At Spiff, we think of ourselves as lucky. Especially now, during Womenโs History Month.
We looked no further than our own team members to learn why womenโs history is so important to highlight, recognize, and celebrate. After spending time with four of our global leaders recently, we learned why the women from years past are so key to who we are today.
Mindy Tolbert is an Executive Assistant at Spiff, but worked for 20 years at a credit union, then balancing two stay-at-home jobs after her son was born. Sheโs glad she made that switch, too. Leading by example is absolutely crucial in raising children, she says.
When asked whatโs been key to her career success, she says, โI hope I have taught โ and continue to teach [my kids] โ the importance of working hard but always putting family first.โ
Reflecting on the importance of this month, Mindy was quick to quote poet and activist Maya Angelou, who said โMaking a living is not the same thing as making a life.โ
Womenโs History Month is a necessary reminder.
โAs women, we know what other women have achieved, and it expands our sense of what can be possible,โ Mindy said.
Thatโs an opinion echoed by Nat Gorton, a Senior Project manager on Spiffโs enterprise team. Located in the beautiful village of Crick in the heart of England, Nat says she is particularly inspired by Virginia Woolf and for many reasons.
โVirginia Woolf did not have an easy life but she was a trailblazer,โ Nat says. โShe was emphatically โ even authentically โ herself.โ
Womenโs history is important to learn about because itโs just so hidden otherwise.
โWe have to recognize where weโve come from. Think of the famous women from history who had to fight to make their voices heard and make a difference,โ Nat says. โThink of all of the other amazing women in the world that we know nothing about.โ
As a New York City-based Social Media Specialist at Spiff, Yasmine Yacut has been inspired by meeting amazing women both before and after she started working here. They have helped shape her career since her first day.
Others helped her before she started at Spiff, helping lay the groundwork of who she has become. Asked about the woman whoโs inspired her the most, Yacutโs answer comes easily: her mother.
โShe moved to this country from East Africa and had to go through so much in her life to make it here,โ she says, offering that her mom speaks eight foreign languages. โIโm first generation and so thankful for my many opportunities and for my momโs constant support. Sheโs one of the strongest women I know and Iโll always look up to her.โ
โ[This month] is a time for a call-to-action and it connects people from around the world,โ she says. โItโs a time to celebrate activists and raise awareness of their work and the challenges they face.โ
Flor Moya, a Project Manager with Spiffโs implementation team who lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has her own unique take on why this month is important.
It has everything to do with strength and resilience.
โWomenโs history is what has led to where women are now,โ Flor says. โEvery advantage or privilege we enjoy was another woman's fight. I think we need to honor that and keep working towards equality in every aspect of society, for us and the women who come after us.โ
At Spiff, we acknowledge that despite the progress we've made as a society towards equality, women - particularly underrepresented minority women - still face unconscious bias and discrimination in the workplace. And, as an organization we know that while there is a lot to celebrate, we also realize there's more work to be done.
We appreciate the women we work with and those who are leading the way for future generations. We stand with those who fight against the harmful ideals and systems that continue to negatively affect women today. Let's continue to work together towards a more equitable future.
