Women's History Month and International Women's Day (IWD) are powerful reminders of women's impact on society and the ongoing struggle for gender equality. These celebrations recognize the courage, resilience, and brilliance of women throughout history who have broken barriers, shattered stereotypes, and made significant contributions to their communities and the world. March is Women's History Month in the US, and we at Aras are excited to honor women globally.
Celebrated each year on March 8, the IWD 2024 theme, "Inspire Inclusion," challenges us to tackle gender bias, increase opportunities for women, and build a more equitable global society. Women's History Month and IWD encourage us to reflect on the current state of gender equity and renew our commitment to a more inclusive workplace. Each year, a pose is selected to represent the theme, and everyone is encouraged to take photos in the pose and share them socially to grow the base of informed supporters.
At Aras, we are committed to working together to create a diverse and highly engaged workforce. Our Business Resource Groups (BRGs) are in their third year, providing opportunities for Aras employees to learn more about the benefits of inclusivity in the workplace, to look inward, and to address their own unconscious biases.
This year, we will celebrate on March 13 to accommodate our international workforce, which includes countries that have recognized IWD as a national holiday with a day off. Our celebration will include a speaker, Astrid Deutschmann, a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and IT consultant. Astrid has a strong background in STEM (she was a Program Manager at Ericsson for 18 years) and will share her unique perspective on the current state of women in leadership globally, as well as her take on some of the data from the McKinsey/Lean In 2023 Women in the Workplace study.
This year's event promises to be the best yet, with an introduction by our CMO, Josh Epstein, an unwavering supporter and ally of the Aras Women in Leadership team. This is an incredible opportunity for those within Aras to connect with like-minded colleagues, gain valuable insights, and build meaningful relationships that can help advance your career at Aras and beyond.
"Inclusion is not a strategy to help people fit into the systems and structures which exist in our societies. It is about transforming those systems and structures to make it better for everyone. Inclusion is about creating a better world for everyone."
– Diane Richler