Informa Markets International Women’s Day Panel Discussion

Panelists (L-R): Forroova, Cachia, Whittaker, Ellis Daal, Hazebroek, van Hensbergen

On March 7, 2024, the Informa Markets Amsterdam office hosted an International Women’s Day Breakfast and Panel Discussion to celebrate the women who drive the B2B events industry forward, including members of the CPHI team. 

What International Women's Day means to us

Forroova opened the panel discussion by asking what women’s day means to the panelists. The answers were equally as diverse as the women. Cachia answered: “We’re so diverse and we’re all so different – different lives and different approaches to work – but it’s also about getting the men engaged.” 

Whittaker added: “For me, it’s about appreciation. It’s a day to appreciate other women and appreciate the diversity of women. We celebrate all the different types of women out there. It’s less about separating the differences between men and women, and more about celebrating women for who they are and what they do.” 

Ellis Daal pointed out the lengths achieved by women in the workplace, highlighting how a panel such as this would not have been allowed in the past. “We weren’t even working, and now, in some areas of the workplace, we’re dominating. We still have some work to do but we are getting there and this day really puts a spotlight on it,” she stated. 

Working women

The panel also discussed the challenges associated with being a woman in the workplace. Some of the biggest challenges for women in the events industry included balancing work with life, especially for mothers. “When it comes to motherhood or a work/life balance, I see this as very challenging for women. It’s expected of women and while things aren’t the same as they 5 or 20 years ago, you’re still a mum, and at the end of the day, you have a job to do and everyone expects you to get it done at the same time. It’s not realistic,” Ellis Daal commented. 

“When it comes up in panel discussions, I wouldn’t like to call it balance because I don’t think there is balance. I think it’s just the way [a woman] manoeuvres around work and life, and being a woman,” Forroova mentioned.  

“Well, I don’t like work/life balance,” said van Hensbergen. “I once had a friend tell me that life should be treated like a dinner party – you can’t expect to cook a dinner with everything going on high heat. You need to plan it out and understand that some things will need more attention at the moment, and other things need your attention later. I think that’s what has kept me going. But then there’s also times where you have to say ‘Okay, I’m taking a step back and focus on the other areas of my life as well.” 

Cachia added: “To make your life work for you, you need to be able to switch things up. Flexibility is key and organisations unfortunately still need to step up. They want uniformity and predictability and switching things up doesn’t necessarily align with this. We need to empower each other, not just women empowering others in their organisation, to take responsibility for themselves.” 

Intersectional and global thinking

There was also discussion about navigating the global nature of events as a woman. “Before I moved to Amsterdam, I lived in Dubai for a couple months. It’s a very different culture there in the way that they perceive women,” Whittaker commented. “While it’s dramatically improved in the last few years, I felt a different kind of atmosphere when I was there. Sometimes, there are occasions when you walk through a room and you can sense that you are less than just because you are a woman. But at the same time, these are all amazing opportunities on the back of that because that culture does exist. A few of us who were women on the team created a Women’s Empowerment Group that is now doing super well, and that opportunity only exists because that culture also existed.” 

Part of the conversation also focused on the intersectionality of womanhood with other identities such as sexuality and race. Cachia and Ellis Daal gave insight into navigating the workplace as women of other minority groups, but also highlighted the importance of working with others and accepting support from unlikely places. “Don’t underestimate where your allies can come from,” Cachia reminded. “If you’re uncomfortable, you need to speak up,” Ellis Daal said. “You need to say something and find that ally. You will be surprised because, I must say, management does take things seriously. I know it’s tough and it is scary – that's why you need allies.” 

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