International Women’s Day’s 2021 campaign theme: #ChooseToChallenge. A challenged world is an alert world. Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let’s all choose to challenge.

Hear from some of our #Redsters:

• Rachael Sansom, Managing Director: I #choosetochallenge ongoing pay inequality – lessening the gap isn’t enough. There should be total equality.
  
• Harriet Stallard, Junior Designer: IWD is a chance for us to reflect on and celebrate the many inspirational and motivational stories that have empowered us to go out and choose to challenge. Challenge the equality and opportunities we are given to be able to achieve our full potential.
  
• Fariba Ghazizadeh, Senior Account Executive: I am proud to be a woman every day of the year – and every day, through my work, family and friends I am grateful to be surrounded by wonderful, creative and inspiring women. For me, International Women’s Day is really about standing in solidarity with women from all walks of life and backgrounds, listening to each other’s stories and coming together as one. It is about celebrating how far we as women have come, and at the same time acknowledging what more needs to be done to achieve true parity for the future generations of women that come after us. 
  
• Nuala O’Neill, Client Services Director: On International Women’s Day 2021 I salute the female leaders and positive role models that have coached and supported me over the years. Having positive business role models is imperative for us to believe we can achieve our goals, our wishes, our northern stars. Kamala Harris (Vice president of United States), Vicky Free (Head of Global Marketing at adidas), Sharon White (Chairman of John Lewis), Donna Murphy (Global CEO Havas Health and You) and Carolyn McCall (Chief Executive of ITV) are just a few of the strong females that inspire me on a daily basis and remind us that as females we can do anything we put our minds to and nothing is out of our reach. Here’s to continuing to celebrate women’s achievements to ensure that this generation and future generations of women know they are unstoppable.
  
• Shailo Rasanayakam, Senior Account Manager: There’s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected more women than men. Days ago a newly released PwC report found that women’s jobs are hardest hit by COVID-19 with data indicating that women will bear the longer-term consequences of the economic and social crisis. So, this year, IWD has an even bigger role to play than previous years, in that we need to advance the global conversation around the setbacks women continue to face. Let’s remember those women (and men) that are doubling as school teachers and/or caregivers while working from home; particularly as the UK remains in its third lockdown. 2021 is our year; so let’s make it a great one, and continue to push for gender equity.
  
• Marine Perot, Writer: To me, International Women’s Day is a reminder. It’s a reminder of the hundreds of years-long journey women have been on to reach equality. It’s a reminder of the challenges we are still facing when it comes to gender bias and inequality. But it’s also a celebration of women, their power, their determination, and their achievements. To be a woman is a strength and never a weakness, because no one understand the value of fighting for what is right like women do.
  
• Lisa Campbell, Head of Strategy – Red Connect: I never grew up thinking there was anything I couldn’t do just because I was a girl. I am proud to be a woman. I celebrate our incredible strength (especially evident over this past year) and our incredible achievements (often whilst multitasking!). But I also realise, during a career that’s spanned 4 continents, I’m fortunate to be have been surrounded by family, friends, colleagues, and bosses who have believed in equality. We’ve come so far, but we can’t rest. This IWD, I challenge us to keep pushing for gender equality (the world over) and pay equity (even in the wealthiest of nations). 
  
• Andi Tajti, Senior Producer: It is a great reminder for us that we have come a long way since fighting for equality and equally that there is still work to be done.
  
• Georgina Thompson, Senior Account Director: IWD this year for me is a reminder of the progress and achievements many women and men have made in the fight for equality, but also the reality that there is still more to do. It’s widely reported that the pandemic poses a real risk to the momentum of the progress – with some experts saying this could actually put us back 25 years with women doing more household duties and care of the family. It’s a reminder for me that many women across the world are still seen as second best to a male vying for a leadership position, are paid less, are not receiving the healthcare they need, and are behind in access to education. I saw a headline recently, ‘Why do we still celebrate IWD?’. Because it’s as important as ever.
  
• Georgia Kelly, Account Executive: I’m proud to be a woman because I think now, more than ever there are changes being made to establish equality and represent women correctly, especially in business. I’m so grateful to the incredible women who have paved the way for us throughout history; as women, we get compared to each other a lot and it’s vital that we see each other’s beauty as well as our own and make it our mission to empower each other and celebrate our victories.
  
• Claire Newmarch, Account Manager: International Women’s Day is a day to reflect on how far we’ve come. Thanks to the determination of the incredible women who came before us, and those who are continuing to fight for women’s rights around the world, there has never been a better time to be a woman. Women are continuing to support one another through the good times and the bad, whilst empowering each other to achieve their full potential. I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by strong & inspiring women on a daily basis who make me proud to be woman.