Ekaterina Tolkacheva (she/her)’s Post

As a new (but still 💁♀️) mother of a daughter, I want her to be able to pick a career path without concerns if she’d fit in the mix. I have myself chosen a male-dominated field where for years we’ve been told that having a vagina makes you less competent 🤦🏻♀️ And while things are getting better, there’s a lot still to desire. 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 👊🏼 Not just talk about - numbers do talking well enough: ⚠️ 90% of women (!!!) working in transport and mobility experienced harassment in their work environment. ⚠️ 71% don’t see the future of equality in our sector in bright colours. ⚠️ 65% indicates lack of expertise and skills in DEI as one of key drivers for this situation. This and many other findings from the comprehensive study we carried out last year with the team of #DEI experts from InterMobility can be found in the report that we just published. We propose 5️⃣ key rules to implement in order to improve the situation together with a set of good practices for inspiration. Our proposal to turn the table around will be presented soon to the European Commission 🇪🇺 - today we invite you to download the (highly insightful and totally FREE 💸) report and we urge everyone to proactively take actions to make our field #inclusive for all 🙌🏼 We talk a lot about it, yet we don’t do enough - but when a bunch of bright and passionate people (exactly the type InterMobility is filled with) meet together, we put things in motion 💪🏼 and we invite you to do the same (and to join us of course) 🤩 A massive thanks to François Hoehlinger for leading this initiative as well as all exceptional ladies who together did all the heavy lifting while I was enjoying time with my newborn: Tu-Tho Thai, Catherine (Cate) Bichara, Heather Allen, Lucia Schlemmer 🩷 𝗝𝗢𝗜𝗡 InterMobility 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗘 𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗠𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗗 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗗 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗢𝗕𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗬 🚀 it costs nothing and empowers to do more 💥 🔗 link to the report in the comments ⬇️

We hosted 25+ experiences for working women in 2024 & our pyjama party remains a special one. Why pyjamas? ✦ Comfort ✦ It’s exhausting to work in environments which demand so much aggression from us. We all crave comfort in weeks full of discomfort. ✦ Play ✦ It’s healthy not to take everything, including ourselves, too seriously sometimes. Letting your guard down with an encouraging group prevents burnout. ✦ Deeper connections ✦ Despite everyone in the room having an impressive track record, not introducing ourselves with our job titles and simply relating to each other on a human level is refreshing. Our focus on creating a space for open conversation extended beyond the dress code. The invite list was vetted while the venue and activities were carefully selected. Most guests came in as strangers, and left with new friends. A sense of community is especially important when we consider the life transitions faced by modern women. After taking feedback from 140+ working women in Singapore, Alka Gupta and I are launching more soulful experiences soon. If you want to join Podium gatherings or submit ideas for events/collaborations, feel free to leave a comment below! Thanks for supporting our journey as founders. :)

“I feel like I'm one of the people where I think of myself as just kind of a workhorse, right? I hardly ask for help. I'm not one of those people that make waves in organizations. Usually, when I go in, I do the work, and that's it. I do my work. I do my job, I fulfill my commitment, I'm successful, and then I move on.” Does this sound familiar to you? Because it is a recurring trend that we hear on many of my onboarding calls with members, something we have come to know as ‘Tiara Syndrome’ - a term that refers to what seems to be a female tendency to work hard, to keep her head down and not to push herself forward for reward or recognition. Many AAPI women, such as Rin, have dealt with this because of our culture and how we were raised. Unfortunately, as a result, we as women sometimes ignore a lot of other opportunities to grow in terms of self-reflection and finding our authentic selves. We are so excited to welcome Rin Chon to The Authentic Asian community! Rin Chon's full bio: Rin Chon is a talent consultant who has over 20 years of experience partnering with technology companies across diverse industries. She has been able to navigate her expertise in recruiting and her passion for helping people into a successful career. She has worked with start-up founders to launch their companies to hyper-growth start-ups. Rin’s background and experience span many different industries, ranging from fintech to health, security, and data. Learning new technologies has always been a thrill and she welcomes the opportunity to enter new domains. Rin currently lives in Honolulu Hawaii after spending over 20 years in San Francisco, where she cultivated great relationships with some of the top start-ups. Cooking and traveling are a must, she enjoys cooking for a group of friends and sharing her Korean culture. She will frequently host mandu making nights, and make sure that everyone leaves with a big bag of treats. She is passionate about learning from other women professionals in business. She has been so “heads down” with work, that she has not done the necessary work to improve her prospects. The Authentic Asian feels like the right place to network, meet accomplished women, and support other women in all our phases of life. Would you like to join Rin in building our community? Apply to join over 90 other amazing and powerful Asian women here: https://lnkd.in/exy_2y63 #startups #entrepreneurship #professionalwomen #culture

As today marks International Women’s Day, Katie Crawford shares a poignant message about the day: “International Women’s day feels, these days, more like a stick to beat us with than an effective tool for progress. I’m not saying there is no good to come from the initiative at its roots, the work is real, has real outcomes, for real people. BUT, as a marketing professional I can’t help but look at the public facing campaign messaging and presence and the resulting world wide outpouring of sugary celebration content, people making heart shapes with their hands, sweet treats in the office and platitudes in abundance. (Don’t even get me started on the countless social media posts from every brand, public office or multi national corporation bigging up their advances, only to be outed by the gender pay gap bot.) The tone and message matter, so why does it have to be this way? Why do we always have to be grateful before we even get close to the goal? It feels like we’re either moving very far past the real point or on an organisational level we know that to be too demanding and too straight forward, would just backfire. We have to be thankful and bat our eye lashes as a distraction, while doing some kind of bate and switch to add a new issue to the agenda. And if that’s how we have to do it, have we really got anywhere in the last 100 or so years? It's great to celebrate women and progress, but we still need IWD to be about affecting change, for all women and we shouldn’t have to do this in a sugar-coated way.” 📷 Featuring: Katie Crawford & Clare Finnigan #Creativemarketing #Runcreative #IWD #Internationalwomensday #Branding #Womeninpower #Creativity #Manchester

🌟 We have an incredible video testimonial from the Global Man Breakfast at our February meeting! 🎥 Ian Speirs, the Director of Global Man Club, interviews one of the participants who is also an ambassador for Global Man. Listen to this inspiring interview that gives us a general overview of the event where Global Man and Global Woman came together. The energy in the room shifted as we mixed and mingled during the networking session, welcoming both women and men. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation for the incredible session with the Global Woman Club. 💫 Together, we learned, shared, connected, and left feeling more empowered than ever before. 💪 If you missed this event, trust me, you'll want to mark your calendar for March 9th. This is not just another event; it's a movement. And it's selling out fast, especially since we're attracting many international guests for the Global Woman Awards happening at the Houses of Parliament on March 8th, International Women's Day. The very next day, we're bringing everyone together for our signature Morning Mastermind. 🎟️ Book your ticket NOW: Global Woman March 9th Event ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dtDVF-M7 This is your chance to be part of something truly special. It's not just attending an event; it's experiencing a transformation. It's not just meeting people; it's connecting and growing your work globally. It's not just learning; it's being inspired and empowering others while being empowered yourself. Are you in? Come and join us. Let's make magic together. ✨ #GlobalManBreakfast #GlobalWomanClub #Empowerment #Networking #transformation

Happy International Women's Day!    One thing I’ve learnt very early on in my career (as a working mum) is that prioritising family over career isn’t a sign of weakness, but a choice deserving of respect. It isn’t an easy decision to make, especially for someone inherently ambitious. However, I very quickly realised that the decision to cut back on work and go part-time was the best decision I made. I very much value the time I got to spend with my daughters and the joy of being there for my family. Despite stepping back from my career, I found fulfilment.    I've learned to advocate for my needs, understanding that compromises are inevitable. Each person’s journey is unique. Comparing our progress to others only hinders our growth. By embracing my pace, I’ve found success without sacrificing family time.    Through my journey, I've learned valuable lessons:  1. Prioritize quality time with children, as they grow up fast. Be there for them when they need you, so that they will be there for you later just cos they want to  2. It's okay to prioritize family over career; it doesn't diminish your capabilities.  3. Part-time work is a great arrangement that offers a balance between professional and personal life.  4. Everyone’s journey is unique; focus on personal growth rather than comparing paths.    On this International Women's Day, I wish for all women to find empowerment in defining your own success, embracing your chosen journey, and prioritizing what truly matters in your lives.     #nationalwomenday #empowerwomen #family

I had the best day celebrating International Women’s Day at the IWD Conference & Expo today! It was so empowering to be surrounded by and listening to some amazing and successful women whom I have I learnt so much from! The main topics I attended were about online personal/professional brand , empowering young women in the workplace and monetising your passion. To summarise my experience, here are my top 6 takeaways from the talks I attended: 1️⃣Being yourself is how you naturally connect with people. Ask your friends and family what your positive attributes are and lean into them more consciously. 2️⃣If you want to put yourself out there on social media and build your own personal brand, DO IT!! Everyone has a unique flavour to add- even in a saturated market. 3️⃣Be your own personal marketer! Shout out about your achievements and don’t hide what you’ve done because that’s how you get noticed. 4️⃣Confidence isn’t something we’re born with, it’s something we learn. And by doing more things outside your comfort zone, you’ll only grow. Action comes first, then confidence. 5️⃣”Stay in your own lane and don’t run the race” ie: don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, put your time and energy into things that align with you. 6️⃣Do a self audit, what do you want to be known for and how can you get there? What does everyone else want you to be and how much of that are you willing to do at the expense of your wellbeing. #internationalwomensday

This was going to be a different post. I planned to share how great it was to spend an evening reconnecting with friends at the Polish Professional Women in the Netherlands networking event tonight. But I won’t. Why? Because for the second time this week I changed my social plans and instead of following them regardless, opted for staying in instead, feeling my battery is running low🪫. “So what?” You may think. “What’s there to talk about. You stayed home. Big deal” Social engagements have always been a big part of my life. Culturally as well: the way I was brought up put a big emphasis on not declining invitations, and certainly not canceling, not last minute. And even if .. only when something really important prevented one from showing up. “Not to disappoint”, “To not upset (the host)” instead was deemed more important. Just simply not feeling up to it (unless you are bedridden sick) was not a reason at all. And so as I reflect on how the values we hold dear and that underpin our behaviors differ - I realize how my value of my own individual wellbeing shifted above the group oriented perspective of “what would others say/think/feel”. The preference for more individualistic or more group oriented values shows up in the least expected ways. Like becoming comfortable with changing your Friday night plans accounting for your energy level. Prioritizing own wellbeing. Anyone recognizes how the (cultural) values they once held dear shifted over time? Share below please 👇🏻 I’d love to hear from you #InterculturalCompetence #Diversity #Inclusion #Values #Culture #learning #SelfAwarness

🌸 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆 🌸 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 8𝘵𝘩, 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘈𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘪𝘵𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴/𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦. Here are some key aspects to keep an eye on during the Women's Day Weekend: 1️⃣ 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Offer complimentary treats or exclusive dining experiences tailored to women, attracting both locals and tourists looking to commemorate the occasion. 2️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: Women's Day often prompts increased bookings, leading establishments to adjust staffing levels and prepare for higher-than-usual foot traffic. 3️⃣ 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Restaurants and hotels may use International Women's Day as an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in their workforce. 4️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Choose to engage with local communities by supporting women's charities, organizations, or causes on International Women's Day. 5️⃣ 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: Women's Day provides restaurants and hotels with a platform to showcase their values and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and female empowerment. 6️⃣ 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Prioritize delivering exceptional experiences tailored to female guests to enhance their dining or lodging experience. 7️⃣ 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Recognizing and celebrating International Women's Day can also boost employee morale and engagement within restaurants and hotels. Employers may organize internal events, workshops, or initiatives to empower female staff members. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. 🌟 #HospitalityRépertoire

❓ Have you reflected on the changes Poland has undergone in the last 20 years since becoming an EU member? As we move forward from the celebrations of May 1st, let's focus on the future in the realm of DEI. 🇪🇺 The European Union aims to foster more inclusive societies and invites companies and organizations across Europe to join forces during Diversity Month in May to raise awareness about the importance of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). By promoting inclusion and belonging in the workplace, we can better embrace the future of work amidst demographic, green, and technological transitions. Diversity and inclusion not only drive innovation but also cultivate resilient workplaces capable of navigating today's challenges. Here are some concrete steps you can take to promote diversity in your workplace during Diversity Month (and beyond): ✅ Launch an awareness-raising campaign internally and externally. ✅ Share a video message or blog from your company leadership. ✅ Facilitate the creation and operation of employee networks. ✅ Invest in changing workplace culture and employee well-being. ✅ Create a platform for employees to share their personal stories and experiences. ✅ Conduct regular surveys to gather feedback on diversity policies. ✅ Consider trying out the cost-free EU Diversity Assessment Tool to self-check how your organization manages diversity. ✅ Implement clear processes for reporting discrimination. ✅ Organize internal events and initiatives tailored to your company's context. ✅ Support the EU Diversity Month and align with its goals. ✅ Consider external events and initiatives for clients or special products, and encourage mentoring or volunteering. Forge partnerships with local NGOs like Humanity In Action Poland! ❓ What do you think of these suggestions? What initiatives have you found successful in your company? #EUDiversityMonth #DiversityInclusionBelonging # #InclusiveWorkplace