Suneeta Johal

Q: The International Women’s Day theme this year is #BalanceforBetter, what does balance mean for you?

A: It’s important to have a good work-life balance. This means that outside of work, making time to do the things I enjoy and spending time focusing on my wellbeing through activities such as yoga and meditation.

Q: What actions can we take to help drive a more gender-balanced business world, whether you’re self-employed or employed?

A: Gender balance needs to be a strategic priority in all businesses, otherwise there will never be any real change. In addition, we can support companies such as @DoyenneNetwork which are dedicated to addressing gender inequality in the workplace.

Q: What has been one of your greatest accomplishments to date?

A: One of my greatest accomplishments has been setting up a nationwide programme to support students and young freelancers embarking on their journey into self-employment. Before this, the provision of support for students was low and it’s great to have an impact on the success of future generations.

Caroline Morgan

Q: The International Women’s Day theme this year is #BalanceforBetter, what does balance mean for you?

A: Balance for me as IPSE Chair means making sure as an organisation we continue to think about gender balance across everything we do, whether it’s balanced views in the interviews and opinions we publish, our own balance across the Board room and IPSE staff, to ensuring the support we give to the self-employed is balanced and equally helps women set up and run successful businesses. 

Q: What actions can we take to help drive a more gender-balanced business world, whether you’re self-employed or employed

A: Be aware -  understanding what gender bias can look like at work, for example, women find it significantly harder to get funding for startups. 

Make a change - thinking about whether your own actions might contribute to in-balance and identifying a few positive things you could do to make a change - every small action makes a difference. 

Q: What has been one of your greatest accomplishments to date?

A: I was a working mum at a time when it was relatively unusual and I’m proud that I managed to balance bringing up 3 children with a successful career as an independent professional. But I couldn’t have done that without a supportive partner and it’s important to remember that everyone has a part to play in #Balanceforbetter and everyone will benefit. 

Chloe Jepps

Q: The International Women’s Day theme this year is #BalanceforBetter, what does balance mean for you?

A: Balance for me is making sure that my life is not dominated by one thing and that I have a good mixture between work and outside of work activities.

Q: What actions can we take to help drive a more gender-balanced business world, whether you’re self-employed or employed?

A: I think we have come along way but still need to do more! Women are less likely than men to ask for a pay rise or push for higher day rates, anything we can do to increase confidence levels would be great.

I think there are still some negative attitudes out there around women and especially working mothers – these need to be addressed urgently.

Miranda Asher

Prosthetic Physiotherapist and Project Consultant

Q: The International Women’s Day theme this year is #BalanceforBetter, what does balance mean for you?

A: Doing the best I can to ensure life isn’t just about work or obligation but there is fun and adventure as well.

Q: What actions can we take to help drive a more gender-balanced business world, whether you’re self-employed or employed

A: My career route means that I have generally felt I have been judged on my merits, so my experience is that the focus on gender identity over ability is detrimental to achieving balance.

Q: What has been one of your greatest accomplishments to date?

A: There is an amazing charity called LimbPower which helps  individuals with amputation and limb difference get into sports and I am lucky to be the physio supporting their #ICAN camps, taking kids with limb difference on adventure holidays.

Jyoti Rambhai

Group Editor | Modern Work, My Money
Publications and PR Co-ordinator

Q: The International Women’s Day theme this year is #BalanceforBetter, what does balance mean for you?

A: In a general context, it is about having the right work-life balance for me. And this may change every now and then depending factors such as health, family etc., but it’s about being in a position easily adapt without feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Q: What actions can we take to help drive a more gender-balanced business world, whether you’re self-employed or employed?

A: Gender stereotypes still exists. The level of what may be perceived gender discrimination, can vary depending on the industry and in some sectors, women are highly underrepresented. So in order help drive a more gender-balanced business world, it is about challenging these stereotypes.

Q: What has been one of your greatest accomplishments to date?

A: Launching Modern Work magazine, after months of research and redesigning the old IPSE Magazine.