International Women's Day 2024
There is no limit on what we, as women, can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama
March 8th marks International Women’s Day - a momentous global occasion. The day is dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide. It's also a day to reflect on the progress made towards gender equality and acknowledge the ongoing struggles and challenges that women face in societies around the world.
Our Leading Ladies series focusses solely on female leaders and how they’ve put their mark on a typically male-dominated field. On Tuesday 6th March, we welcomed Chamber members to MSIP for our second Leading Ladies event of 2024 to hear from Poonam Gupta OBE, founder of PG Paper Company and Vice President of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce Board. She talked about her struggles arriving in the UK from Delhi, after finding herself in an arranged marriage without a job, and how she turned things around by building a multi-million-pound brand - PG Paper Company Ltd - from scratch.
While our Leading Ladies program is open to all, it’s mostly female audience leave these events feeling empowered and full of ideas on how they too can branch out and be successful in their own projects.
At Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, 75% of the team is made up of women - and today we are celebrating their successes.
Alison Henderson, CEO of Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce since November 2014, continues to be a driving force and leading presence within the Dundee & Angus areas, implementing innovative ideas and projects that put female-led businesses at the forefront.
Amber Farquhar, our International Trade Team Leader, has overseen the processing of more than 1,100 customs declarations since 2021.
Grace Sellerajah stepped into her role as Dundee Loves Local Project Officer at the beginning of 2024 and has been an integral part of relaunching its initiative. Since she took on this project, an additional 4 businesses have signed up to be a part of Dundee Loves Local.
Heather Whyte, our Events Executive, joined the team 6 months ago and has been busy putting together a vibrant events programme for the year ahead. Members will have already seen some of the work she has put into the events calendar, but there is much more to come.
Lynsey Christie is a very important part of the Chamber Team, ensuring financial stability and organizing fun social events for the team, including a fancy dress Halloween party!
Simone Steele, our International Trade Officer, recently passed her Customs Agent exam and is now able to assist our members with all their exporting needs.
International Women's Day has evolved into a global movement, with millions of people coming together to celebrate women's achievements and to call for gender equality. It's a day to honour the trailblazers who have paved the way for progress and to recognize the contributions of women in all aspects of life – from politics and business to science, arts, and culture.
Over the years, significant strides have been made in advancing women's rights and empowering women and girls. We've seen more women entering the workforce, breaking barriers in male-dominated fields and assuming leadership roles in government, business, and civil society. Laws and policies aimed at promoting gender equality have been enacted and awareness of issues such as gender-based violence and discrimination has increased.
On International Women's Day, let's promise to make the world fairer for everyone. Together, let's build a future where everyone, no matter their gender, can shine and help make the world a welcoming place for all.
