Happy International Women's Day - Empowering the women, that help empower our events

This International Women’s Day, we are asked to ‘Inspire Inclusion’. When women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging , relevance, and empowerment. And that’s exactly what we’re celebrating here, with the fabulous women that make up the GES team.

We’re incredibly proud of the women on the team. It goes beyond simply delivering an event, it’s the magic that happens behind the scenes. From liasing with clients to ensure we give them exactly what they want, to bringing events to life, and sharing our insights at panel sessions. The women have had a huge impact on our success.

We have been working closely with Women in Exhibitions (WIE), a fantastic initiative that is taking the step towards change by promoting diversity and equality for women in the events industry.

We encourage people to check them out, their offering is truly amazing. Our very own Leanne Griffiths, Director of New Business Development has had mentoring through WIE, and here is what Leanne has to say about her own experiences as a woman in the events industry:

“2024 for me has been about pushing myself out of my comfort zone and trying to remove the "imposter syndrome". As part of this experience, I was privileged to be given a mentoring opportunity with Women In Exhibitions, which I grabbed with both hands. As part of that, I was encouraged to join a panel session and discuss the industry. I spoke on "hidden suppliers" at Event Sustainability Live, and whilst daunting, the pride I felt afterwards makes me excited to do it all over again. Also, being nominated for ‘Salesperson of the Year’ at the CN Agency awards was a massive feat, and although it wasn't to be, I was delighted to be shortlisted.”

Kate Holliday, our Head of ESG Operations has also been fantastic in our panel sessions, appearing on two since she joined the team late last year. Kate has spoken at the ICCA Conference, discussing ‘The Path to Sustainable Events’ and recently joined a group of experts for a panel session at the Sustainability Breakfast Briefing.

Here’s what Kate has to say about her experiences, and why she supports International Women’s Day:

“I support International Women’s Day because it reminds me of all the women I have met in my career who have inspired me. I was honoured to be invited to join a panel with some of these women, where we were able to share our views and experiences and hopefully inspire others, influence change, and nudge behaviours.”

Other ladies from across the company have gotten involved to share their thoughts on why today is special for them too:

Laura Clark, Customer Success Manager

“Working in the events industry as a woman is inspiring as it involves breaking stereotypes, fosters creativity, and contributes to the overall success of the industry. Women often excel in building and maintaining positive working relationships with clients, vendors, and team members, resulting in successful collaborations. We bring unique qualities and perspectives that enrich the field and empower others”.

Shoji Joby, Estimation and Procurement Manager

"Here's to the fearless, the fierce, the fabulous women who make every day extraordinary. Happy Women's Day!"

Parita Desai, Customer Care Specialist

“Women are inevitably strong; feminism doesn't desire to make them any stronger. The goal is to change the way society perceives women. A beautiful woman defies expectations.”

Mara Lauska, EMEA Training Manager

“In an industry that thrives on creativity and originality, having diverse voices and viewpoints can lead to more dynamic and impactful events and women are fantastic in bringing unique perspectives to the table.”

Rebecca Way, Project Manager - Graphics

“Being a woman in this industry is great. I feel heard and appreciated. GES (as a company) feels like one big family with no exclusions and where difference is valued and celebrated!”

We are incredibly proud of every woman that we have in the company; the women featured in this post are just a small number of the ladies that we are delighted to have as part of the team. International Women’s Day isn’t just a day of celebration, it's part of a continuous journey to ensure that our environment for all employees, regardless of gender, feel valued and heard – and we’ll continue to do exactly that.

Happy International Women’s Day!