Happy International Women’s Day!
International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated every March 8th to commemorate the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women.
Officially recognized by the United Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day first emerged from the activities of labor movements at the turn of the twentieth century, it has also been a focal point in the women’s rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
The UN set out a challenge to make this year’s IWD focus on “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow”. With this in mind and in honor of International Women’s Day, we invited members of the FigBytes team to share their thoughts on what it means to them to work in sustainability and what a sustainable tomorrow looks like to each of them.
Here’s what they had to say:
“We have the opportunity to build the world around us, one that is sustainable and where we can meet our needs without sacrificing the needs of future generations. But this vision can’t be built on the back of injustice and inequality. As sustainability practitioners we have to break free of the ‘carbon tunnel vision’ and understand how social inequalities hinder progress on all fronts. To me, IWD is a time to reflect on the power that women have to create a sustainable future, and challenge the systems that stop us from doing so to our full potential.”
Erin Bryson
Data Analytics Consultant
“As women in sustainability, we have the unique opportunity to support a better path forward for women on nearly every dimension: from access to food and clean water, to fair labor practices, to equal representation in our boardrooms. I am thrilled to be working with so many women who are driven to use their time and talents to create a more equitable, inclusive, and safe place for our colleagues, our communities, our families, and ourselves.”
Lyndsay Deckert
VP, Marketing
“Being a woman of colour in sustainability gives me the opportunity to show other women like me that they can enter this space and be passionate about the environment. For me, it is being able to break the bias surrounding women making an impact in the ESG field. Coming from a background that only just began accepting women in more extensive professions than before, it means a lot to say that I have been given the opportunity and freedom to not only express my passion for the environment, but to actively pursue a profession that allows me to make an impact in the ESG field.”
Marvel Ekwuribe
Customer Experience Specialist
“Being a woman is never easy. There are so many challenges, biases, and hurdles that we have to pass through to prove ourselves. Which is why we have always been stronger, kinder, and more emphatic to others around us. As a woman in sustainability, I understand the need to be conscious of our actions, the need for equality in access to resources, and the need for better security for us and our families. I have seen how high women can fly when they don’t have to break glass ceilings. I am proud to have worked and learned from some great women who are redefining everyday what it means to be a woman.”
Urviya Hasan
Implementation Specialist
“We have so much work to do around the world to create equal opportunities for women, especially in developing nations where infrastructure and access are limited. From education to healthcare and microloans for businesses, to fair pay for their work. We’ve got a long way to go, and so being a part of this movement is what motivates me. It’s a privilege and an honour to get to work alongside strong, intelligent woman who set such a fantastic example for what we can accomplish if we can enable more women to do the same.”
Selin Jessani
VP, Customer Experience
