This International Women’s Day we asked the wonderful Women of Optimus what International Women’s Day means to them, and who their female role models are.
Arta
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Back in Latvia, International Women’s Day is a big deal. We would get flowers, chocolates, and poems from our male classmates and friends at school. However, as I’ve grown up this has changed. Now I feel celebrated every day by the people I choose to surround myself with, especially all my female friends. We are each other’s biggest fans, and we love and support and celebrate each other as often as we can.
Who is your female role model?
My grandma, for sure. She was the most brave, courageous, strongest, and most resilient person I have ever met in my life – all whilst having the biggest heart. She would help and think of every living thing – animals, humans, and plants. She was just a really powerful lady – both in strength and gentleness.
Laura
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
To me it’s a day to celebrate women’s contribution to society and our successes. And, also to remind people that although we have come so far in regard to women’s rights, we still have such a long way to go. Violence against women is a national emergency at this present time and that’s why it’s so important to me to keep raising awareness to the issues that are so easily overlooked day to day.
Who is your female role model?
My female role model is my Mum. I have seen her go through so many issues and remember being a child and witnessing her being harassed or intimidated, but she never backed down if it meant protecting herself and my sister and me. I’m proud to say she is why I’m so loud and outspoken now!
Eva
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
I don’t generally believe in recognising genders; I do genuinely believe in evaluating individuals on merit. However, I do recognise the monumental leap that woman have made in the last 100 years and the ongoing battle we still face in improving the levelling up of genders. Many businesses still don’t have an equal split of male/female at all levels and women are still penalised for taking career breaks for children which generally inhibits their opportunities to progress. Co-incidentally, most team managers in my operational team are female and I do believe, as women, that we have a huge capacity to get things done. Where I see women at a disadvantage is that they are often shy to blow their own trumpet or push themselves forward, which often means they aren’t recognised for their achievements. And of course, I am talking solely about women in the UK and perhaps today is a day to think about women all around the world who aren’t as fortunate to contemplate the first world issues I’m highlighting here.
Who is your female role model?
I’m very blessed to have many strong female role models in my life. I think it’s important for woman to have role models to show them what IS possible. The best piece of advice I can give to any woman is to take control of your own life and no decision is a bad decision – if it doesn’t work out, make another decision. It removes fear and opens opportunities.
Lucy
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
For me, International Women’s Day is a day we can highlight the achievements of women and celebrate those who make a difference, this is important especially today where it seems that some women’s rights are being sent back in time.
Who is your female role model?
Honestly, there are so many to choose from, but probably Jane Fonda. She is such a force to be reckoned with! She makes her feelings heard and is so unapologetically herself – she is just a queen, and I love her!
Cherry
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Personally, International Women’s Day is a day to look back and appreciate what each and every single woman has achieved over the years to give us today such empowerment.
Who is your female role model?
My female role model is my best friend, Stacey. She is every inch a strong, independent, and resilient woman. Stacey is working two jobs, raising four children and has recently finished an open university course in Psychological Studies with a 2:1. No matter what is thrown at her she shows an enormous amount of courage and perseverance and is the ultimate role model to her daughters and any woman wishing to follow their dreams.
