What does #AccelerateAction mean to us?

This year’s International Women’s Day focuses on #AccelerateAction, because together we can forge gender equality.

With this in mind, we’ve reached out to some of our employees from across the agency to share what #AccelerateAction means to them.

Paridhhi, Account Manager

Coming from a background in sustainability, I believe taking strong action is at the core of combatting the adversities of climate change. “AccelerateAction” to me means creating a collaborative environment to bolster a more inclusive, equitable grounds for creating change, as power always lies in numbers and in diversity.

According to the UN, women and girls face disproportionate impacts from climate change, as in rural and poor areas they are highly dependent on local natural resources for their and their family’s livelihood. Women must therefore play a key role in the climate change discourse, especially as this global challenge is progressing in severity. We need women’s input in creating robust mitigation strategies, and learn from their hardships. At the local level, women’s inclusion at the leadership level has already shown improved outcomes of climate related projects and policies. Their voices are essential to #AccelerateAction against climate change.

Ollie, Account Manager

When International Women’s Day comes around, one of the first people I always think about is my Grandmother, a former politician who throughout her career worked tirelessly to enhance the representation of women in the House of Commons. While progress has been made in that respect, I have no doubt she would be campaigning for more work to be done to close the gender gap across all areas.

International Women’s Day is a powerful platform for raising awareness, but this year’s theme #AccelerateAction expresses a need for urgency to move beyond words and drive real, lasting change in gender equality. That requires collective responsibility, whether its challenging every day biases or actively breaking down barriers. While strides have been made, this is a day that reminds me what more I can do to ensure my grandmother’s legacy lives on.

Jenny, Senior SEO Manager

With everything going on in the world right now, it’s no wonder #AccelerateAction is the theme of this International Women’s Day. It’s more important than ever to push forward for gender equality to ensure that women everywhere don’t face systemic barriers or biases within personal and professional spheres. #AccelerateAction is a call to arms, where we aren’t just talking the talk, but walking the walk and making tangible change. Call out stereotypes, question biases, challenge when you see discrimination. Small ripples make waves.

Rachel, People & Culture Advisor

Having attended an all girls school, I was lucky to grow up in an environment where my gender was never a limitation. I was raised being told that I could achieve anything I wanted. However, there are many women around the world who continue to face barriers. #AccelerateAction means moving beyond the conversations and taking real steps towards gender equality. This can be advocating for change in workplaces, communities and policies, challenging outdated norms, and creating spaces where women are valued and empowered.

Sarah, Account Executive

As a woman in PR, I believe that change doesn’t happen by simply talking about it, it happens when we take meaningful action. #AccelerateAction is about creating environments where everyone’s voice is valued and where diverse perspectives are not just included but celebrated. It’s about ensuring that all individuals, regardless of background, feel empowered to contribute and be heard. For me, it’s about breaking down barriers today, with a focus on building a better tomorrow. The work we do now should inspire others to follow suit, creating a lasting impact. When we create spaces where everyone feels heard, we unlock the true potential for progress. It’s about paving the way for a future where diversity is not just a goal, but a driving force that sparks innovation and fuels positive change for everyone.

Tim, Divisional Managing Director Reputation

I was chatting recently to a very talented, conscientious young woman at a global business who was told by her female line manager that she was the best junior colleague she had ever worked with and the quality of everything she did was first-class – but, unlike her male colleagues, she didn’t make enough noise about it; didn’t brag or big herself up; and consequently she would never get as far as them. It got me thinking about #Accelerate Action.

Women in the workplace should be recognised and rewarded for their abilities without having to play the male game of self-promotion or being penalised because they are not part of the boys’ club. It is up to their bosses to create strategies and structures that nurture female talent rather than favouring bravado and swagger.

Tara, Senior Account Manager

From my mother to so many of my female colleagues, I’m lucky enough to have been surrounded by inspiring women my entire life and working in an environment where female leadership is celebrated.

And while my experience is reflective of the huge strides that have been made towards women’s rights and empowerment, this year’s theme ‘Accelerate Action’ is a reminder that the work is never done. In fact, according to The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, at the current rate of progress, it will take 134 years to reach full gender parity.

So, if we truly want to drive change, we need to act fast. This means embracing challenges head-on, having those uneasy conversations with colleagues and continuing to learn and educate others on female centric topics. Working in PR – we have a real opportunity to work on campaigns that drive awareness around issues such as women’s health, highlight female entrepreneurs and call for change. We should be continuing to strive for those opportunities and setting an example for the industry.

Grace, Senior Account Executive

To me, accelerate action means going beyond solely raising awareness and discussion and instead creating real, tangible change for gender equality. It’s about recognising the urgency of the issues women and girls face, whether that’s in education, safety, healthcare or the workplace, and taking bold, proactive steps to address them.

In PR, we have the ability, and the privilege, to help organisations and individuals shape conversations, influence attitudes, educate audiences, raise awareness of real issues – but also hold themselves, and their peers, accountable.

We should all be making the effort to accelerate action in our day to day by calling out stereotypes, challenging discrimination, questioning bias, and celebrating women’s successes. Real change doesn’t happen by waiting – it comes from pushing forward with purpose and persistence.

For more information on how we are committed to building and celebrating a team that reflects the society that we live in, and to nurturing an inclusive, welcoming, supportive working environment for all, head to our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion page.