This International Women’s Day (8 March 2023) we are celebrating the women employees, customers, and partners across the global SEDNA community.
Recognised and celebrated around the world, the annual event is held to recognise women’s achievements across societies, cultures, and economies. It is also held to accelerate the work already being done calling for greater diversity and equality, and, in doing so, removing any gender bias, stereotypes and discrimination that can be experienced by women around the world.
This year’s theme is ‘Embrace Equity’. Equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, but a must-have – and gender equity needs to be a part of every society’s DNA. This year, the campaign theme recognises that each person has different circumstances and the provision of resources and opportunities may differ from person to person to reach an equal outcome.
Earlier today we ran a webinar with leading women working across the supply chain and broader sectors about the value of technology within their personal lives and careers, including across the COVID-19 pandemic and motherhood, while also thinking about flexible working and technology in the future. The recording will soon be made available to those who registered.
To continue the celebration and discussion, here, women from across SEDNA share their ‘Email to their younger self’ – a look at their achievements and celebratory movements throughout their personal lives and professional careers, while also offering their younger selves advice on how to navigate the world to help push boundaries and break gender stereotypes.
Please join us in celebrating #IWD2023 and #EmbraceEquity.
What email would you send to your younger self?
Navia Samugam, Customer Success Manager, SEDNA
“An email to my younger self:
“Dear little me,
“I have so many things I want to tell you, but I will start by saying, slow down and be patient. Life can be so beautiful, and at the same time so hard. But you will be so strong and so independent that you keep living and making everything around you as colourful as the rainbow, just like how you’ve always wanted.
“Remember that everything has its own timing. Each phase that you will go through will teach you an enormous lesson. Please treasure it.
“Learn to love yourself and let that alone guide you. I know that you set high expectations for yourself, but please give yourself some grace.
“Live life, forgive quickly & just keep getting up stronger each time you fall! I promise you, it will be a beautiful journey.”
Evelin Suurkivi, People Lead, SEDNA
“An email to my younger self:
Work hard towards the dreams you aspire, if you fall down, get up and keep going. Life isn’t easy, there will certainly be some tough lessons, learn from those. Don’t always choose the safest route, take some risks – they will pay off. REMEMBER – you can achieve anything.
Don’t feel down if something doesn’t go the way you had wanted. BELIEVE, that everything adverse happens, because something better is coming.
If you see unfairness, stand up for it! Being silent makes you part of the problem.
Be You! Always stay positive and smile!”
Jodie Rogers, Corporate Communications Manager, SEDNA
“An email to my younger self:
A relentless pandemic and global lockdowns will change the way you see the world. You will be busier than ever before, but go with the flow and embrace the madness. It’s a marathon not a sprint – and everything you do is making a difference.
“Make sure to raise your hand at any given time and make your point. You’ve got important information to share and a perspective that nobody else may have thought of. Plus, support your peers and champion their voices as much as your own.
“Seek new opportunities as you go – including the chance to learn new skills and travel as much as possible. Let it take you where it takes you.
“You’ve got one life to live. Take chances, take risks, be bold, be vulnerable. It’s a wild ride but a fun one.”
Taylor Belchak, Product Operations Lead, SEDNA
“Stay curious, raise your hand, challenge the status quo, ask how come–and why not.
“Don’t strive for perfection in a vacuum. Let imperfect work see the light of day and embrace opinions. Encourage a wide range of feedback and accept input from not few but many to see your work evolve to be more perfect than you could have ever imagined.
“Build up your risk tolerance. Take that leap of faith. You have the capacity to thrive in ambiguity and uncertainty. It may feel like you should stick with what you know, but it’s better to learn now—soon—that nothing in life is safe or sure. When you are paralysed by fear, play out the worst case scenario. More often than not, you’ll realise it’s not as scary as it may seem.
“Find time for the things you love. Take the trip, sign up for the class, play the sport, spend time with friends, visit your family. Your successes will feel more satisfying when you find true balance.
“It’s your life. Remember, you control where it goes from here. That said, I have a sneaky suspicion it will be an adventure!”