International Women's Day: Embrace Different!

To celebrate International Women’s Day, an annual event marked to celebrate women’s rights and equality, here at MCG, we’re dedicating today to embrace women’s different way thinking.

We found inspirational women across technology, healthcare, HR, marketing consultancy, and even decorative paints – and probed them about what makes them different.

Just like the famous ‘think different’ speech by Steve Jobs, we believe that every person is unique, and that’s not only their special power, but it’s the very thing that allows them to change the world.

Here’s a collection of the most powerful women we found, and how they embrace being different:

Here’s to the crazy ones…

The Misfits

“I’m so clumsy I once sleepwalked as a child and I walked into a door, now I have a Harry Potter-like scar on my forehead.”
Daisy Franklin, Account Executive at My Clever Group

“I’m an advocate for dunking toast in tea. Butter at the top, and soggy bits in the middle – YUM!”
Kianat Basheer, Trainee Product Owner at My Clever Group

“While all my friends were getting married and having kids before 30, it felt like a rebellious act to not follow everyone else’s timeline. I got to carve my own path.”
Laura Mazzulo, Owner of East Side Staffing

“My singing voice is appalling, but I don’t let it stop me! Nothing brings me more joy than belting out a tune while I am driving, who cares what you sound like when the music is up loud enough!”
Nebel Crowhurst, Director of People & Culture

“I was a tall, skinny and clumsy teenager who got teased for being different and not part of the crowd. Looking back, it’s good to be different and being an outsider looking in gives you a unique perspective that I still appreciate and utilise now. ”
Sharon Green, Founder & Interim People projects, Change, Tech, Engagement & Comms specialist

“Having two older sisters, I was always the littlest girl of the family, too young for stuff or too little to play. I think this made me stronger and louder than normal as I didn’t want to be left out or a pushover, I had to stand my ground and fight my corner from an early age!”
Caroline Irish, Executive Assistant at My Clever Group

The Rebels

“I’m a gay female CEO in HR Tech, if that’s not going against tradition, what is?”
Nicky Hoyland, CEO at My Clever Group

“I once did a 15,000 ft sky dive in New Zealand just for the hell of it.”
Daisy Franklin, Account Executive at My Clever Group

“I go against the norm by being a female Software Developer.”
Emma Stockton, Full Stack Developer at My Clever Group

“I once resigned from an “on paper” high-flying international job because I was fed up with the politics and toxic leadership. On my last day, I cranked up my headphones to 10 and left the building to the tune of “Je Ne Regrette Rien.”
Lori Niles, Co-Founder of NilesNolen

“After being labelled ‘rebel’ at school, it’s stuck throughout my career. I don’t go out of my way to create trouble, I’m just bored and tired of ‘we’ve always done it this way’ thinking.”
Kelly Swingler, Executive Coach for Chief People Officers and CEOs

“I applied for a job at Disney World straight out of university – I never imagined in a million years I would get it, go to Orlando and live there for a year!”
Priya Joshi, HR Operations Analyst

“I moved to Nottingham on my own at 17, 183 miles away from Portsmouth (my home town), where I knew nobody whatsoever. I handed in my notice for my first job at an amazing company and went for it. I decided I was leaving in January and left on the 29th of February so it was extremely spontaneous.”
Daisy Maclennan, Front End Developer at DBLX

“I was sick and tired of the boys’ club so I started NilesNolen with the best business partner ever, Lori Niles, because I knew that we could go further as two women together, without ever having to compromise on the highest standard of professionalism and integrity for our clients. And I was right!”
Amanda Nolen, Co-Founder of NilesNolen

“My life as a charity fundraiser felt pretty spontaneous: from running the London Marathon (without prior running experience), completing a 26.2 hour continuous cycle, climbing Kilimanjaro (not a fan of heights), eating my way through a 32oz steak challenge, and completing a 65km unassisted team trek across the Pyrenean mountains.”
Suzi Archer, Head of People & Talent at My Clever Group

“I almost didn’t go to university in fear of failing and not being good enough, but my tutor had me close my eyes, point to a place on a map and apply for ‘the one and only’ – ten years later I’m still in Preston and loving it!”
Abbie Burr, Script Writer and Digital Learning Designer at DBLX

The Trouble Makers

“I was considered a trouble maker for fighting for employees to be treated fairly. As a result, I became the person who empowers others.”
Emma Stockton, Full Stack Developer at My Clever Group

“I once resigned from a global consumer goods company with a ‘sorry for your loss’ card.”
Hannah Smith, Group Marketing Manager at My Clever Group

“I don’t think I’m a trouble maker, I think I’m a disruptor. Let’s find new ways, let’s innovate!”
Simone Roche, Founder of Northern Power Women

“My strong and passionate views often get me in some rather challenging conversations because I’m on a mission to prove that marketing is derived from science and analytics and it’s not just the ‘fluffy’ stuff as my commercial colleagues often refer to it as.”
Ronni Lang, Account Brand Manager at Crown Paints

“I may well be seen as a ’troublemaker’ for raising contentious issues, but as the legendary civil rights leader, John Lewis, famously said: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble.” – good trouble is the way we can change the world, one ripple at a time.”
Joanna Suvarna, Founder and Chief Kindness Officer (CKO) at #BeTheRipple

“I honestly don’t think I am a troublemaker, except if I don’t get my morning coffee…”
Mercè Cozens, Founder of Think Beyond

The round pegs in the square holes

“My work wasn’t recognised for merit, it was judged by my age, even if I put in 110%.”
Kianat Basheer, Trainee Product Owner at My Clever Group

“I struggle with profit-motivated cultures and leaders who don’t embrace women as being more than friendly, kind, sex-symbols –sadly, this is still so prevalent. I also believe in growth mindset – if you believe it’s’ right because ‘that’s how you’ve always done it’, we won’t mesh.”
Laura Mazzulo, Owner of East Side Staffing

“My soul is completely drained in conservative offices where they just want you to come in and do the work, don’t think, just do it as we told you to do it.”
Wendy Dailey, Talent Strategist and Host of the #HRSocialHour Half Hour Podcast

“I find sales cultures a bit soul destroying given constant targets and comparisons instead of working collaboratively. Even though I hated cold calling and constant rejection, the experience made me resilient enough to keep going and it taught me a lot.”
Helen Logan, Account Executive at DBLX

“In previous jobs, I definitely had a work Suzi and a home Suzi, with parts of my personality I didn’t bring into the office. It was exhausting! That’s why I’m so passionate about creating a bring your whole self to work culture at MCG. Embrace the weird and the wonderful and never hide what makes you, you.”
Suzi Archer, Head of People & Talent at My Clever Group

“Coming into the big bright lights of London I often felt inferior, I even questioned why I was hired, who was I after all? But I now appreciate myself and my technical knowledge and see my awkwardness as a strength than something to be hidden.”
Asli Derya, Learning and Development Digital Manager at EY

“Teachers at school told me I “might struggle to fit in within work environments”. I now see it as a compliment. Everyone’s journey is different so a copy and paste approach to life is not for me.”
Barbara Thompson, Learning Transformation Specialist

The ones who see things differently

“My travels inspired me to join the mission to save our planet.”
Daisy Franklin, Account Executive at My Clever Group

“After dropping out of college after three weeks, everyone told me It was unrealistic to get a job as a web developer. Two months later, I secured my dream apprenticeship. My life would have been completely different if I stayed.”
Daisy Maclennan, Front End Developer at DBLX

“One where differences are celebrated. One where people feel free to be themselves without any kind of judgment. I feel like so many people feel like they have to fit inside a box (society expectations), they have to think, act, look a certain way. I want a future (and play a small part to help create a future) of celebrating what makes every person unique.”
Ella Holland, Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator at My Clever Group

“During my career in the Armed Forces, I was the first ever woman to lead a passing out parade with a sword! I was also in the 1% of females in the officer ranks. I’m also very proud of creating the largest event celebrating gender equality in the whole of Europe with Northern Power Women!”
Simone Roche, Founder of Northern Power Women

“After trying to adopt for several years and even working on reforming child adoption law in Canada, I realised the system was broken. Through a lot of campaigning, lobbying, and working with volunteers, small changes are finally being made. No child should age out of foster care.”
Lori Niles, Co-Founder of NilesNolen

“I’m a big believer in asking for forgiveness and not permission. I constantly challenge and explore alternatives, which creates unease and uncertainty to begin with, but the positive changes that come with challenging, adapting and being agile are often very rewarding.”
Ronni Lang, Account Brand Manager at Crown Paints

“I’m 28 now, and society expects me to be married with kids now soon. I believe it’s best to do what feels right for you, no one else! The world would be a much happier place if there was less judgement in other people’s actions/decisions.”
Helen Logan, Account Executive at DBLX

“I like challenging clients and their approach to learning, stepping away from huge content decks to looking at the real purpose. I’m always enthusiastic about meeting them to understand their real learning needs so I can fine tune the content, leaving more room for an exciting theme!”
Abbie Burr, Script Writer and Digital Learning Designer at DBLX

“Being diagnosed with cancer in 2019, was a huge challenge to face. Being a fighter, I remained strong and positive throughout the whole process and treatment got me through it and I’m proud to say I enjoyed kicking its ass!”
Caroline Irish, Executive Assistant at My Clever Group

“As a little girl, I saw a question in a Dr Seuss book which was “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I wrote down three things: teacher, artist, and a millionaire! The funny thing is, what I do today is a combination of all three: entrepreneurship, EdTech/learning, and a side business as a dealer and promoter of Spanish art. When you’re a kid I guess it is hard to imagine careers that aren’t just one thing.”
Amanda Nolen, Co-Founder of NilesNolen

“If you ask anyone to describe a scientist, they’ll describe a man, but it’s also women like me trying our best to eradicate cancer and diseases, so that our loved ones can live beautiful and long lives.”
Paula Almeida, Founder of PowerTalk, Biomedical Scientist, Airbnb Host, Investor

They’re not fond of rules…

“I was told co-founding a business was going be difficult and I shouldn’t do it, but I still went for it and it’s going well so far!”
Nicky Hoyland, CEO at My Clever Group

“Society expects women to lower their fees and change the contracts/terms. Let’s start honouring their worth and value. We’ll never see women reach equity if we keep pushing them down.”
Laura Mazzulo, Owner of East Side Staffing

“Do not start a business in your forties.”
“Stay in your safe job.”
“Wait your turn.”
“Pfft. There was no way in hell I was going to spend another 25 years stuck on a rung on some corporate ladder.”
Lori Niles, Co-Founder of NilesNolen

“Society expects me to keep quiet about my bipolar or mental health journey, my personal life, and my achievements. In reality, I only know how to be myself, and people either embrace and accept all of me, or not at all.”
Kelly Swingler, Executive Coach for Chief People Officers and CEOs

“Growing up British Indian, I was told you should only be a lawyer or accountant, none of which interested me. Despite my parents’ disapproval, I decided to study film and media, which surprisingly gave me the foundation skills I use in my role today.”
Priya Joshi, HR Operations Analyst

“Societal expectations often look for women to look a certain way, for example to be super slim – but I’m here rocking my sexy curves with a smile and a wink!”
Joanna Suvarna, Founder and Chief Kindness Officer (CKO) at #BeTheRipple

“There seems to be an expectation that to get ahead you will do people favours. At Think Beyond, we look after our customers and do a great job. That’s it.”
Mercè Cozens, Founder of Think Beyond

“I was told I couldn’t learn English unless I took a year out to focus on it. I watched lots of American dramas with subtitles instead to learn English then moved to England. Turns out, courtroom dramas are great for conversational English but not so great for learning grammar!”
Asli Derya, Learning and Development Digital Manager at EY

You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things…

They push the human race forward

“I’m a social justice warrior. I do everything in my power to change things so I can live in a society where even the weakest people feel empowered.”
Kianat Basheer, Trainee Product Owner at My Clever Group

“My mission is to empower women internally and externally through resources, WIT initiatives, opportunities across the business, and putting inclusion at the forefront of My Clever Group.”
Nicky Hoyland, CEO at My Clever Group

“My passion and drive come from wanting to make myself and my family proud of who I am. I want to be successful, that doesn’t mean make lots of money and have lots of nice things, it means enjoying what I do, doing a good job, inspiring people, having people come to me and depend on me to support and help them, spending time lifting people up and helping them get opportunities that they deserve.”
Ella Holland, Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator at My Clever Group

“I’m everyone’s biggest supporter, from developing my team, to pushing my friends to follow their dreams, I’m on a mission to make those around me believe in themselves and find their voice.”
Hannah Smith, Group Marketing Manager at My Clever Group

“I truly believe that we don’t have to go through life with this Monday to Friday dying syndrome. Let’s be our true selves instead – this is where we find joy, purpose, happiness and ease in life and work.”
Kelly Swingler, Executive Coach for Chief People Officers and CEOs

“I am really proud of my blog DREAM BIG : BELIEVE BIGGER giving people career inspiration and the confidence to believe in their dreams.”
Nebel Crowhurst, Director of People & Culture

“My passion and drive come from my life experience and my wish to make a better world for my daughter, for myself, for you and for all our children. #BeTheRipple is about bringing positive change to workplaces, change that will ripple out to our homes, schools and wider society.”
Joanna Suvarna, Founder and Chief Kindness Officer (CKO) at #BeTheRipple

“I have two daughters and I want them to be able to stand up for what they believe, to speak up when they see an injustice, and to be stronger than I am today.”
Wendy Dailey, Talent Strategist and Host of the #HRSocialHour Half Hour Podcast

“I’m not only a scientist, I’m also an investor, a hustler, a mum and I am courageous, and it’s my mission to help other women feel empowered too. ”
Paula Almeida, Founder of PowerTalk, Biomedical Scientist, Airbnb Host, Investor

“After falling ill and feeling unfulfilled, I decided to do things that nourish my soul and speak to my personal values. This led me to now pay it forward for the next generation – I’m now trying to humanise workplaces because they have the potential to crush the human spirit.”
Barbara Thompson, Learning Transformation Specialist