​IWD: #BreakTheBias with Rafaela Fakhre

This International Women's Day, we interviewed some of our team asking them to share their thoughts on how we can #BreakTheBias.

We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

#BreakTheBias with Rafael Fakhre, senior principal at Eames Consulting in the UK.

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1. Do you think that more companies adopting a hybrid working pattern has helped to shift pre-conceived conceptions about flexible working for women and why?

Absolutely. A couple of years ago, women that needed flexible working days (or to even work part-time) had to almost come to accept that they wouldn’t be able to reach a senior or leadership position. And the ones that had it as part of their working arrangements, were stigmatised. With flexible working being available to the wider workforce, women can adapt their work to family demands – allowing us to maintain both and not make a choice between them!

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2. How can organisations support their employees in raising awareness against bias? 

The first step would be the organisation accepting and acknowledging that the bias is present and that although we’ve come a long way, there is still so much room for development. Providing facts, policing gender-sensitive language, ensuring there is a strong representation of women in the business are the ones on top of my list!

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3. What advice would you give aspiring women in the industry you work in? 

The recruitment industry in the UK has historically been male-dominant and as the industry changes from being so male-centric it is actually extremely empowering to be a woman in the industry! Don’t let anyone intimidate you and pursue every opportunity that is put in front of you: it can be scary, but it is out of your comfort zone that you will grow.

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4. International Women’s Day is also about celebrating women and their achievements, who inspires you?

In the recruitment industry, I am very inspired by Daniela Lopes, Thais Ferraro, Natalia Marques, Cristina Lima and Ana Filgueiras – they were my mentors in the early stages of my career back in Brazil.

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5. What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership? 

Unconscious bias. Over 100 years building the concept that women had no space in the workforce – the fragments of this are still amongst and will still probably be over the years. We need to actively work on it to overcome it!