#ChooseToChallenge – International Women’s Day 2021

Observed since the early 1900’s when women’s oppression and inequality in the industrialised world spurred women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. International Women’s Day was honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on the 19 March 1911 – more than one million women and men attend IWD rallies campaign for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and to end discrimination. On the eve of World War 1 in 1914 it was agreed that IWD would be marked annually on 8 March and has remained the global date ever since. 

In 2021 the world has witnessed significant change, with more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights and increased visibility in every aspect of life. Despite the positive steps forward, the fact remains that women are still not paid equally or as visible in business or politics. According to UNWomen.org women make up more than two-thirds of the world’s 796 million illiterate people and just 39% of rural girls attend secondary school. UNESCO estimates around the world 132 million girls are out of school, everyday girls face barriers to education caused by poverty, cultural norms, poor infrastructure, violence and fragility.    

Here at GESS we wanted to celebrate this year’s IWD and what better way than showcasing four inspirational women who are making their mark in their own unique way. We find out about their careers, what their greatest achievements have been, how they’ve overcome a particular challenge and what advice they’d give their younger selves. Thank you to Gemma Wild, Sector Head for Education – MENAT, HSBC; Dr. Natasha Ridge, Executive Director of Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research; Hend Alawadhi, Aircraft Engineer – Senior Airworthiness Inspector; and Fiona Cottam, Principal, Hartland International School Dubai for sharing their insights and experiences.

GESS Education: Why did you choose the career you did? 

Gemma: Some of the best things happen by accident – and I’m very grateful that my career choice was one of them! I was working in HSBC’s call centre to support my studies in nutrition 2003 as the hours fitted well around my lectures. It was then, that I realised banking was a far broader business than I had realised and that it was a career I wanted to pursue. So, I applied for a role at HSBC in corporate banking as an Analyst. With my foot in the door, I was excited to learn about the many different business models; what works, what doesn’t work, how to support clients achieve their ambitions, and often, their personal dreams. It was an entirely new world – and one I found very appealing.  

Natasha: I always had an interest in helping people get an education and in turn helping them to be part of the development of their community.

Hend: It was an inborn passion. My interest was in the airplane models and not in the stuffed toys or girls’ dolls when I was a child. The many travels with my family fostered my passion during the growing up years. I should say that my passion for the aviation industry was born in me and that it grew up with me.

Fiona: I am not entirely sure when the decision to train to be a teacher actually happened. I studied Classical Music and English at university and at some point during that study, a careers discussion and presentation guided me in that direction.  My passion for those subjects, especially Music, certainly paved the way for me to try to inspire others in the same way that I had been inspired by my teachers at school and the rest is history as they say.

GESS Education: What has been your career high?

Gemma: There have been a few. One was winning an Outstanding Achievers Award for Customer Excellence in when I was a junior manager at RBS. One of the many plus points of being selected for the Award was that I was flown with a group of colleagues from the UK to Monaco where we had a private show from Shirley Bassey. Another high was being recognised as the Deal Maker of the Business Magazine awards. These accolades are special, but what truly puts a smile on my face is when I have helped transform my clients’ prospects. That’s when I feel I’ve contributed real value – to the client, to HSBC and to myself. This could be anything, from helping a client buy another business or connecting them with a valuable contact that can positively transform their strategy. 

Natasha: So far it has been seeing some of the boys in our Hands on Learning Program completely re-engage with school and decide that they now want to go on to university.

Hend: Being one of Bahrain’s first female aircraft engineers. But it didn’t stop there, as my urge for self-development and taking challenges gave me a new responsibility, making me a pioneer by taking the opportunity of being a Senior Airworthiness Inspector at Bahrain’s Civil Aviation. In 2017 I was honored to receive the Bahraini’s Women Day Award from the Supreme Council of Women for my continuous contributions to the engineering industry. Recently I’ve been chosen with another 11 candidates from the Arab region, to participate in The Astronaut reality show a collaboration between Dubai TV and BBC news, a childhood dream that I loved and admired being an astronaut.

Fiona: Oh gosh – thankfully there are far too many to mention. Leading a through school like Hartland and learning every day from colleagues and children has absolutely been a highlight, but undoubtedly, some of the greatest days in the academic calendar have always been examinations results days, for GCSE and A level. Seeing the anticipation and then ultimate joy on the faces of students as they achieve their goals and realise their ambitions is an incredible feeling. To know that you have helped and played some small part in that journey is immensely rewarding, but I guess that is the purpose behind all that we do as teachers.  Ensuring that the young people in our care are happy and can flourish,  aspire and achieve their very best is the day-to-day job of everyone involved in education and the role of the Headteacher is no different.