beauty advice to Australian women, through her magazine columns, books, and the website she co-founded, Primped.com. She also managed to snag Australia’s most loveable funny-guy, Hamish Blake. Life-envy! Sigh…
Lauren Faulkner –
Celebrating: On International Women’s Day I will be celebrating women on top! Not so long ago, women were looked at as inadequate in the workforce, but now we are seeing more and more women at the top of the corporate ladder. Not only this, but the fact that a women can now walk into a boardroom wearing whatever corporate attire they wish and not be gawked at is a very beautiful thing!
Women I admire: The females that I look up to are mothers – whether they are stay at home mums, working mums or single mums – I think they have the hardest, most rewarding job in the world. It requires selflessness, patience, love and compassion every single day no matter what else is going on in their lives and I’m sure my mother had to dig deep for that some days, but I would never have known!
