Inside Unit4 International Women's Day Q&A
At Unit4, our people are at the heart of everything we do. From coming up with brilliant ideas and concepts to delivering value creatively and passionately to our customers, our people shape how we succeed as a company. Our “People First” philosophy means that we make sure to deliver an extraordinary environment for our people enabling them to really contribute to the business and have a positive impact on their teams as well as on the people we serve as a business.
As we are celebrating International Women’s Day 2022, we wanted to shine the spotlight on our amazing and inspiring women in business who do incredible work contributing to Unit4’s success and growth every day.
In this special #InsideUnit4 Q&A blog, we sat down with Michelle, Beata and Heike to talk about the achievements they are particularly proud of, their growth journey at Unit4, International Women’s Day, gender inequality in the workplace, and more.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Heike: I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I have been recognized for the contribution I bring and given chances where others might have not had the same fortune. I am grateful to the courageous women who campaigned for equal rights and paved the road to equality I feel I have been able to enjoy - thank you!
Michelle: It's about inspiration, empowerment, and celebration - continued focus to raise each other up. It's an opportunity to learn from each other and hear real stories of change and impact.
What would you say to your younger self?
Heike: You are stronger than you think! Trust in yourself and know that whatever you choose to put your mind to, you can achieve.
Michelle: I have been reading this book by Mel Robbins, The High Five Habit, and it's just a great read on how we see ourselves and how we can become our own cheerleader. I would tell myself to be more gentle and patient - to extend the same grace to myself as I aim to give others. I'd also say: Trust yourself. Stop worrying. Once you decide, it's done. Don't dwell on the past. Follow the opportunities - following your gut is okay - and if you make a wrong turn, recognize it and make a change. Don't worry if you look different, feel different, or think differently - those are the things that will help bring people together.
Who is your role model?
Heike: For me, this has always been about “ordinary” people. My old line manager Jo Schiller is one of the most inspiring women I met. Super bright, focused on guiding others to find solutions for the challenges they face, always smiling and above all, true to her own beliefs.
Beata: My mother is my biggest role model. At a very young age she left her home country in Poland with nothing but her suitcase and a few dollars in her purse. Through hard work, failure, and perseverance she brought her entire family of 6 brothers and sisters, as well as her parents, to Canada and built a new prosperous life. It taught me that with hard work and determination, even when you can't speak the local language, anything is possible.
How did working at Unit4 help you grow and enhance your career as a woman?
Beata: It has allowed me to work with other brilliant, out-of-the-box thinkers. Working for a company of this size that is still in some ways considered a start-up with huge growth potential challenges me every day.
Tell us about an achievement you are proud of.
Michelle: I am very proud of the teams I have been able to build, work with and learn from over the years. I always enjoy the element of seeing a group of individuals come together, coalesce, and find a common ground by which to produce amazing results. The people are a large part of what motivates me - if you are lucky enough you find colleagues that you build relationships with, over the years you may find that your paths continue to cross in the future.
Beata: I am proud of where I am today professionally and personally. Through hard work and very little sleep, being able to manage and maintain a work/life balance is in my opinion my greatest accomplishment. Being a mother, wife, friend, and daughter while advancing my career is my greatest achievement.
Have you ever experienced gender inequality in the workplace throughout your career?
Michelle: I have experienced inequality in my career in terms of advancement opportunities in the past. Asked to pivot through multiple hoops to get to the same end state made “turnkey” for a male counterpart/peer. This created a challenge, but also an opportunity to break the cycle for those that followed and change the way that the organization approached advancement opportunities.
Beata: Gender inequality has been a source of motivation for me. I acknowledge that I needed to work a little harder – sometimes subconsciously – but in a way, I contribute that to my success. I am optimistic that the pendulum towards equality is swinging in the right direction as awareness of the benefits of diversity in the workplace in all respects is becoming more and more apparent. I am proud to be swinging that pendulum a little harder along with the other women and minorities working hard to pave the way.
What’s your favorite inspirational quote to live by?
Beata: If you haven't failed, you haven't tried.
If you were an ice cream flavor, what would you be and why?
Michelle: My favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla - not sure if it's what I would be. It's just the right balance - complex with some of the richness in flavor and sets a good foundation for other flavors to shine through (brownie add-ins, cookie dough...whatever).
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