{"id":18686,"date":"2025-02-24T11:21:43","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T11:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/?p=18686"},"modified":"2025-02-24T12:10:24","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T12:10:24","slug":"international-womens-day-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/international-womens-day-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Accelerating Action: Why Progress on Gender Equality Can\u2019t Wait"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Each year, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalwomensday.com\/\">International Women\u2019s Day<\/a> reminds us that progress isn\u2019t inevitable\u2014it happens because people choose to push forward. It happens because we make space for difficult conversations, challenge the status quo, and commit to action that creates real change.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2025, the call to action is: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.internationalwomensday.com\/Theme\">#AccelerateAction<\/a> \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1231\" data-src=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20250220_1454555-1920x1231.jpg\" alt=\"Welsh ICE CEO, Lesley Williams flexing her arm in 2025s International Womens Day pose\" class=\"wp-image-18704 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20250220_1454555-1920x1231.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20250220_1454555-600x385.jpg 600w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20250220_1454555-768x492.jpg 768w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20250220_1454555-1536x985.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20250220_1454555-2048x1313.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20250220_1454555-20x13.jpg 20w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1920px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1920\/1231;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>And when we look at the numbers, we can see why. At the current rate, gender equality won\u2019t be achieved until 2158. That\u2019s five generations from now. Five generations too long.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I don\u2019t know about you, but <strong>I don\u2019t have that kind of patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Only Woman at the Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019ve been in rooms where I was the only woman at the table, or one of few. I\u2019ve experienced and seen how women in leadership get questioned more, interrupted more, and underestimated more than their male counterparts. And I\u2019ve watched, time and time again, as incredible female leaders get pushed aside while men with half their experience are handed the mic.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And sometimes, don\u2019t even get invited to the event or meeting in the first place.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few years ago, I spotted a business opportunity which I was genuinely excited about, and hoped to contribute to as a collaborative effort. Then I was told that the key discussions would take place during a &#8220;catch-up on the golf course&#8221;.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I didn\u2019t play golf. But that wasn\u2019t the problem.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The problem was that I wasn\u2019t invited. Because this was &#8220;an opportunity for the guys to catch up.&#8221;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This wasn\u2019t 1950. This wasn\u2019t some outdated, Mad Men-style corporate culture. This was a modern business opportunity, in modern Wales. And I was locked out simply for not being one of the boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And let\u2019s be real\u2014in a world where leaders like Trump still hold influence, that inequality isn\u2019t just frustrating\u2014it\u2019s dangerous. We\u2019ve seen firsthand what happens when power is concentrated in the hands of those who see the world through a narrow, privileged lens. The consequences aren\u2019t just political; they affect how resources are allocated, how businesses are run, and how opportunities are distributed.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is exactly why we need more female leaders, more diverse perspectives, and more men\u2014yes, men!\u2014who are brave enough to back us. Because real leadership isn\u2019t about who shouts the loudest, it\u2019s about who listens, who learns, and who makes space for others to lead.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Loss of the Women\u2019s Equality Party &amp; Chwarae Teg: A Wake-Up Call<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The fight for gender equality in the UK took a real hit recently. The Women\u2019s Equality Party (WEP), famously founded by Catherine Mayer and Sandi Toksvig, which I co-founded a branch of, with a group of other passionate women in South Wales, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/politics\/2024\/nov\/17\/womens-equality-party-wep-members-vote-dissolve-organisation\">has now dissolved<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For almost a decade, WEP stood as a bold, unapologetic force for gender equality in politics, challenging traditional parties to do better. But as financial pressures grew and the political climate became increasingly polarised, the party was forced to close its doors.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I saw firsthand the incredible work WEP did. I saw how it amplified voices, challenged policies, and gave women across Wales and the UK a political home\u2014one where equality wasn\u2019t an afterthought, but the foundation of every policy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And I was worried when it was shut down. I worried that without a dedicated political force pushing for equality, our momentum would slow. I think I was right to worry.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because it\u2019s not just WEP that\u2019s gone. Chwarae Teg, one of Wales\u2019 leading voices for women\u2019s empowerment, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.wales\/sites\/default\/files\/publications\/2023-10\/atisn19056doc11.pdf\">has also closed<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For years, Chwarae Teg was a lifeline\u2014for me and for so many other women navigating business, leadership, and entrepreneurship in Wales. As a former service user and partner of the organisation, I saw how they elevated women\u2019s voices, helped shape policy, and fought for the economic empowerment of women across the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what happens when organisations like WEP and Chwarae Teg disappear?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We lose:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udeab <strong>Spaces dedicated to women\u2019s leadership and representation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udeab Support networks that help women thrive in male-dominated industries.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udeab The ability to challenge institutions and policies that hold women back.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why we cannot afford to slow down. The fight doesn\u2019t stop just because some of our strongest allies are no longer here. It just means we have to fight harder, move faster, and support each other even more fiercely than before.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Women Leading Change in Wales&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"900\" data-src=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-design-6.png\" alt=\"Women in the Welsh ICE team flexing for International Womens Day 2025\" class=\"wp-image-18706 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-design-6.png 1800w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-design-6-600x300.png 600w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-design-6-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-design-6-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\/\/welshice.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Untitled-design-6-20x10.png 20w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1800px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1800\/900;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, Wales has always been home to women who push boundaries, break barriers, and build legacies.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd39 <strong>Bernie Davies<\/strong>, who has dedicated her career to making Welsh business more inclusive through her work with her Mastering Diversity Conference and Awards.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd39 <strong>Sophie Maso<\/strong>n and the rest of the amazing ThinkEDI team, who work tirelessly to change the landscape of entrepreneurship and business leadership in Wales. They are making sure that when we talk about diversity, we\u2019re not just ticking a box\u2014we\u2019re changing systems, policies, and cultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd39 <strong>The founders<\/strong> coming through Welsh ICE\u2019s flagship training programme the <a href=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/5-9-club\/\">5-9 Club<\/a>, as well as our Growth Accelerator Programme (of which, more than half are female), prove that women-led businesses aren\u2019t just starting and surviving\u2014they\u2019re thriving!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udd39 <strong>The social entrepreneurs<\/strong> using business as a tool for community transformation, redefining success beyond profit margins. Again, many of which are women positioned in the hearts of their communities, creating solutions following their lived experiences.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These women, and so many others, are proof that change is still happening, even when the institutions that once supported it have disappeared. But we need more. More funding. More opportunities. More belief in what women can achieve.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Small Actions That Create Big Change&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The call to Accelerate Action isn\u2019t just about what governments or corporations can do. It\u2019s about what each of us can do, today, to make an impact.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how we can all push for progress:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udca1 <strong>Champion women-led businesses:<\/strong> If you have buying power, use it. Support, invest in, and shout about female founders.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83d\udce2 <strong>Challenge bias when you see it: <\/strong>Whether it\u2019s in boardrooms, workplaces, or investment panels, don\u2019t let gender bias go unchecked.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83e\udd1d <strong>Support the supporters: <\/strong>There are organisations in Wales working hard for gender equality\u2014from grassroots community groups to major networks. Get involved. Donate. Volunteer.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Welsh ICE, we\u2019re committed to making sure women in business aren\u2019t just supported\u2014they\u2019re amplified, empowered, and funded.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why, this International Women\u2019s Day, we\u2019re not just talking about change. We\u2019re creating space for it.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Join Us: A Networking Event with Purpose&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On March 6th, 2025, we\u2019re hosting a networking event at our Caerphilly hub focused on accelerating action together.&nbsp;Come along for empowering conversation and inspirational stories, as well as goal-setting to accelerate your business success with support from Welsh ICE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Secure your space <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eventbrite.co.uk\/e\/international-womens-day-at-welsh-ice-accelerate-action-tickets-1252943159719?aff=oddtdtcreator\">here<\/a> \ud83d\udcaa<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__avatar\"><img alt='' data-src='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/54068573cf98662559e61b814cc42e731038865c4111b4a97c930b934ff77879?s=24&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g' data-srcset='https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/54068573cf98662559e61b814cc42e731038865c4111b4a97c930b934ff77879?s=48&#038;d=mm&#038;r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-24 photo lazyload' height='24' width='24' src='data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==' style='--smush-placeholder-width: 24px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 24\/24;' \/><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">by<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">Lesley Williams<\/p><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__bio\">Lesley Williams is the CEO of Welsh ICE. Named amongst the top businesswomen by Wales Online in their esteemed &#8217;35 Under 35&#8242; list, Lesley encompasses impactful leadership in partner and outreach initiatives. Notably, she spearheaded the renowned 5-9 Club, a pioneering after-hours business course empowering countless local entrepreneurs.\r\n\r\nPrior to her tenure at Welsh ICE, Lesley steered a thriving international exporting venture, gaining invaluable insights into the needs of small business owners. Her accolades extend to her advocacy for equality, recognised as a finalist in the Gender Equality Champion category at the prestigious Chwarae Teg, Womenspire Awards. Lesley&#8217;s also has experience as a Big Ideas Wales Young Ambassador, Role Model, and board member for the Women\u2019s Enterprise Hub, solidifying her as a beacon of leadership and innovation.<\/p><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Each year, International Women\u2019s Day reminds us that progress isn\u2019t inevitable\u2014it happens because people choose to push forward. It happens because we make space for difficult conversations, challenge the status quo, and commit to action that creates real change.&nbsp;&nbsp; In 2025, the call to action is: #AccelerateAction \ud83d\udcaa And when we look at the numbers, &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/welshice.org\/cy\/international-womens-day-2025\/\">Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":18704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[92],"class_list":["post-18686","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","tag-interntional-womens-day"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Accelerating Action: Why Progress on Gender Equality Can\u2019t Wait - Welsh ICE<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Accelerating Action is the theme for International Women&#039;s Day in 2025. 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