It started with the soulful swoon of Adelaide’s Gospo Collective belting out Aretha Franklin’s powerful anthem you make me feel like a natural woman. It was undoubtedly a proud feeling to be a South Australian woman in 2022 at the South Australian Business Chamber International Women’s Day luncheon.
We have had some big wins in gender equality in our socially progressive state. However, the job is not yet done. Every day we should remember to put a hand down to help our fellow ladies up the ladder that we have fought to climb.
The South Australian Business Chamber Chair Nikki Govan opened the formalities sharing what she can do to influence her daughter or other women. Pointedly, Nikki is only the second female chair of the South Australian Business Chamber in over 180 years. Nikki knows her daughter faces the challenge of ‘assertive’ for a woman still labelled ‘aggressive’ yet ‘confident’ for a man. It is about being compassionately assertive and knowing when the time is right to ask for a pay rise (but for Nikki’s daughter, not when Mum is her boss!). Maybe her daughter could even be the next female chair of the South Australian Business Chamber?
Next up was South Australia’s third female Governor, Her Excellency, Frances Adamson AC. It was empowering to hear the open sharing from her of moments earlier in her career where, exhaustedly, she would wonder to her husband if she could do it all? What kept her going was the encouragement to be consistent and resilient. To hang in there. She found a great source of sustenance in always connecting with other women.
Her Excellency thoughtfully advised the 300+ business leaders to remember that you have more bargaining power than you think if you are good at what you do. She recommended testing that out and knowing what you need to make your career work.
As a diplomat, Her Excellency knows that a diverse workforce is a strong workforce, making for better decision-making. The Governor uses her ‘top billing’ at events to speak fearlessly on gender equality issues. She knows that invitations to her house will be accepted. The Governor invited everyone at the South Australian Business Chamber International Women’s Day lunch to share their ideas with her through Instagram (she is the first South Australian Governor to hit social media): @governorsouthaustralia.
Hitting the stage following the Governor was a firework panel including CEO of the Fringe Festival Heather Croall and lifestyle and media personalities Hayley Pearson and Lauren De Cesare, better know as the Adeladys. Heather Croall sparkled in red with her usual nod to being yourself in any situation. Against all odds, the Fringe is tracking well despite the enormous challenges around close contact rules. 400,000 tickets sold already, just over halfway through. The 6,000 creative entrepreneurs that make up the Fringe only make their money if we buy the tickets. So go on, buy the tickets!
The Adelady’s admitted that they do get to eat cheese and drink wine, and they love their work, but shhh, sometimes they are faking it because they are filming at 9am. These two businesswomen have self-funded their new show. In a month, they raised the money that they needed. It is not a case that this is their hobby on the side, with hubby keeping them afloat. They made it happen for themselves.
As a filmmaker in the 1990s, Heather learnt to be resilient and not give up. Rejection is every day. It was normal and taught her to have thick skin. Once she had a ‘few film credits under her belt’, she took it upon herself to mentor female producers and filmmakers. Her contribution to addressing the male dominance of the film industry won her several awards. She lit up the pathway for future female filmmakers. Heather’s message, loud and clear, was that we need to work together to dismantle the systems that are making gender bias and discrimination thrive.
And to top it all off, the South Australian Business Chamber International Women’s Day lunch finished with the fashion show to stop all others. And what a sight. Women in the audience could find a model that they could relate to. We come in all shapes and sizes, and we should celebrate each of these. And that difference goes beyond skin deep.
The best part about International Women’s Day is the opportunity to remember that we are all different and bring our unique perspectives to the table. In today’s modern world, stale/male/pale is out. A diverse and dynamic business will be the first to succeed. This is a business with women in leadership and women contributing across the entire organisation.
International Women’s Day celebrates all that women bring to the business table. #BreakTheBias
