On International Women's Day, we recognise that the recruitment industry still has a long way to go when it comes to true gender equality - both internally within organisations and in its support for the industries it serves. The stereotypes of toxic masculine cultures are thankfully far from reality these days, but it goes without saying that we could all be doing more: supporting women by providing a level playing field and equal opportunities, providing more flexible working opportunities, educating and inspiring the next generation of female leaders and working with our partners to do the same.
When we set up Impala five years ago, as two men from a traditional agency background, we were acutely aware of this. We consciously set out to create an agency culture that not only valued women and gave them the same opportunities but went out of its way to do better for them.
Our first employee, Sade Turner-Moise (recognised this month as a UK delegate for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) this year, has been a driving force behind our gender equality efforts.
In 2022, Sade launched the "Women Talk Tech" podcast series—a platform dedicated to highlighting women's achievements, challenges, and perspectives in technology. Women continue to be underrepresented in tech roles, facing barriers and biases that can hinder their advancement and success. By creating a space for women to share their journeys and expertise, we aim to inspire, empower, and support women in tech and encourage more women to pursue careers in the field. We'd like to thank all of our guests to date for their contribution - it’s only with them that we are able to continue to create these important conversations.
For a more equal industry, we have to look to the next generation of talent coming through the ranks and ensure that women are being given the right opportunities from the very start. That’s why we’re working with organisations dedicated to the future role of females within tech to help create a level playing field. We partnered with Coding Black Females, who are growing and inspiring a community of black female developers, with over 5,000 members in the UK as well as INCO Academy which is inspiring the next generation of tech talent in the UK, Germany and Ireland to provide workshops as well as 1:1 coaching sessions to upskill, educate and inspire - ultimately helping them get their foot on the employment ladder.
We know we still have a way to go but it’s through these efforts that we hope to contribute towards an industry that looks very different in the next five years. Here’s to all of the amazing women who have made Impala what it is today.
#iwd2024 #iwd2024womenleadingtheway #impalasearch #womentalktech #inspireinclusion
