INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2022 BREAK THE BIAS

8 March 2022

“Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated.”.

On 8th March, and every single day, we celebrate the achievements of women the world over.

Last year the Fortus team got involved in a whole host of International Women’s Day activity to celebrate female strength (here’s a recap). This year, we’ve gone bigger and bolder in support of the global movement and the ‘#BreaktheBias’ theme, asking our team at Fortus Business Advisors & Accountants what they’ll pledge…

 

our pledges

Lisa Malia, Business Support Assistant: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by engaging in mindfulness to become more aware of my own ‘in the moment’ thoughts and feelings.”

Jodie Fardoe, Senior Copywriter: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by becoming more courageous to question something if it doesn’t feel quite right.”

Matt Cheveralls, Creative Designer: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by being open to conversations around biases.”

Roy Clipson, Inbound Sales Executive: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by supporting those around me.”

Chris Timms, CEO: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by continuing to be open to conversations around potential biases, and always encouraging others to do the same.”

Stacey Connor, Business Operations Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by putting myself in the shoes of others with different experiences and backgrounds.”

Chris Dell, Director – Head of Brand & Creative: “I pledge to #BreakTheBias by continuing to seek out and hire talented women into the teams I have the privilege to lead. And to encourage, develop, empower and support them, whilst giving them every opportunity to showcase the valued contribution they make to the brands we build together.”

Mark Standish, Director – Head of Corporate Finance: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by always keeping an open mind to other points of view.”

Richard Burnett, Director – Marketing: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by putting myself in the shoes of others with different experiences and backgrounds.”

Carly Liston, Executive Director: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by gaining all the info I need before making hasty decisions and not basing my reaction on my initial emotions.”

Emma Queen, Client Service Director: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by calling it out and supporting others to do the same.”

Lisa Kingham, Business Support Senior: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by putting myself in the shoes of others with different experiences and backgrounds.”

Charlotte Hare, Accounts Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by being open to conversations around potential biases and help voice these going forward.”

Rachel Horsley, Accounts Assistant: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by always valuing everyone’s ideas before making decisions to make sure that people feel included.”

Rizwan Ashraf, Associate Director – Accounts & Outsourcing: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by active listening and speaking my mind.”

Charlotte Anderson, Payroll Senior: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by questioning my assumptions.”

Rosamond Haynes, Tax Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by educating myself on what ‘unconscious bias’ is, how it can affect others and by being honest about my own biases and mistakes.”

Angela Taylor, Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by noticing the positive impacts of those outside of my own team and social groups.”

Tony Watts, Tax Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by actively listening and supporting those around me.”

Lauren Upton, Accounts Senior: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by questioning my assumptions.”

Sara Meekins, Finance Executive: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by putting myself in the shoes of others with different experiences and backgrounds.”

Chris Land, Director: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by putting myself in the shoes of others with different experiences and backgrounds.”

Samantha Drown, Operations Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by responding constructively to the opinions of others.”

Vicki Watson, People Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by calling it out and supporting others to do the same.”

Elise Sheppard, Audit Senior: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by gaining all the info I need before making hasty decisions.”

Alice Andrews, Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by engaging in mindfulness to become more aware of my own ‘in the moment’ thoughts and feelings.”

Lauren Anderson, Accounts Assistant: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by being open to conversations around potential biases.”

Vicky Barnes, Service Charge Senior Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by questioning my assumptions and challenging others to question theirs.”

Claire Larkin, Accounts Senior: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by engaging in mindfulness to become more aware of my own ‘in the moment’ thoughts and feelings.”

Rachel Rimmer, Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by engaging with more people who think, look, and behave differently to me.”

Gary Woodhall, Executive Director: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by being open to conversations around potential biases.”

Gemma Rutland, Accounts Senior: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by calling out behaviour and habits, from both myself and those around me, that are built on subconscious and inherited privilege rather than recognising the wealth that difference and diversity bring.”

Habib Govani, Accounts Executive: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by always keeping an open mind to other points of view.”

Alfie Burton, Accounts Senior: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by taking time to gather my thoughts before making impulse decisions.”

Stephen Watts, Executive Director: “Let’s continue to #BreaktheBias and ensure the next generation continue to see the benefits of change that we’ve seen in recent times.”

Kieran Oldershaw, Surveyor: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by being honest about my own biases and mistakes.”

Janice Essam, Credit Controller: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by choosing courage and integrity over comfort and conformity, and learning to be okay with the fear that I may be standing alone.”

George Morris, Assistant Surveyor: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by putting myself in the shoes of others with different experiences and backgrounds.”

Bruce Kier, Senior HR Consultant: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by being open to conversations around potential biases and encouraging others to do so as well.”

Johanne Taylor, HR Assistant: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by questioning my assumptions.”

Hayley Tait, Finance Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by calling it out and supporting others to do the same.”

Patrick Faughnan, Associate Director – Corporate Finance: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by heightening my awareness of bias and continuing to respect and appreciate difference.”

Laura O’Regan, Manager: “I pledge to #BreakTheBias by championing talented individuals and making their voices heard.”

Louise McGowan, Tax Manager: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by engaging with more people who think, look, and behave differently to me and encouraging others to do the same.”

Rob Bradshaw, Finance Assistant: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by being more conscious of my own actions as well as supporting everyone from different backgrounds by encouraging everybody they can do or be anything they want to be and that gender/race shouldn’t have an impact on that.”

Tom Dymond, Director – Head of Property: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by actively calling out any bias and challenging it, as opposed to letting it slide.” “I pledge to #BreakTheBias by recognising everyone’s differences, and celebrating the achievements of others.”

Rebecca Fitzsimons, Credit Controller: “I pledge to help #BreaktheBias by being open to conversations around potential biases and help voice these going forward.”

WHAT DOES #BREAKTHEBIAS MEAN?

People are naturally biased. Even in our best intentions to be fair, these brains of ours can have a hard time remaining impartial. Biases can be unconscious (generalised assumptions we hold outside of our awareness and control), or conscious (where someone’s fully aware that something’s intentionally discriminative).

Bias is basically a brain shortcut that allows us to process information through prediction. That’s what can lead us to place people into categories based on things like skin colour, weight, age, gender, accent, education level or status.

Sadly, this may result in making untrue assumptions, or perhaps working to our own best interests, rather than that of others.

The good news is, there’s so much we can do collectively to #BreaktheBias and we all have a part to play.

Supporting our International network

As a proud member and friend of the Morison Global International community, the Fortus team joined their Global Experience Sharing Event and Panel Discussion to share personal and professional journeys, as well as challenges and successes.

Find out what the team learned from attending.

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