INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY

INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY

As an Australian female founded and lead company, BEC + BRIDGE celebrates women of all walks of life, today, and everyday. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #breakthebias, encouraging a gender equal world, and we’re here for it.

We interviewed five inspiring women, who use their voice, talent and platforms to inspire, empower and encourage women.

Collectively we can #breakthebias. Discover our conversations below.

As an Australian female founded and lead company, BEC + BRIDGE celebrates women of all walks of life, today, and everyday. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #breakthebias, encouraging a gender equal world, and we’re here for it.

We interviewed five inspiring women, who use their voice, talent and platforms to inspire, empower and encourage women.

Collectively we can #breakthebias. Discover our conversations below.

BRUNA LAPINSKAS, BODY POSITIVITY MODEL + ADVOCATE

What does IWD mean to you?

International Women’s Day is a day to appreciate and to highlight the importance of equal rights for women. An opportunity for everyone, regardless of gender or their identity, to stand together and celebrate how far we’ve come towards gender equality and women’s rights. It is also important to always remember those before us that have fought for the things we take for granted today, such as our right to vote and equal opportunities.

When do you feel most empowered?

I feel empowered when I see other women succeed. I feel represented and that’s what we all should stand to. As a model, I definitely feel more empowered when I’m in front of the camera showing off my curves and representing people with a similar body shape as mine. I didn’t have this representation when I was younger. I want people to look at my photos in front of stores, websites, cat walks and know that I got them.


Your best piece of advice to women?

A woman can be whatever and wherever she wants to be.

 

Who inspires you and why?

My mom and grandma definitely inspire me. Grandma raised 7 children with her husband and always made sure her kids had everything and food on the table. We all know how things were difficult back then. Mom has also worked since she was very young and I grew up watching her always being the best at everything she does. I’m very proud of her. They are truly my inspiration.

Hope for women in 2022?

What I hope for women in 2022 is to keep being heard, represented, and respected In every way from this year and beyond.

BETH LEVIS, FOUNDER INGESTIBLE COLLAGEN, BY BETH

What does IWD mean to you?

IWD is not just an opportunity to champion gender and achievement, but an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come. It is an opportunity to strategise the pathway forward towards international equality, in order to ensure the next generation doesn’t have to. It is with out a doubt and internationally recognised that gender equality and the strength of the economy go hand in hand. Yet gender inequality still remains prominent in both developed and developing nations. IWD gives us an opportunity to share our stories and find our voices in order to encourage change for the next generation.

 

When do you feel most empowered?

When I am empowering my three daughters. They are the voices of tomorrow so my role as a mother I see as pertinent in laying the groundwork to raising independent and fierce leaders.

 

Your best piece of advice to women?

Don’t take no for an answer. Push boundaries and chase dreams. Rethink the unthinkable and reimagine the unimaginable.

 

Who inspires you and why?

I could list thousands but ultimately it comes down to three:

1. My Mother.

A feminist at heart and someone who would not tolerate anything other than equality and respect for all. This I feel was the greatest gift and opportunity for me in terms of laying the groundwork on what I could foresee as my own personal future. The importance she placed on education allowed for my hopes and dreams to be created by my own hands. Reliance on anyone other than myself was never an option. If you wanted it, you worked hard to achieve it yourself and there were no barriers to gender. The funny part is, she will never admit to being a feminist. It’s so second nature to her that she doesn’t recognise it in herself. 

2. My husband.

IWD is not just a day to champion women, but a day to champion all those that champion us. Justin is one of them. I am very lucky to have found him. He not only believes in myself and our daughters, but encourages equality for women on a daily basis both personally and through his work. We can’t make change entirely ourselves so it is important to recognise those who are paving the path forward and allowing previous restraints to be removed.

 3. Each and every woman not stopping at ’no’ and striving for more! Success doesn’t come easily and it comes in all shapes and sizes. Any woman trying to make it happen by pushing boundaries is someone who inspires me greatly!

Hope for women in 2022?

 I’ll admit this is a scary and sad question to answer. I feel that we have done an incredible amount of work in terms of gender equality over the past decade, but sadly we have regressed in the wake of pandemic closures during the last two years. Whilst everyone has sadly been affected, women are far more vulnerable to Covid-19 related economic effects because of existing gender inequalities. Women make up 39% of global employment but account for 54% of overall job losses (McKinsey.com) largely due to the domestic responsibilities of women during lockdown. Whilst the health of the economy is categorically proven to be linked to the equality and employment of women, we must do all we can to reverse this. Our future depends on it and my daughters depend on it. 2022 presents an opportunity for us to recognise this and change. If we don’t, we stand to regress and lose all we have achieved over the past decade.

 

Who inspires you and why?

I could list thousands but ultimately it comes down to three:

1. My Mother.

A feminist at heart and someone who would not tolerate anything other than equality and respect for all. This I feel was the greatest gift and opportunity for me in terms of laying the groundwork on what I could foresee as my own personal future. The importance she placed on education allowed for my hopes and dreams to be created by my own hands. Reliance on anyone other than myself was never an option. If you wanted it, you worked hard to achieve it yourself and there were no barriers to gender. The funny part is, she will never admit to being a feminist. It’s so second nature to her that she doesn’t recognise it in herself. 

2. My husband.

IWD is not just a day to champion women, but a day to champion all those that champion us. Justin is one of them. I am very lucky to have found him. He not only believes in myself and our daughters, but encourages equality for women on a daily basis both personally and through his work. We can’t make change entirely ourselves so it is important to recognise those who are paving the path forward and allowing previous restraints to be removed.

 3. Each and every woman not stopping at ’no’ and striving for more! Success doesn’t come easily and it comes in all shapes and sizes. Any woman trying to make it happen by pushing boundaries is someone who inspires me greatly!

Hope for women in 2022?

 I’ll admit this is a scary and sad question to answer. I feel that we have done an incredible amount of work in terms of gender equality over the past decade, but sadly we have regressed in the wake of pandemic closures during the last two years. Whilst everyone has sadly been affected, women are far more vulnerable to Covid-19 related economic effects because of existing gender inequalities. Women make up 39% of global employment but account for 54% of overall job losses (McKinsey.com) largely due to the domestic responsibilities of women during lockdown. Whilst the health of the economy is categorically proven to be linked to the equality and employment of women, we must do all we can to reverse this. Our future depends on it and my daughters depend on it. 2022 presents an opportunity for us to recognise this and change. If we don’t, we stand to regress and lose all we have achieved over the past decade.

STEPH CLAIRE SMITH, CO-FOUNDER
KEEP IT CLEANER, HEALTH PLATFORM

STEPH CLAIRE SMITH, CO-FOUNDER KEEP IT CLEANER, HEALTH PLATFORM

What does IWD mean to you?

The theme of this year’s IWD is #breakthebias and I am all about that! Everyday I work on building technology that enables women to workout their way, to fuel themselves their way, to define what health means to them and to do it all for themselves and nobody else and screw the standards society has set for them. IWD in a way is like Valentine’s Day, hear me out… Yes it’s great to celebrate and acknowledge your loved one on Valentine’s Day, just as it is to celebrate women on IWD, BUT, I am a true believer that both should be celebrated 365 days of the year, not just on the one day.


When do you feel most empowered?

I feel the most empowered when I am surrounded by our KIC community. To be working out with hundreds of women at once, knowing that something we have created has enabled them to feel confident in their own skin, to workout in public, to workout for fun and not for punishment means everything to me.

What does IWD mean to you?

The theme of this year’s IWD is #breakthebias and I am all about that! Everyday I work on building technology that enables women to workout their way, to fuel themselves their way, to define what health means to them and to do it all for themselves and nobody else and screw the standards society has set for them. IWD in a way is like Valentine’s Day, hear me out… Yes it’s great to celebrate and acknowledge your loved one on Valentine’s Day, just as it is to celebrate women on IWD, BUT, I am a true believer that both should be celebrated 365 days of the year, not just on the one day.


When do you feel most empowered?

I feel the most empowered when I am surrounded by our KIC community. To be working out with hundreds of women at once, knowing that something we have created has enabled them to feel confident in their own skin, to workout in public, to workout for fun and not for punishment means everything to me.

Your best piece of advice to women?

Kindness is contagious, remember to be kind to one another. Ditch the feeling of judgement and take on empathy instead. As women there are a lot of things that aren’t in our favour… The least we can do is support one another and motivate each other to be our truest and happiest self.

 

Who inspires you and why?

My best friend and business partner Laura Henshaw inspires me everyday. She’s strong, resilient, intelligent, driven, kind, selfless and unapologetically herself. She’s an incredible leader to our team at Keep it Cleaner. With a passion for learning and bettering herself everyday as a business woman and as a person in general, she’s the right amount of grit complemented with a warm hug. I am forever grateful for our friendship and consider myself very lucky to work along side her.

 

Hope for women in 2022.

My hope for women in 2022 and beyond is for us all to feel empowered to be US, for us. To be motivated to be whatever version of us we desire.

CAMILLE OLSEN-ORMANDY, ARTIST

What does IWD mean to you?

IWD for me is about education, history and empowerment.

I first learnt about sexism when I was asked to be on a talking panel at the Bondi Pavilion with my mum for IWD at the age of 12, when asked if I knew what the term sexism meant, I had no idea! That day taught me a lot about what it is really like to be a woman in this world and prepared me for my future.

 

When do you feel most empowered?

I feel empowered in my self expression. From bright makeup to colour blocking outfits, the way I style myself makes me feel confident and happy. My freedom to play with both masculine and feminine styles. I’d use the term dopamine dressing.

 

Your best piece of advice to women?

My best advice is self respect, respecting your own values and boundaries. Starting that journey inwards to create a strong foundation of self love.

Who inspires you and why?

My mum of course ! Not only being a loving caregiver, she's a strong independent creative woman who has shown me that with hard work and determination you can achieve anything you set your mind to. And how wonderful that is.

 

Hope for women in 2022?

To continue being strong, independent, creative, expressive, loud, and proud to be uniquely themselves.

Who inspires you and why?

My mum of course ! Not only being a loving caregiver, she's a strong independent creative woman who has shown me that with hard work and determination you can achieve anything you set your mind to. And how wonderful that is.

 

Hope for women in 2022?

To continue being strong, independent, creative, expressive, loud, and proud to be uniquely themselves.

JOSIE PRENDERGAST – FREE SURFER

What does IWD mean to you?

To me, International Women’s Day is a day where we celebrate the power of women although it should be celebrated every day. It’s a day to shine a spotlight on women and recognise the history and achievements of women, past and present and to understand that we are equal. Women are beautiful. And women are powerful.

When do you feel most empowered? 

I feel most empowered when I use my voice and when I am immersed in my culture. I feel empowered when I am around people I love and who love me back.

Your best piece of advice to women?

My best piece of advice to women would be to keep doing ‘you. Be proud and be loud. We are grace, we are strength and we are more than capable.

Who inspires you and why?

There’s so many people who inspire me. There are surfers and environmental activists but the biggest inspiration would have to be my mum. She is the strongest, most hardworking and loving person I know. She’s lived a life of hardship and sacrifice but continues to be the light in our life. Especially our immediate family and relatives. She shows me how strong women are.

 

Hope for women in 2022?  

I hope that we keep using our voices. We must continue to stand up for ourselves and make sure our voices are heard. If we do this, I believe we can achieve more, not just for ourselves, but for everyone in our communities and those who matter to each of us.  

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