Celebrating International Women’s Day at ROW

This year, we engaged with female entrepreneurs at Republic of Work, querying them on a few topics. Given that the focal theme for International Women's Day 2024 is "Inspire Inclusion," we wanted to highlight the importance of creating an inclusive society where women are valued, respected, and empowered to participate fully in all aspects of life. So take a moment to read what our members responses were.

Aoife Marie Fitzgerald - AMF Translations

Tell us a bit about yourself: 

Aoife is the Director of AMF Translations Ltd. AMF Translations Ltd. was established in 2021 and specialises mainly in English to Irish legal, financial and EU translation services, however we also offer French and Spanish translation services. Over the past year, AMF Translations Ltd. has collaborated on projects with contractors of the European Court of Justice, the European Commission alongside other EU and Irish Governmental bodies.

Aoife is an associate of the ITIA and holds BA World Languages and MA Translation Studies from University College Cork, where she is now a lecturer on the same MA programme. Aoife won the APTIS Great Engagement with the Industry award in 2022 for her commitment to the translation industry since graduating with the MA Translation Studies from UCC at the beginning of 2021. Aoife is also a participant on the UCC Ignite program.

What does International Women's day mean to you?:

It means supporting, encouraging and recognising the efforts of other female solopreneurs. It's about recognising the braveness, resilience and unwavering commitment that my fellow female solopreneurs have.

Are there any women that inspire you the most?

My mum - she's been a nurse for the last 35 years and she never once let her dedication to her profession interfere with her raising me. She worked holidays, weekends, nights so her work ethic and drive to do well in her career has really influenced me.

What do you think is the biggest challenge women face in business today?

I feel as if the business world doesn't take women in their 20's seriously - and even moreso when you're self-employed. It can be hard, but I've found that by remembering my 'why' has really pushed me through in those difficult conversations, changes and projects.

Any messages to your younger self?

Be braver, take more risks and be more sure of yourself. Also - sit down and learn an Tuiseal Ginideach!!

Remi Kolawole - Solid-Link Consulting Ltd 

Tell us a bit about yourself:

CEO & Co-founder of Solid-Link Consulting Ltd with my background in IT. I cherish human connections and love to dance. I am passionate about community development. I am proudly Naija and have called Cork home for over 2 decades.

What does International Women's day mean to you?

It's a day to honour the women who have gone before me, appreciate their contributions, celebrate my womanhood and connect with other women.

Are there any women that inspire you the most?

I am in awe of and inspired by everyday women, who "do not know their place" in society. Shout out to all the women who get things done despite the natural and societal challenges of womanhood.

What do you think is the biggest challenge women face in business today?

Misogyny and stereotypes, and lack of adequate attention to women's health and well-being.

Have you faced any barriers in your career as a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?

Yes, I have and continue to, especially as a black woman. I overcome challenges by reaching deep inside for answers and believing in myself.

Any messages to your younger self?

Thank you for dreaming.

Clodagh Ryan - CRAOI

Tell us a bit about yourself:
I am a proud Corkonian woman; after completing my BComm degree in UCC I moved to South Korea for an adventure which really gave me the travel bug. I love travelling to new places and especially love living in new countries, where I can immerse myself in different cultures. There's nothing like living like a local to really get to know the people and the place. I am also very passionate about wellbeing; I am a qualified yoga teacher, certified health and wellness coach and always furthering my learning by completing courses and trainings on the topic of wellbeing and happiness; most recently completing The Science of Happiness with Yale University online. I am a bit of a tech and data 'nerd', and have years of experience working in AdTech, supporting Performance Marketing programs for global brands.

I have used all my passions and knowledge to create my own business, born from my experience in both the Corporate and Wellness industries; I am the founder of a workplace wellness and employee wellbeing solution called CRAOI, which sounds like the Irish word for heart. We combine data and technology to provide personalised wellbeing support for employees and corporate companies. We work with amazing companies to introduce or further elevate their current wellbeing strategies so that their people truly feel valued, heard and supported in the right way for them. CRAOI has been designed to make wellbeing inclusive and accessible for all, regardless of location and we help our clients create happier, healthier and more engaged work environments where everyone can thrive. 

What does International Women's day mean to you?
It's a day to celebrate the incredible achievements of women around the world, recognise the progress made towards gender equality, while also acknowledging the ongoing work needed to create a more inclusive and equitable society.

For me personally, it is a reminder of the importance of supporting and empowering women in the workplace. It is so important that we create environments where women feel valued, heard, and respected, and where they have equal opportunities to thrive and succeed. As someone deeply committed to promoting employee wellbeing, I believe that supporting women's rights and fostering gender diversity and inclusion is not just a moral imperative but also essential for building healthier and more productive workplaces.

This Friday, I will be reflecting on the contributions of the women in my life; who have inspired me, supported me and lifted me up. I will also reflect on the challenges that women in the workplace may face, and the ways in which we can collectively take to champion their wellbeing and professional growth.

I see it as a day to amplify women's voices, celebrate their achievements, and reaffirm our commitment to creating workplaces where every individual, regardless of gender, can flourish and thrive. That is why, this year, we are offering an amazing opportunity for a group of women to get access to our CRAOI wellbeing app, along with becoming part of our CRAOI Champion group where will be offering expert coaching and guidance to a number of women for FREE. Stay tuned on Friday for this announcement and how to enter to win, which will be shared across our Social channels (LinkedIn/ Instagram/ Twitter). 

Are there any women that inspire you the most?

There are so many to mention; I really draw a lot of inspiration from female leaders around the world. However, the women who inspire and influence me the most are the ones that I have the pleasure of knowing personally. My mom is probably my biggest inspiration because I know how hard she worked to create a wonderful life for her family, and she continues to inspire and impress me every day. My sister is amazing, she's this fearless confident 'cool, calm and collected' woman who goes on the most amazing adventures and succeeds at everything she puts her mind to. My grandmother on my father's side is someone I still think of daily and aspire to be more like because she was just wonderful and the glue of the family; making everyone feel so welcome, special and loved. Of course, my friends - I have a very impressive group of female friends; coaches, business owners, moms - they all inspire me every day. For me, it's about how you treat others while coming up against life's challenges. The women who inspire me the most are empathetic, caring, confident, brave, courageous and most of all kind - to themselves and to others. 

What do you think is the biggest challenge women face in business today?

The persistence of gender bias and discrimination. Despite significant progress, women still encounter barriers to advancement and opportunities for leadership roles due to systemic biases and stereotypes.

This bias manifests in various forms, including unequal pay, lack of access to mentorship and sponsorship opportunities, and limited representation in senior leadership positions. Additionally, women often face challenges balancing their professional ambitions with caregiving responsibilities, which can further hinder their career progression. It drives me crazy too that I when I attend a lot of 'investor ready' events and panel discussions for founders and business owners,  women are often under represented or not even included as panellists on stage.  So, we still have a long way to go. 

Of course, addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including implementing policies and practices that promote gender equality, providing mentorship and support networks for women in business, and challenging ingrained biases and stereotypes. It's essential for organizations to prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to create environments where all employees, regardless of gender, can thrive and reach their full potential.

Have you faced any barriers in your career as a woman ? If so, how did you overcome them?

Absolutely, I continue to face them because we are still not where we need to be when it comes to equality.  A core challenge is the lack of gender diversity in certain industries and sectors, particularly in male-dominated fields such as technology and finance. This lack of representation can create environments where women like me feel isolated and marginalized, making it harder for us to thrive and succeed.

However, I overcome these by surrounding myself with amazing female mentors and by being part of support networks for women in business. I feel so passionate about how important these support networks are that I created one called POWWOW and we are a small group of women in business who meet monthly and support each other by sharing advice and knowledge regularly through our WhatsApp group. 

Any messages to your younger self?

Don't be afraid to challenge biases and stereotypes. Don't make yourself smaller to fit into the space allocated to you; take up as much space as you need to, be confident, be present and be loud. Your voice is just as important as any other because you have important messages to share with others. 
Continue learning and growing because knowledge is power. Surround yourself with other like-minded women and invest in the relationships that are supportive and genuine; don't spend energy on the ones that are not. Be an advocate for yourself and for others and always raise each other up because there's power and strength in numbers.