International Women’s Day

Morgan Burn

Learning Solutions Consultant

“I was once told, I looked more like a ‘preppy cheerleader’ than a learning specialist and couldn’t possibly know anything that the individual didn’t”

Tell us a bit about your role:

I creatively shape learning interventions and have no fear in challenging traditional approaches if needed. I specialise in Leadership, Early Life and Talent Progression. I love designing and facilitating on subjects such as: Self- Awareness, Coaching, Values Identification and Neurodiversity.

Working with a huge variety of clients I develop solutions with bespoke impact. I highly value interactivity, even when delivering virtually I am always looking for new ways to heighten engagement.

Have you ever faced discrimination and what was your reaction to it?

I have been in my profession around 4/5 years. I am 24 and have been told many times that I don’t really have the typical look of a ‘consultant’. Sometimes my image of a young female can be of detriment to my talent.

I was once told, I looked more like a ‘preppy cheerleader’ than a learning specialist and couldn’t possibly know anything that the individual didn’t. I was delivering a technical induction and throughout the 4-week process, the delegate continued to challenge my credibility as the content lead and bypass me to direct questions to a more ‘senior figure’. They believed it was ‘humiliating’ to gain information from someone as young as me and that the way I looked was distracting enough (I can only assume this was being a young female). They asked to move training groups and requested the new learning specialist be male and over the age of 25.

Luckily my organisation handled this well, they refused to move the delegate in to another training group and promoted my expertise. I had to remove the individual from the virtual session and had full support of the business to do so should they act inappropriately. This fuelled a change for all learning specialists to remove participants from their sessions immediately should they become disruptive (previously you would need to check this with another team member, the process was lengthy).

The individual left on their own accord just after the induction. I had a diminished sense of confidence, and it took a while to rebuild this.

How has OnTrack supported your professional development and celebrated your achievements as an equal?

OnTrack values my professionalism greatly, they always put me forward for projects that tick my boxes. They send news flashes of a lot of my achievements and value my input greatly. OnTrack also posted an article that featured me on the topic of ‘reverse mentoring’. It highlighted my ability to think in a different way and emphasised my youth as a strength rather than a lack of experience. It meant a lot to me to have my colleague present my professionalism in this way as this hasn’t always been the view of people. I am so grateful the exposure and feel more able to believe in my own capabilities.

My colleagues always ask for my perspective and consider me as professional as my other wonderful consultants. I don’t feel as though the examples I shared would occur within OnTrack due to the attitudes and values the people we work with hold. I am so proud to be part of my team and would encourage the fabulous females at OnTrack to speak candidly about these experiences, so that we can raise awareness and act for equality.

Cicci Westin Curry

Development Partner

“One of the reasons I was so keen to return [to OnTrack] is their inclusiveness. Senior leaders and colleagues genuinely care about each other and cover each other’s backs if someone needs time out”

Tell us about your role at OnTrack:

My role is to work closely with our clients and understand where they need support, why and share our thoughts on how we can help them achieve their performance goals across their individual managers and leaders, teams, and the organisation. Following a deep scoping and analysis, we provide holistic solutions all contributing towards our goals. As such, I need to be a good listener, a challenger of thinking and a reliable partner delivering on promises and making sure our team say what we will do and do what we say.

Have you ever faced discrimination/bias/inequality in the workplace and what was your reaction, how did you overcome it?

I was once told by my boss “You are pretty to look at, we should make more use of you at the front of the classroom” which completely devalued any intellectual contribution I made to a training session. I was not chosen to deliver a session because it was felt I had valuable knowledge or thanks to my facilitation skills. I know the comment was intended as a compliment and that the person who said it had no idea that in one sentence, he patronised me and diminished the intellectual value I bring to zero.
It affected relationships and changed how I went about managing my relationships. In my role I spend a lot of time with clients around psychological safety and the importance of creating a work environment – both at organisational level and in teams where people feel safe to be themselves.
I believe a lot of discrimination, bias and inequality can be remedied by creating greater psychological safety and where managers feel empowered to invite conversations with individuals and the team as a whole around boundaries, what is important to the individuals in that team and make sure everyone are able to share what they feel they want to share – and at the very least be able to speak to their manager about why they oppose an idea if they do not want to share it with the team. At the end of the day – if we are all able to feel comfortable in our own skin, we do not waste energy on fretting, worrying, frustration or worries and can channel our energy into our performance.

How has OnTrack supported your professional development and celebrated your achievements as an equal?

I have recently returned to OnTrack and one of the reasons I was so keen to return is their inclusiveness. Senior leaders and colleagues genuinely care about each other and cover each other’s backs if someone needs time out. They have managed that careful balance of low-touch, high trust. High autonomy but with high support if needed. I feel psychologically safe and supported to aim for my full potential. I feel productive and motivated. I do not feel there is anything I could not say or suggest to my manager and team. This does not mean that we are all in agreement all the time. This is not the case. We are very different people. But we respect each other and the opinions of others. We reflect on compromises and try to find common ground.
I think there has always been a willingness to offer substantial support. Be that through part funding a development initiative, allow study-time or assist in gaining exposure into areas of development. The answer is never ‘No’. Rather it is ‘Let’s look at how we can make it happen for you’.

Caroline Hay Davison

Digital Learning Consultant

"Male colleagues are consistently paid more than women doing the same role and often performing better in that role."

Tell us a bit about what you do:

My role mainly involves interpreting client’s learning needs and creating blended learning solutions that are engaging, interesting, contain a range of learning methodologies and deliver the results that the clients are looking for. As well as working with colleagues to deliver these solutions.

Have you ever faced discrimination/bias/inequality in the workplace? What was your reaction and how did you overcome it?

Working in the restaurant and pub industry for many years, and being quite young when I started the role, I frequently experienced bias and inequality in the workplace.
One example and one which I still think women face in business today is where male colleagues are consistently paid more than women doing the same role and often performing better in that role. I can vividly remember approaching my boss having been outperforming everyone in my team (and being the only female) for a pay rise above the average, on the basis that I knew several of my male colleagues were paid more than me despite two of them having joined after, with less experience (I had to train them) the response was “ I can understand why you want a pay rise but men generally are the main breadwinners in a family”.
I was furious with the response and tried to fight against it, providing evidence and examples to no avail, they were sticking by their decision. I moved internally for a good pay rise and could not believe it when a couple of years later I found myself in the same position but a different department. Generally, I can see that the gender pay gap is closing but I believe the inequality in pay, which of course affects your pension as well as your general income, is still evident.

How has OnTrack supported your professional development and celebrated your achievements as an equal?

At OnTrack I have never questioned or had to question whether I am treated fairly and have never experienced any type of bias. It feels so different to be valued for what I do and how I do it over and above anything else
Often working in learning and development, the development of the individuals in the team gets put to one side whilst you find solutions for the wider business or clients. However, I would say that OnTrack actively encourage and support professional development in all capacities from encouraging reading and sharing knowledge through knowledge sprints to attending training to upskill. OnTrack support regular reviews and there is a focus on different opportunities to get involved in new and interesting projects or activities. All this creates a culture of learning that supports everyone who works here. Success is always shared and celebrated with congratulations coming from the whole team

Angela Andrews

Head of Client Success

“For a period of time, I felt it was unprofessional for me to talk about my children at work, in case others felt my priority was home over work.”

Tell us about what you do at OnTrack:

My role at OnTrack has changed over the years but ensuring we provide a fantastic service to all our clients and suppliers has been a focus of mine since day 1. I love a challenge and some of our more complex projects means we are constantly learning every day, even after 20 years!

Have you ever faced discrimination/bias/inequality in the workplace? What was your reaction and how did you overcome it?

Back in the days as a first line manager I was given a coach and I had been working with him for a while. He was an experienced line manager and we had been working together for a while. One session we talked about juggling work and life, and I was told during that session that I needed to concentrate on the most important thing for me at that time and that should be my children. I have always been passionate about women being able to choose to have a career and have children and not having to compromise on either.
I felt misunderstood as I felt I had always explained my passion for both my work and home life and how it was only occasionally that work and life became out of alignment, as it would do for most people. I decided to walk away from that coaching session and ceased any coaching going forward for some time. I did not need someone else’s opinion on my priorities to make me feel bad or guilty. I discussed it with my line manager who was supportive, and I later found another coach who has been a true professional throughout the two years we have been working together. For a period of time, I felt it was unprofessional for me to talk about my children at work, in case others felt my priority was home over work, but thankfully over time this has reverted back to me being able to share snippets of my home life with colleagues.

How has OnTrack supported your professional development and celebrated your achievements as an equal?

OnTrack listens to everyone’s opinion and develops its people to become the best version of their self. OnTrack took a chance on me in my latest role here at OnTrack – I was promoted to the senior leadership team whilst still working part time. I’d always given a lot of myself to OnTrack by being available when needed and gave lots of flexibility on changing my hours and answering emails whilst not working. For me, working at OnTrack was a way of life which wasn’t a chore as I have always loved it so much.
We love sharing success here at OnTrack and the whole team share in the congratulations – our OnTrack family are so supportive

Becky Vint

Client Success Manager

“I encountered sexual harassment in the workplace, rude text messages outside of work from the same person. Being 19 at the time this was really scary”

Tell us about what you do here at OnTrack:

My role is overseeing projects for our clients, that require project management on our bigger/more complex projects. It is such a diverse role, and I generally cannot predict what I am about to walk into each morning. As we are an international company, I get to work with clients in APAC, EMEA and the Americas each day, I enjoy working with our clients, we have some of the loveliest people to work with and I would not change that.

Have you ever faced discrimination/bias/inequality in the workplace? What was your reaction and how did you overcome it?

Yes, I have, very early on in my working life, as a young female, the jovial banter about women, I encountered sexual harassment in the workplace, rude text messages outside of work from the same person. Being 19 at the time this was really scary.
When my manager harassed me, I was scared, they were in a position of power over me and I was only 19 at the time, but I did (stupidly) face that person and raised it with their manager, I was not allowed to be in the same room alone with them and text messages were told to stop, and these would be raised with the police if they were to happen again. I sort of felt supported – but not enough.

How has OnTrack supported your professional development and celebrated your achievements as an equal?

I have recently moved into this new position as a project manager and provided with the time and support to attend courses to develop my role. Regular Newsflashes to celebrate achievements in development. Spot Prizes are great – as this is a recognition from peers in the business to congratulate you – I think this is a fab idea.

Rosie Bailey

Co-founder of OnTrack International

“It made me so resolute to be strong and hold my head up and say what I think, even though I was young, female and a new mother.”

Tell us about what you do here at OnTrack:

After working in sales for five years I wanted to have a baby. At the time (over 30 years ago) it was difficult for women to do both, especially in the corporate world. I decided to start a business so I could ‘call the shots’ when it came to spending time with my baby. As a result, OnTrack International was born.
I’m still very much part of OnTrack although much less operationally involved. I love being part of a business which makes so much of a difference and brings much help and support to the organizations we are privileged to call our clients.

Have you ever faced discrimination/bias/inequality in the workplace? What was your reaction and how did you overcome it?

I have indeed! I won Salesperson of the Year with a large global business I was working for and as part of my prize I got to attend the awards dinner and sit by the male CEO. During the dinner as we were talking, he said: ‘the trouble with women is that sooner or later biology takes over!’ I could not believe it! I wanted to argue with him but did not, as I was too scared and shocked by his comment.
I was incredibly angry and soon after I left the company and started OnTrack. However, the effect on me during my life was very positive, because it made me so determined to let my ‘biology’ NOT get in the way, as he ineptly described it. I used to think of him often, sometimes when I had to go into a difficult meeting (often with challenging, older men) or during those early years of juggling young babies, feeling tired and exhausted, he did me a favour as it made me so resolute to be strong and hold my head up and say what I think, even though I was young, female and a new mother.

How does OnTrack supported your professional development and celebrated your achievements as an equal?

Most of my working life has been within OnTrack and we have developed a culture within our business to celebrate both men and women and their wonderful differences as well as making it a family friendly place to work. We have always strived to provide an environment where all are people are happy, feel supported and as a result work at optimum level. I was very lucky in that I grew up with a mother who believed a woman could do anything a man could do – she was a fabulous role model.
I am so lucky to have worked with many wonderful people both internally in OnTrack and our extended client family. I have learned a huge amount.
I think if we look at how far we have come just in the last 40 years of my career it is huge. There is of course lots to do, but let’s keep the momentum going.