As our Athena network, a group designed by women for everyone, continues to bring like minded people together to discuss various issues, we thought we’d hear from some of it’s members.
First we caught up with Simon Parry, Manager, International Development, Cunard, following his nomination as an inclusive leader, as part of the International Women’s Day celebrations this year. Here’s what he had to say.
Wow. Thank you so much for the nomination. That has put a massive smile on my face this evening.
The work that Emma, Rosy, Brodie and everyone else have put into Athena has been fantastic. Over the last 15 months or so you’ve done very well to listen to the Athena community to deliver the content we ask for and each event has been better than the last.
Looking around the room in the last Individual Development Plan (IDP) meeting in particular, I saw a lot of potential future female leaders from across this business. Getting that group of people in the same rooms to network, to develop professionally and to have us all think about and discuss the issues and potential barriers to greater equality is an important step that Athena has already achieved. It will undoubtedly help to inspire and encourage all of us to tackle these issues in our careers and help to promote a better gender balance amongst the senior leaders in this business for many years to come.
I have been very proud to be a part of this fantastic group. I have learnt something in each of the sessions that I have been able to attend and I have enjoyed them. A couple of sessions that I have attended have also forced me to think about some of my own unconscious biases.
Part of the my original reason for getting involved in Athena was to support my career ambition to become a future senior leader. My belief is that all business leaders need to understand the issues that Athena raises to enable them to truly succeed. I feel that as a result of the activities of Athena, I am now more informed about these issues. However, there is still more for me to learn and understand.
Please keep up the good work. I will continue to attend, support and be an advocate for the aims of the group and encourage more men to attend!
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