Diversity Drives Success: Women at the Heart of Inclusion

The interview series continues with the amazing Jenny Garrett, a woman who set out to be a hero not only to her daughter but also to millions of other women in the entire world for whom she fervently advocates.

As society progresses, it is more and more obvious that diversity is not only a buzzword, but a catalyst for growth, innovation, and transformation. And Jenny’s work has been and continues to be instrumental in reshaping the landscape of equality and inclusion.

The interview conducted by Tech Storyteller delves into the remarkable story, challenges, and joys of a woman who dares to shatter stereotypes and contribute to shaping a brighter tomorrow for all.

Jenny Garrett is an award-winning career coach, author, and leadership trainer. Together with her team, they deliver impactful development to those who are underrepresented at senior levels to progress at work, as well as supporting majority group leaders to make inclusion happen. She is also co-founder of a social enterprise Rocking Ur Teens which connects corporates with a pipeline of future talent. Jenny is the author of 2 books: Rocking Your Role, a guide to success for female breadwinners, and Equality vs Equity, tackling issues of Race in the workplace.

Tech Storyteller: Could you share a personal story about Jenny Garrett the individual, rather than Jenny Garrett the award-winning coach and leadership trainer? Perhaps something you do not normally talk about on stage or in your books.

Jenny G: When I was much younger, I really wanted to be a fashion designer. Going to school, I used to love art, painting and drawing, and then designing clothes too. However, to be able to study fashion I needed to get a grant and sadly this did not happen, so in the end, I reconsidered. But I haven’t moved away completely from art, from time to time I still like to do crafts, paint or draw, as a hobby.

Tech Storyteller: Being a woman role model and a leader promoting women and diversity at work is not an easy task – what challenges do you encounter most often?

Jenny G: Indeed, absolutely not an easy task. Unfortunately, sometimes people think that if you are pro-women, it automatically means you are against men, which is clearly not the case. Also, there are a lot of people saying there is no problem when it comes to gender or race. Of course, currently in the world things are better than they used to be, but this doesn’t mean the problem doesn’t exist anymore. What really happens is that things have evolved and what we see now is no longer outright sexism. Women do not get sacked anymore because they decided to have a family like they used to, now it’s more subtle. Maybe you are offered a part-time position or your responsibilities are changed and, in the end, you find yourself not getting the promotion you were hoping for.

Unless every woman is equal, no woman is equal

I truly believe that unless every woman is equal, no woman is equal. So, even if there are countries where women are being treated fairly and get all the opportunities, if this doesn’t happen globally, the problem still persists. If women can't speak or work or get promoted to another country, then there’s still a problem.

Tech Storyteller: What keeps you going when things get tough?

Jenny G: My daughter is a big inspiration. After she was born I realized that from there on there’s always going to be a little girl looking up to me, deciding what the world is like based on what I do and speak. This makes me braver and pushes me to carry on because I think that if I give up, she will know.

But it is also about knowing your ‘why’. Fairness has always been important to me, I want the world to be fair and I want everyone to get an opportunity. So, what I do, I do it for this. After a point, it’s like in many ways this is not even work for me, it’s who I am.

Nonetheless, I’m not going to say I don’t have difficult days, because I do. But I’ve learned to allow myself to be down for a couple of hours or days if this is what I need to be able to bounce back. Because we cannot deny our emotions, this is what makes us human.

Tech Storyteller: What does success look to you?

Jenny G: I feel like it’s really hard to define it exactly because I’m struggling to find a balance between already feeling successful and wondering how I can have more impact.

I am lucky to wake up every morning and realize I am actually doing the work I have to do. I feel like I’m making an impact and I am fulfilled. At the same time, I am constantly looking for ways to make an impact on an even bigger scale. I’m always asking myself “How can I reach more people, who needs to hear this, how can we make things happen quicker?” What I wish is for everyone at work to feel that they can thrive, they can be successful, that their potential can be unlocked and nothing is holding them back. So, if this is accomplished in the world, then I can consider my job is really done.

I dream of a world where women have a voice in any space

Tech Storyteller: What is your ultimate dream concerning your ongoing efforts to promote women, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace?

Jenny Garrett: I dream of a world where women have a voice in any space. Because sometimes, even if we are there, we don’t have a voice and cannot make an impact. We have to normalize a world where women are always present at the table and no one thinks it’s strange.

Tech Storyteller: What do you think about initiatives or conferences that are specifically catered for women, organized and delivered by women? There are voices saying this somehow highlights even more the gap between men and women.

Jenny Garrett: I believe there’s a place and a time for both. I think that women can benefit from conferences led by women with women speaking because then they really surface their issues and their challenges, which are different from men’s. For instance, we can have babies, we have menopause. Also, there still are so many things that are actual sexist experiences in the workplace. In a common gathering, most of the time women don't talk about that. So, I really think women-only events are useful.

However, I also think we want to be able to talk in men's spaces, helping men see our potential. We need men to be our allies and vice-versa. If men are at the top of organizations, we need them to see us, to support us, to help us through as well. I'm an advocate of women-only events, but I think that on their own, they won't make any change. They're only the starting point.

Jenny, thank you for your time and for the stories you've shared with us. Your strength and commitment to following your ‘why’ remind us that together we can create a world where everyone, regardless of their gender, race, or background, has the opportunity to thrive.

Interviewed and written with love by

Ionela Barbuta, Tech Storyteller