Redefining Workplace Equity
Redefining Workplace Equity: Let’s Stop Fixing Women and Embrace Systemic Solutions
Great Event on December 4th 2024 at The Nine, in Brussels!
On December 4, 2024, EWMD International hosted an important event in Brussels titled Redefining Workplace Equity: Let’s Stop Fixing Women and Embrace Systemic Solutions. This event, organized within the framework of the #BrusselsDeclaration, brought together a remarkable panel of thought leaders and professionals to explore systemic approaches to advancing gender equality in the workplace. The Brussels Declaration, initiated by EWMD three years ago, is a collaborative manifesto advocating for structural changes to foster gender equity across Europe. Supported by WEP, COLLABWITH, European Women on Boards (EWOB), and Professional Women International Brussels (PWI Brussels), the event marked a significant milestone in this ongoing initiative.
Keynote Insights
The evening opened with two engaging keynote speakers who framed the discussions:
Carmen Niethammer, Senior Gender Specialist at the European Investment Bank, emphasized the importance of systemic reforms in improving financial access and highlighted the critical role employers play in creating equitable opportunities.
Konstantinos Georgoulias, Senior Director at EIT Manufacturing, shared initiatives aimed at encouraging young women to enter manufacturing careers, focusing on breaking gender stereotypes in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Panel Highlights
The panel discussion featured an impressive array of speakers who offered unique perspectives on systemic solutions to workplace equity:
Lee Chambers, Business Psychologist and Founder of Male Allies UK, stressed the need to dismantle "bro cultures" and equip men with the tools to positively navigate this change into inclusive environments and be happy with that too.
Emily van Putten, Cyber Security Expert and DEI Leader, underscored the importance of intersectionality, advocating for decision-making spaces to include those directly affected by inequities.
Melissa Mesek, Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University, pointed out that gender discrimination affects both women and men, and systemic change requires not only top-down but also bottom-up policy development. She also highlighted how societal dynamics often fail to empower individuals of all genders.
Miranda Dawkins, Counsellor for Trade, Sustainability, and Markets at the UK Mission to the European Union, called for practical policy interventions such as affordable childcare and flexible work arrangements as foundational measures for workplace equity.
Claudia Persico, Vice President at Persico Group, with an audio message, shared her insights on the unique challenges faced by women in Italy, particularly in technical and leadership roles and emphasized the importance of addressing cultural and structural barriers for women in Italy. She highlighted initiatives such as flexible work arrangements, mentorship programs, and legislative measures that support gender equity in workplaces and leadership roles.
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Closing Thoughts
The event concluded with an inspiring keynote by Sachiko Muto, Chair of OpenForum Europe, who passionately articulated the business case for diverse leadership. She challenged organizations to hold leaders accountable for fostering inclusion, emphasizing that gender equality should not be treated as a box-ticking exercise but as a core driver of business success.
Reflections on Systemic Change
Throughout the event, several recurring themes emerged:
The Role of Male Allies: The panel stressed that men play a crucial role in advocating for equity by recognizing and addressing biases within their own organizations.
Intersectionality Matters: The importance of understanding and addressing the layered identities and unique challenges faced by individuals in the workplace was a key takeaway.
Policy and Practice: Both top-down and grassroots efforts are needed to drive systemic change, with collaboration between public and private sectors essential for success.
Accountability in Leadership: Organizations must reassess the value and inclusiveness of their leadership structures to ensure long-term impact.
EWMD International, as the initiator of the #BrusselsDeclaration, continues to lead the charge in fostering systemic solutions to gender inequality. By bringing together such a diverse and insightful group of speakers, the event not only inspired attendees but also provided actionable strategies to tackle inequity in the workplace.
A special thanks to our esteemed speakers and the Brussels Declaration collaborators: COLLABWITH, European Women on Boards (EWoB), WEP and Professional Women International Brussels (PWI Brussels), for their invaluable contributions to this impactful event and to the Brussels Declaration initiative.
