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Over 60 leaders from diverse industry sectors including global relocation and international education gathered in the Spring sunshine for the 7th Think Global Women International Women’s Day celebration on Friday 7^th March.The aim? To further gender equity by committing to change with actionable strategies for every woman and man at the table.Held at the Institute of Directors in London, Relocate Global’s action-packed day included a keynote session by Mark Freed, co-founder of Men for Inclusion, which provides training and coaching to help create inclusive work environments and an interactive workshop by chartered psychologist and author Sarah Rozenthuler, who delivered a powerful session on dealing with challenging conversations at work.In addition, an inspiring mix of roundtable discussion, interactive exercises and networking contributed to a day of true inclusion.

Keynote Speaker

The event kicked off with a thought-provoking keynote session from Mark Freed, who questioned how far we have progressed in diversity and inclusion and signalled it was time for a new approach: “We talk about gender in a binary sense – men and women. Putting people in boxes is not helpful and confirms stereotypes,” he says. “In the past diversity and inclusion has focused on policy and procedure, but let’s keep away from that and focus on what inclusion is really about – behaviours, cultures and values .”Freed recognised that the position of women in the workplace has changed significantly over the last 30 years, but suggested men have remained stuck, still complying with outdated male stereotypes. Interactive discussions centred around the benefits of men breaking free from those stereotypes and societal expectations, both in business and personally.One of the most important things we can all do is close the “lived experience gap”, says Freed. That is the little accidental everyday sexisms which happen in the workplace and negatively affect women. “It is in everyone’s power to do something about them,” he says.Research shows increasing numbers are resisting diversity and inclusion initiatives: according to Freed 64% men and 34% of women think gender equality has gone too far.  “We need to change the culture instead,” says Freed. This might be switching up the way meetings are run to a more inclusive approach where all voices can be heard, or appointing “conscious inclusion champions” who notice who isn’t speaking up in meetings or who is being overlooked.“Diversity has got us this far but inclusion will take us forward,” concludes Freed.“Mark’s  session really made me realise how the emphasis has been on “fixing” women to behave more like men and that it is time to shift the focus,” says Vicky Boyle, director of global mobility at Blick Rothenberg and chair of the company’s Women’s Network.

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Read related articles

• How to achieve true equality in the workplace
• How to tackle resistance to cultural change in the workplace
• How to create a diverse and inclusive workplace
• Supercharged You: Leaning into Difficult Conversations

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Engaging workshop to navigate critical conversations

“Difficult conversations in the workplace” was the subject of the next session, delivered by psychologist and author Sarah Rozenthuler with a lively mix of real-world examples and interactive break out groups.Her own mantra: “big doors swing on little hinges”, learned from her mother, remains central to her thinking. It is the little hinges, she says which are important: “small changes in behaviour make a big difference.”“Difficult conversations are about difficult emotions,” says Rozenthuler. Her advice? Name it to tame it: ‘”If we name the emotion or block it loses its grip,” she says.The good news is leaders who combine rational with emotional approaches in making changes see their success rates rise significantly. In addition, teams with a high proportions of women are proven to perform better.  “Social sensitivity is important to this and women bring it in spades,” says Rozenthuler. “We notice the quiet one in the room or if someone is tense or disappointed. Social sensitivity is so valuable but missing from so many organisations.”In a session packed with practical advice, her major takeaways for difficult conversations include taking your seat and being present and not distracted, finding your opening line and practicing it out loud, picking your moment and place, preparing for contingencies and having an affirmation that can take you over the threshold.

Inspiring serendipity interviews

After lunch and a chance to network the afternoon programme begun with a series of interviews on “serendipity” – reflecting the fact that many women’s careers have taken a circuitous route.  The inspirational speakers included special guest Cynthia Renaud, a former chief of police for The City of Santa Monica, who has also worked as director of policing capability for the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia and now leads the Emergence Program at the Centre for Homeland Defence and Security at the Naval Postgraduate School in California and is principal, The Mikula-Grand Corporation. Her wisdom included: you don’t need a plan to be successful; volunteer for the difficult jobs nobody else wants and even if it’s daunting, saddle up and do it anyway.She was joined by Elaine Héry of Eres Relocation Services and Angela Fubler, founder of the Chatmore British International School, in Bermuda. Their advice included how living in a different country widens your perspective, remembering empathy is a superpower and never be scared to be yourself.

Charting the way forward in roundtables

The last session of the day was a chance to hear every voice in the room at lively roundtable discussions There were introductions to the topics from Dr Sue Shortland, professor Emerita at London Metropolitan University,  international education consultant Pam Mundy; group head of talent at ATG entertainment Paul Williamson. Tables debated four key issues – navigating challenging workplaces; working in perceived difficult locations; wellbeing, family and work-life balance; education – early years to life-long learning.“After 35 years in the industry it takes a lot to learn something new, but I have today,” says Elaine Héry, of Eres Relocation Europe. “Women coming together is always brilliant. We have a natural bond and really support each other.”Read full coverage of the Think Global Women held on 7 March in celebration of International Women’s Day event on our websites and newsletters and in the digital Spring issue of Think Global Women/Relocate magazine out later in March.You can read new profiles for our 80 Outstanding Global Women including Cynthia Renaud, Angela Fublermore, Sarah Rozenthuler and Elaine Héry plus the first 40 Outstanding Global Women profiled here.

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View Think Global Women’s

80 Outstanding Global Women page

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