Women’s Voices and Choices takes center stage at the International Women’s Day event in Helsinki
On March 7th, 2023, the Embassy of India in Helsinki, in collaboration with Indian Women in Finland RY IWF RY, celebrated International Women’s Day with the theme “Women’s Voices and Choices – Breaking the Bias” at the Oodi Library in Helsinki. This event was a tribute to the women who have made significant contributions to society and a reminder of the continued efforts needed to advance gender equality and empower women.
The event was hosted by IWF, who organized the event under the theme “Embrace Yourself,” and was co-hosted by Ramya Sriram, Archana Krishnamoorty, and Prerna Bhushan. The event was well-structured, with a lineup of insightful speakers, panel discussions, and an opportunity for networking and refreshments.
The event started with a welcome address by the Ambassador of India in Helsinki, Mr. Raveesh Kumar, who highlighted the event’s significance. Following his speech, Mrs. Ranjana Raveesh Kumar, the Ambassador’s wife, took the stage and shared her thoughts on the importance of individuality and confidence in women, emphasizing the role of upbringing in shaping boys’ and girls’ mindsets.
The keynote speaker, the Mayor of Vantaa, Ritva Viljanen, shared her journey as a female leader. The Minister of Employment, Mrs. Tuula Haatainen, discussed her vision of the government of Finland’s commitment to increasing employment opportunities for International women. This was followed by a panel discussion, where panelists from diverse backgrounds, including Dr. Neeta Nagar, Managing Director of Accenture, Mr. Jussi Tokola, Head of Legal at Tietoevry, Ms. Jasmin Assulin, CEO of Dei Dei, Ms. Sanna Saastamoinen-Barrois, Designer, CEO, and Ms. Monika Liikamaa, CEO of Enfuce, shared their views on the theme, “Women’s Voices and Choices – Breaking the Bias.”
The discussion was hosted by Vaishali Doshi, who opened the floor by asking panelists about gender biases, imposter syndrome, and the impact of male perspectives on society. Ms. Assulin, one of the panelists, spoke about the need to break gender biases and the importance of recognizing and speaking out against them. She also highlighted the impact of gender biases on career opportunities and gender segregation in certain professions.
Another panelist, Ms. Saastamoinen-Barrois, spoke about the advertising industry’s biases and the need for creative spaces free from discrimination. She also emphasized the importance of pursuing anything that brings beauty into the world.
Mr. Tokola, the Head of Legal at Tietoevry, shared his views on breaking gender biases and the need for men to provide feedback continuously to impact such situations. He also shared a fascinating insight into the study of why women are not applying for specific tech roles and how recognition can increase the rate of application.
Ms. Liikamaa, the CEO of Enfuce, shared her thoughts on the leadership attributes of women, the Me Too movement, and gender inclusion in sports. She highlighted how classism and communist attitudes could impact collaboration on an international level regarding equality.
Dr. Nagar, the Managing Director of Accenture, spoke about her challenges as a woman in the tech industry and the impact of class and caste systems on women’s voices in India. She shared a personal story of rebelling against the norms and eventually made a mark for herself as a woman in the field.
Another Impressive panelist, Mr. Ram Kumar, Group Chief People Officer at NordCloud, shared a plan of action to promote equality and career advancement for women in organizations. The plan included raising awareness in diverse groups, implementing change, attaining visibility through statistics, offering training, inclusion, entrepreneurship, and user stories, creating a policy framework, understanding career paths through job architecture, and introducing anonymous reporting channels for feedback.
In her final comments, Jasmin, CEO of Die Die, shared some interesting facts on gender bias and how to address it. She mentioned that the Nordics are frontrunners in promoting equality, with venture capital still predominantly going to male-led companies. She also cited a global survey that suggested an integrated approach with a database could help curb gender bias. Jasmin encouraged identifying potential biases and breaking them into more sustainable ways to bring closure to the gender gap.
A talk by Dr. Ashwini Anilkumar on Ayurveda for Women followed the discussion. The event concluded with closing remarks by Mini Sharma, allowing attendees to network and have refreshments.
“It is essential to participate in events like these to learn from and support the incredible women who are breaking barriers and making strides towards gender equality, and to be a part of the movement towards a more equitable and just society for all.”
In conclusion, the International Women’s Day celebration in Helsinki was an impressive event that brought together thought leaders, professionals, and advocates to celebrate the achievements of women and discuss the challenges that still exist. The event highlighted the importance of empowering women to make their voices heard and to break the biases that hold them back. The discussions and insights the speakers and panelists shared were thought-provoking and provided a fresh perspective on issues related to gender equality. Overall, the event was a reminder that there is still much work to be done to create a world where women have equal opportunities and are valued for their contributions.
Written by Abha Jambhulkar
Indian Women in Finland Ry 