Charcoalblue Celebrates International Women's Day
08/03/24
At Charcoalblue, we pride ourselves on our commitment to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusivity within all aspects of our work. As we celebrate International Women's Day, we would like to take this opportunity to amplify the voices of women within our organization and the broader community.
In the lead up to International Women's Day our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Team has conducted interviews with several inspiring women from various business units within Charcoalblue. These women graciously shared insights into their careers and offered valuable advice for aspiring professionals in our field. Here are a few of the responses that we received from our interviewees.
What are some of the ways that Charcoalblue/you work to advance women's rights?
Charcoalblue actively works to foster a workplace that empowers women by respecting their voices and presence, providing comprehensive training and development opportunities, ensuring transparency in compensation, and promoting women into leadership roles.
Steph Birdsell - Project Coordinator, Charcoalblue Experience, Bay Area, CA
How can we encourage more women to pursue stage engineering as a career?
I think we first have to let women, especially of younger generations, know that it is a career that even exists; many don’t even know Theatre Consulting is a career option. To get to stage engineering, we also have to encourage more women and girls to get into more technical fields, especially those that crossover with art, and support STEAM fields. I think mentorship is one of the strongest tools we have.
Christina Keryczynskyj – Stage Engineering Consultant, Chicago, IL
What is the most important message you want to send out to young women thinking about their careers?
I would say, follow your passions and believe in yourself. The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities come to you. Never be afraid to fail because there is always a needed lesson or a better opportunity waiting for you. I wish I did a lot more of this while I was in the beginning stages of college and finding my career path!
Breanna Ross - Studio Administrator, Sunnyvale, CA
What’s your International Women’s Day message to the team at Charcoalblue?
Continue to choose to engage in education, initiatives, and movements for gender equality. International Women's Day is a day for acknowledging the impact women have had and continue to have on our lives; it's a day for everyone to celebrate.
Tessa Bagshaw – Studio Administrator, South Melbourne, VIC
What change would you like to see for women in acoustics in the next generation?
I'd love to see more women in technical fields like acoustics, noting that differences lead to innovation.
Lauren Shapiro – Acoustic Consultant, New York, NY
How can we encourage more women to pursue senior leadership roles in their careers?
Encouraging each other to be open to adventure is an incredibly positive gift. Taking risk and being bold are always good markers of outward confidence but this must be paired with moments of reflection to acknowledge our feelings. Internal processing takes time, so giving each other space to sound out ideas will invariably help to plan a journey into our own unique interpretation of what progress means.
Amanda Brecknell – Associate Director, London, UK
International Women's Day Internal Forum
In addition to our internal interviews, our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity Team organized a special forum featuring Christine Jones, a renowned Theatre Artist, Designer, and Director. Christine led a thought-provoking discussion on women in design and production, sharing her personal journey and insights into what has led to her successful career.
Christine's groundbreaking work has not only pushed the boundaries of traditional theatre but has also inspired countless women to pursue their passions in the creative arts. Her perspective on navigating the industry as a woman, breaking barriers, and fostering change resonated deeply with our team members and attendees.
As we celebrate International Women's Day, we are reminded of the progress we've made and the work that still lies ahead. At Charcoalblue, we remain committed to championing women in our industry, amplifying their voices, and creating inclusive spaces where everyone can thrive.
We extend our gratitude to all the women who participated in our interviews and to Christine Jones for her invaluable contributions to our forum. Together, we will continue to drive positive change and pave the way for a more equitable and inclusive future.
Happy International Women's Day from all of us at Charcoalblue!
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