Over this stimulating talk, Andrea explained how we can tackle stereotypes in career aspirations via role-modelling. Our members showed strong engagement, agreeing we can all make a difference to the future of young girls and women.
It was fascinating to realise that gender stereotypes with respect to career get set as early 5-7 years old. Andrea encouraged us to continue to challenge ourselves as to what we can do to break stereotypes and bias in young people's aspirations.
We can all be role models and help the next generation to expand their horizons career aspirations.
Over this event, four of our BPW Lake Geneva members: Mayka van Acht, Benedetta Cevey, Josephine Hering and Angela de Vera took the floor to share with us their thoughts and insights on a topic they are passionate about:
Our Fab 4 did a fabulous job of engaging and inspiring us with topics close to their heart.
Over this inspiring event, our speakers shared their experience on how to set up a business, including the obstacles women still face in entrepreneurship, namely female immigrants to Switzerland. Adeba shared how SINGA enables refugees and migrants to start-up their own businesses, and Giorgia and Alison showcased two personal entrepreneurship stories, their challenges and motivations to start this adventure, and how we can be part of their journey.
SINGA is part of a global movement present in more than 7 countries and 19 cities. In Switzerland, the startup program supports people with refugee and migrant backgrounds to develop their business project.
Over this inspiring talk, Johanna Fagerlund combined hard scientific data with her gentle power and determination, taking us on a journey from facing the global reality of climate change and its consequences, through the concrete impact of our current lifestyles, all the way to thinking about the actions we will take going forward to change our habits.
Let's not forget to keep asking the 3 questions Johanna challenged us with:
1. What have you changed in the last 3 months?
2. What are the next 3 things you will change?
3. Who will you talk to in the next 3 months to influence?
Let's continue to influence one another by sharing our successes and tips for reducing our carbon footprint.
Most of us have faced choices related to work or family, where we live or how we set boundaries to protect our own health and well-being. These decisions impact all aspects of our lives and represent a challenge.
Dominique Barral believes we can all achieve a fulfilling personal and professional life, but to do so we must learn to make choices. Over this inspirational evening, Dominique shared stories and insights from her own journey, pointing to some key principles and tools for navigating tough decision-making and for learning to live with our choices, and how we might apply these in our own lives.
Rébecca Michelot took us on a journey around the industry of colored gemstones and diamonds, their origin, commercial networks, but also about the issues related to traceability and programs where blockchain and high-flying technology can be a winning team. We’ve heard about the future of women in the gemstone industry and why we as women should invest in a few specific gemstones because of the value they accrue and not just because they are beautiful. Don’t forget that there are some amazing opportunities to see incredible gemstones in Geneva coming up: the International Gem and Jewelry Show GemGenève will be taking place at Palexpo, as well as auctions by Christie’s and Sotheby’s in the coming days.
Over such a highly interactive session, Nadine shared with us the inner workings to create and sustain effective corporate citizenship, social responsibility, diversity, inclusion, sustainability - including all the myriad obstacles to each and how you might tackle them.
Incredible to think that Nadine has appeared in Rolling Stone magazine, been an activist for decades for multiple causes and friends with luminaries like Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu and she shared the evening with us talking with humility and grace about the power of connectedness. Nadine's stories, quotes and questions made us think about how we can each do our bit in the world.
EQUAL-SALARY certification is among the various possible actions for a company to shorten the Global Gender Gap. Lisa Rubli explained to our audience how a company can apply to such certification, followed by an example of a certified company, explaining all the steps that led to this achievement. Additionally, Lisa, Melanie, Claire and Mayka shared their expertise and conducted a stimulating discussion on this important topic and raised the main steps and challenges companies face with their expertise and insightful questions.
Over this inspiring talk, Maria shared her experience as a Board member - and a woman - in a male-dominant world, so far.
This event allowed for a lot of interaction and experience sharing amongst our members and guests.
May we all challenge ourselves and each other to start where we are and step up to have an impact in our circle of influence so that we see more women on boards of companies, non-profits and associations.