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Being a feminist doesn’t mean I’m anti-men – Natalie Campbell
Driving gender parity on International Women’s Day
People make the mistake of assuming that being a feminist means you’re anti men, says Natalie Campbell, Co-CEO of Belu, Social Entrepreneur and member of Stonehage Fleming’s UK Advisory Board. “Women gaining an advantage does not mean that men must suffer an equivalent disadvantage – it’s not a zero-sum game. It’s about everyone having what they need to live their lives well”.
According to the World Economic Forum, it’s estimated that gender parity will not be achieved for almost a century – that said, there is work that can be done now to secure a fairer future. “International Women’s Day (IWD) is an opportunity to celebrate women’s’ achievements, raise awareness against bias and take action for equality”, says Natalie.
The theme for IWD this year is #BreakTheBias. Whether deliberate or unconscious, says Natalie, bias makes it difficult for women to move ahead. “Across the spectrum, women are facing inequality – whether that’s equal access to raising capital within financial services, equal pay or equal opportunity for working mothers to rise through the ranks. Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions. Collectively we can break bias’ in our communities and workplaces”.
For Natalie, radical and authentic leadership is required to make meaningful change. “It’s not good enough to say we’ve tried to find more women in senior leadership positions - work harder, find them, appoint them”, says Natalie. “Action is needed to level the playing field”.
“In turn, women coming through the ranks should be ambitious and vocal about what they want”, she adds. “It takes both a top down and bottom up approach, especially in financial services”.
Natalie subscribes to the ‘shine theory’ when it comes to management. “Simply put, it means ‘If you shine, I shine’ - it’s a commitment to collaborating with, rather than competing against other people”, she says. “Having the confidence to surround yourself with successful people doesn’t make you look worse in comparison - it makes you look better”.
As managers, there is a duty to uplift and inspire women in the workplace. “Don’t try to lead with perfection”, she says. “Be honest with your workforce and show vulnerability – it enables others to have an authentic leadership journey themselves”, she adds.
International Women’s Day is about driving gender parity and building workplaces where women thrive. “It’s about women being seen, being given an equal voice and being paid accordingly”, says Natalie. “Everyone is better off in a world that's diverse, equitable and inclusive”.
Natalie Campbell MBE is an award-winning social entrepreneur and broadcaster and is currently CEO of Belu, a drinks business that puts people and the environment first. Natalie joined Stonehage Fleming’s UK advisory board in 2020, helping shape engagement opportunities, campaigns and conversations around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.