Our recent Celebrating Women in Parliament event was sponsored by She Rocks Business. Here they reflect on the event and the synergies between work to achieve gender equality in the workplace and in Parliament.
She Rocks Business sponsored the recent Centenary Action event at the House of Commons celebrating their #Mission2028 campaign. At She Rocks Business, we believe in breaking barriers for female leaders. That’s why we proudly support this inspiring campaign, which aims to achieve equal representation in UK Parliament by 2028. And it’s no surprise that the challenges women face in politics echo those we tackle in business every day.
She Rocks Business, a joint initiative created by Marie Smith from Cooper Parry Wealth and Suzanne Leggott from Shakespeare Martineau, is a vibrant community for female business leaders. It’s where inspiration, connection, and action converge to drive change.
The business world might seem worlds apart from the campaign for equal parliamentary representation. But dig a little deeper, and the parallels become striking and impossible to ignore.
Why Should Business Care?
Let’s be blunt: business has a huge role to play in driving gender equality. After all, the challenges women face in politics – visibility, breaking into cliques, long hours, balancing family and caring responsibilities – are strikingly similar to those faced by women in leadership roles across the corporate world.
The stats don’t lie. We still don’t see enough women leading businesses. Yet when women are at the table, decisions are made differently, communication improves, and innovation thrives. Women make decisions and communicate differently from men. Not necessarily better or worse. Just different. We tend to use personal experience to evidence our case. And we’re very definitely capable of standing our ground. Diversity isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the foundation of better outcomes for everyone.
Hearing from a number of MPs with differing political views was eye-opening. Despite those differing political views, their shared experiences of the election process and the barriers they overcame were enlightening. They spoke of the hurdles of entering male-dominated spaces, managing work-life balance, and pushing through stereotypes. Sound familiar, business leaders?
Supporting the Next Generation
For those of us attending from Cooper Parry and Shakespeare Martineau, it was inspiring to be in the room with so many organisations dedicated to campaigning for and supporting women. One of the most moving contributions came from Ashiah, a Girlguiding advocate. She shared insights from their Girls’ Attitude Survey, highlighting the mounting pressures young girls face today. From appearance expectations to online harm and sexual abuse, these pressures are hitting harder and earlier than ever, eroding confidence and wellbeing. These are tomorrow’s leaders, and they need our support now.
Representing She Rocks Business, Sarah Walker-Smith, CEO of Shakespeare Martineau, wrapped up the lively and inspiring event. She’s the first female, non-lawyer CEO in the legal top 50 and fully understands the challenges women in business face. Sarah highlighted the striking similarities between the challenges faced by women in business and those in politics. Equality and rights shouldn’t be a stretch target – they should be demanded and expected. She went on to emphasise the importance of women finding their tribe and the need to work together, underscoring how the She Rocks Business community is part of the solution.
As we were reminded by Helen, who quoted her grandmother, suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst: “Great is the work that remains to be accomplished.” Gender equality doesn’t just happen. It’s achieved through collective action – through communities like She Rocks Business and campaigns like #Mission2028.
What’s Next? Action, Action, Action
The event wasn’t just a celebration of progress (40% of MPs are now women) but also a galvanising moment. It challenged us to ask: What role can businesses play in making gender equality a reality, both in Parliament and in the boardroom?
Here are three takeaways for us in business:
- Champion Visibility: Women can’t be what they can’t see. Make sure your workplace is showcasing female role models and amplifying their voices.
- Create Inclusive Cultures: Policies like flexible working aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re essential for levelling the playing field and unlocking talent.
- Support the Pipeline: From mentoring young women to supporting organisations like Girlguiding, businesses have the power to nurture the next generation of leaders.
She Rocks Business isn’t just a network – it’s a platform for action. From mentoring future leaders to shaping inclusive cultures, we’re committed to making gender equality a reality in both Parliament and the boardroom.
Gender equality starts with women supporting women. But it doesn’t end there. This is about creating workplaces and societies where everyone, both women and men, can thrive.
An equal Parliament by 2028 shouldn’t be a stretch goal. It should be inevitable. The same goes for equal leadership in business. And as we heard from the inspirational speakers at the House of Commons, change happens when we work together.
Are you ready to join the movement? Learn more about She Rocks Business and how we’re empowering female leaders at [She Rocks Business – female leaders]. Together, we can make change happen.