‘To be it is to see it’: Role models and mentors are key for gender equality - Kilkenny Live

Profit and Purpose: Women Leading the Way. What an empowering statement.

When it comes to gender related issues, it is not always that positive for women. There are gender pay gaps, gender data gaps in terms of women’s health data, gender care gaps in terms of who bears the burden of care in families and other areas where there are gender inequalities, in a measured or a more subtle way.

There are lots of positive initiatives, legislation and policies in place to tackle these issues, eg Gender Pay Gap reporting requirements which will ultimately filter down to smaller organisations and become more tangible for all businesses.

However, measuring and reporting data does not of itself change behaviours and that is where we need to be — by supporting women at stages in their lives when they most need it, removing gender bias in the workplace, actively setting gender inclusive targets, bringing gender inclusivity into action and ensuring that actions speak louder than words and policies.

‘To be it is to see it’, is a key concept in terms of gender equality, having role models and mentors for future female leaders, so that they can identify with and learn from these women.

Mentorship programmes for female entrepreneurs are a key support, allowing women to build a network and providing opportunities to discuss issues like financing or developing a business plan.

For female entrepreneurs, the Kilkenny Local Enterprise Office, the Acorn initiative for female rural entrepreneurs or Enterprise Ireland, are the first port of call for women seeking support.

Workplaces need to consider what networking opportunities are available for their female employees, eg — is there a structured programme for future potential female leaders, what supports are they actively providing women within the business.

Profit and Purpose refers to how women can benefit from their employment, invest in their financial wellness while also serving a purpose, be that as leaders of the business, in caring for a family or contributing to our society.

The speakers at the upcoming International Women’s Day (IWD) event in Kilkenny this week are female role models living the values of Profit and Purpose: Catherine O’Keeffe, the Wellness Warrior who champions women’s health in the workplace.
Kim MacKenzie Doyle, a social entrepreneur who is developing the skills of the next generation through the BIG IDEA initiative in secondary schools.

Dr Lisa Koep leads Tirlán on their Sustainability journey and is fearless in driving the ESG agenda for this local and significant business, which also supports so many local farming families.

Mag Kirwan is a powerhouse in all that she does, in particular in her role as Managing Director of Goatsbridge Trout Farm.

As a female leader in PwC in Kilkenny, I am lucky that inclusion and diversity is seen as a fundamental part of our business strategy and of the lived experience we are creating for our people.

Gender equality feeds into the firm’s Inclusion Targets, there is strong female representation and leaders all around us as role models and there are supports and networking groups available for me to join, such as Gender Pillar, Women in Tech, Women in Sustainability and more.

The importance of a workplace culture that focuses on gender equality, and indeed broader inclusion ambitions, as we have at PwC, should not be underestimated.

I am looking forward to speaking with Catherine, Kim, Lisa and Mag at our IWD event ‘Profit and Purpose — Women Leading the Way’, hosted by PwC, Carlow Kilkenny Skillnets and Kilkenny Chamber this evening in Butler House.