By Danielle Rocheleau
The social circumstances and impacts of the recent years have clearly demonstrated that diversity, equity and inclusion are not optional, they are integral. Today is an opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
As a values-based company, we have an underlying social mission to support under-represented individuals and help them become the current and future leaders of our communities and organizations. Working with non-profits, we know that a majority of them are led by strong women that deserve to be celebrated. This being said, we also know that there are still so many inhibitors to moving women into leadership across industries and sectors – whether it be into management or board positions that influence direction.
I personally feel humbled, honored, and incredibly proud to be to be a young woman running a #betterbusiness. I believe that empowering women to grow into the leaders they are will change the world as we know it.
In 2018, Laridae took the step of becoming a certified B Corp, which required that we meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Now, in 2021, we are getting recertified because we remain committed to embodying the change we seek in the world. The makeup of our team is a good example of putting this principle into practice.
Laridae’s team is made up of individuals who believe in the power of diversity, the importance of equity, and the necessity of inclusivity. We are feminists who understand the reality of intersectionality and that we individually need to keep learning and growing to show up as our best selves for others. Currently, it just so happens that most of our team is made up of women. Strong, capable, power houses of women in their own respects. Today is for them.
We also have strong, capable men on our team who are open to vulnerability and truly believe in supporting the women and non-binary people in their lives as much as the rest of us. We need more people like them – allies that help to change the conversations.
Today is a day to shout from the roof tops (or our social media accounts) and share the stories of the women who lift us up and perhaps are not celebrated as often as they should be.
Who Inspires You?
I invite you to share and celebrate the women who have shaped you – the women who lift you up and who may need support in return – the women who inspire you.
Today, on International Women’s Day, INSPIRE: The Women’s Portrait Project is launching “She INSPIRES Me.” This is a unique project that enables anyone, from anywhere, to submit a photo and a story of a woman or non-binary person who has truly inspired them.
The project is intended to collect a range of images and stories of inspiring women – of your coworker, or grandmother, or niece, or coach – and in April, these powerful stories will be publicly released in celebration of women from different backgrounds, experiences, and influences.
The mission of INSPIRE: The Women’s Portrait Project is to create a safe space to honour, share and celebrate the stories of women by recognizing the remarkable in the regular.
Submissions will be accepted starting today, March 8th and closing on April 8th, 2021.
To nominate a woman or non-binary person that inspires you, visit: https://inspirethewomensportraitproject.com/contest/she-inspires-me/