International Women’s Day – Top 100 Influencers on Gender Equality and Diversity

WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY AND WHERE DID IT ALL START?

International Women’s Day (IWD) gets more and more attention every year, particularly now that social media has become so crucial in raising awareness. We’ve all witnessed the impact of movements like #MeToo, #TimesUp and #ThisGirlCan. From online activities like trending hashtags to offline marches, its impact continues to grow. But where did it come from and why is it important? IWD has been recognised for over 100 years, with the first official celebration being marked in 1911. It arose out of numerous political movements around the world, all calling for better political, working & social rights for women. IWD is an opportunity to recognise the positive steps we are taking towards a truly equal, fair and diverse society.

WHAT DOES IWD MEAN TODAY?

We have come a very long way in the last century where equal rights are concerned. Many countries worldwide have made great strides towards recognising women’s crucial role in society and IWD is marked as an official holiday in over 25 countries. This translates to more job opportunities, better working conditions, more women in senior positions. In the UK, the gender pay gap for full time employees has decreased year on year, falling from 12.6% in 2010 to 8.6% in 2018. In the US, the gender pay gap in 2018 was closer to 19.5%, although this varies considerably from state to state. This is a marked increase from the 1980s, when women earned just 64% of what men earned in the same job.

There is still a long way to go, however. A recent McKinsey Global Institute study showed that the Netherlands, despite being hailed as a liberal and forward-thinking society actually ranks lowest in Western Europe on several key gender parity indicators including number of paid working hours, average monthly income, representation in management positions, and students in STEM education. Experts estimate that this inequality in the labour market costs the Dutch economy 117 billion Euros annually.

The conversations around gender equality, inclusion and representation are therefore crucial to keeping up the momentum of positive change. From equal pay to gender-balanced boardrooms, from encouraging girls to pursue careers in STEM to founding their own businesses, IWD is a day to celebrate past achievements and look ahead to the future.

MAPPING THE COMMUNITY

We were very interested in seeing which individuals were leading the discussion around Equality and Diversity, so using a comprehensive Boolean search query we analysed over 9.2M tweets mentioning all the keywords we identified from 3rd March 2018 to 3rd March 2019. We then identified the top 100 most influential individuals leading the discussion on social media. What we discovered was a very engaged community, with much discussion between individual influencers.

Below you can see a network map of the online conversation around Gender Equality, Diversity in the Workplace and Female Entrepreneurship. Top influencer Claire Cain Miller is at the centre. This map was created with our Influencer Relationship Management software (IRM). Be sure to click on the map to enjoy the full-size network diagram in greater detail.

WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS SAYING?

Helene Li, Co-Founder, GoImpact

“108 years to close the gender gap is way too slow !  That’s the depressing set of data from the latest Global Gender Gap report published by the World Economic Forum. Beyond societal benefits,  it is time we all realise gender equity is a solid business case.  If we look at the funding gap that female founders receive,  they only get 2.2% of the VC funding pool but they deliver more in terms of revenue generated (according to a Boston Consulting Group study).  In terms of pay gap, if we close the employment gap and wage differential between the genders,  it is estimated that US$6 trillion will be added to the global GDP (as reported in the key findings of a PwC survey published this week).

If the data points all support such a strong business case to drive gender equity,  why is it that progress has been so slow ?  Most likely,  inherent bias and inertia are major road blocks.  It truly takes collective actions to deliver a more efficient progress in improving gender equity, thereby building a more inclusive work force and society.

On this International Women’s Day, let us celebrate the true meaning of “inclusion” – respecting our differences as we embrace our similarities.  I believe it is with such a mindset that we will achieve the holy grail of gender equity.  Towards that bright new horizon, we must be willing to work together regardless of our race, nationality, profession and gender.  Together,  WeRise!”

Theodora Lau, Founder of Unconventional Ventures

“True diversity goes well beyond gender orientation. It must include ethnicity, one’s culture and upbringing, our social and economic circles, as well our age, education, our skill sets, personalities – all of these are part of our roots – they influence our thinking, and most importantly, our actions. While our beliefs and values may change over time, our embrace of diversity must be timeless. For organizations to thrive, their teams must reflect the diversity of their customers and communities. This is especially true in this new digital era when human interactions are replaced by code. Empathy and compassion are needed now than ever; if we can’t put ourselves in the shoes of those we serve, how can we be expected to program algorithms appropriately?

Diversity and inclusion must start from within – and it must be built into the culture and the DNA of every organization. Success will require consistent and conscientious efforts from both private and public organizations – and from every flavor of our diverse population. Awareness – and addressing pipeline and recruitment are merely first steps; without the proper policy and supportive environments, women and minorities would not be able to thrive in our existing monocultures. It is only through embracing what we all bring to the table that we will all succeed. Our very future is dependent on this.”

Marija Butkovic, Founder and CEO of Women of Wearables and Co-founder Kisha Smart Umbrella

“Starting out my journey in tech wasn’t an easy thing for me. As someone who comes from a legal industry, I used to have imposter syndrome and thought I will never build a successful career in world of technology. Yet, as long as you are passionate and determined to achieve your goals and create impact, you will succeed, regardless of your background, experience or even gender. Today, more than ever, we need to focus on diversity in tech. Diversity of minds and backgrounds leads to diversity of ideas. So let’s #BalanceForBetter, because only by including more women and diverse groups in the world of technology, we can truly succeed.”

Danielle Guzman, Global Head of Media and Distributed Content at Mercer

“What we need now is actionable direction and tangible steps to advance gender equality in the workplace. Diversity is disruptive, and disruption is uncomfortable. But today’s market demands rapid innovation, and it’s critical that organizations find diverse perspectives now. With today’s widespread commitment and advancing tech, we’re finally in a position to empower organizations and individuals to increase diversity. Getting there means working together, as we each have a vital role to play.”

Tamara McCleary, CEO at Thulium

“In a world of innovation, technological advancement, and a modern society poised for disruption, it seems almost implausible that we would still hold onto outmoded ways of thinking… thinking that there could possibly be a difference between people based upon race, ethnicity, sexual preference… and the list goes on. Really? How on earth can we as people with Artificial Intelligence in our pockets possibly believe that gender or pigment of skin could possibly be of consequence? If we continue to equate value and intellect based upon genitalia, hormones, and all manner of physiological differentiators then we must be prepared for the proverbial pride commeth before a fall. 

Let us stand together as human beings, living into the face of uncertainty as we navigate uncharted waters of technological explosion ushering in an era of machine-human partnerships. We humans must stand for one another, in support of one another, caring and looking out for one another. If not us, then who will stand for all of humankind? Let our legacy be one of unification, peace and compassion… of servant leadership for the betterment of humankind. My hope is that one day we will not need an International Women’s Day, because it will be irrelevant as we consciously create a world where we are all One.”

Sally Eaves, CEO and Founder of Aspirational Futures

“International Women’s Day is a salient moment to pause for thought and celebrate all the women and men striving to advocate, advance and bring to actualization Gender Equality, Inclusion and Diversity in the workplace and beyond to wider society. This is a key pillar of the global initiative Aspirational Futures, bringing together 8 years of international education and technology projects, both repurposing low tech and applying high tech such as blockchain and AI for social good. The human side of tech is critical and I have founded Aspirational Futures to help open-up access to opportunity, especially working with under-represented groups, and combining the collective talents of academia, government, business, civil society and bodies such as the United Nations. Together we can create meaningful change and make it sustainable, tangible and truly accessible, breaking down traditional barriers.”

My message is this – let’s make International Women’s Day 2019 a collective clarion call for collaborative action – feel free to reach out to me at @sallyeaves to get involved. Major announcements coming in April with Gender Equality, Inclusion and Diversity at its heart.

TOP 100 INFLUENCERS

We looked at all the individuals engaging on Twitter to bring you a list of the top influencers in gender equality and diversity. Below is the top 50, if you want to see who ranks from 50-100 be sure to download the full report by clicking the download button below.

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