‘International Day of the Girl’ is a day dedicated to highlighting some of the challenges girls all over the globe face on a daily basis, as well a day dedicated to empowering the future women of tomorrow.

With that being said, we asked some of our female managers and directors what they thought it meant to #LeadLikeAGirl.

Greer Gouldsbrough, Operations Director, Cordant People. 

“Being a girl doesn’t make my success any more remarkable. Every time someone says ‘you’re a woman’ or ‘…but wow you have four kids and you’ve done this?’ They’re saying I’ve exceeded the expectations of my gender. They’re surprised because it’s unusual. There’s nothing unusual about being a successful woman or mother. We can be the best at anything if we are willing to work hard. Next time someone says something like that to you say: ‘Yes I am’ and carry on!”.

Ria McAdam-Lawlor, Operations Manager, Cordant People. 

“You can achieve anything you put your mind to. Support your friends, you’re stronger together! Always remember…Persistence overcomes resistance!”

#MakeItHappen.

Dana Cripps, Brand Manager, Cordant People.

“If I could go back and talk to the younger me I would give her this advice: Go for what you want in life and surround yourself with people who positively influence and inspire you to help you get to where you want to be. Don’t measure your success based on what someone else thinks. Push yourself and commit to seeing things through, whether it’s a conversation, a project or a personal goal. Listen to your intuition and gut feeling. Focus on the things you can influence and change and don’t sweat the stuff you can’t. Above all else, whatever you do – remember you’re a badass and you’ve got this”.

Kelly Kendall, Managing Director, Cordant People. 

“Growing up in an industrial town in the North of England I was surrounded by grit, determination & solidarity, my mum and dad had a strong focus on learning, education and family values but always with the element of making sure we had fun along the way, with many happy memories of a childhood full of love and laughter.

My dad would always sit down with me weekly to do my homework and would always ask me what I’d failed, but instead of ridiculing would focus me on what I needed to do to get better at it – what did this teach me?

It taught me it’s ok to fail (or not do a task to your full potential) but that with grit, determination and willpower, you can focus and overcome anything.

My Dads response would always be “try your best and if you’ve done your best then that’s good enough for me”. My message, which I give to my own children and to my work family, is you only need two things in life – confidence in yourself and belief in your own abilities. If you fail at something its ok, keep on trying and you will be a success in any walk of life you choose and never give up because if you persist, you will achieve. But always treat people with respect and in the way you would want to be treated yourself.

Love your job. Do a job which doesn’t feel like a job, make it a career and a lifestyle. Love your colleagues. Work with great people as it takes lots of different personalities to make a team and remember If something doesn’t work – change it. You have the power to do anything you put your mind to!”