International Women’s Day 2021 will be observed on Monday, March 8th. In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Barcoding is celebrating some of our most inspiring and hardworking women.
International Women’s Day was launched in 1911 by “New Women” and their fellow suffragettes. Today, International Women’s Day commemorates the agency of women and their socioeconomic, sociopolitical, cultural, academic, and legal achievements.
The theme for this year’s IWD is #ChooseToChallenge. We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change, so let us all choose to challenge. Show your support and raise your hand high to show you are in and that you commit to choosing to challenge and call out inequality. Strike the Choose To Challenge pose and share on social media using the hashtags #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021 to encourage further people to commit to helping forge an inclusive world.
At Barcoding, we aspire to create a comfortable working environment for all and encourage prosperity with mentorship programs and flexible work options. Take the time to get to know four incredibly strong women and #SupplyChainGeeks here at Barcoding:
Describe your job and role at Barcoding-Canada?
My official role here in Barcoding-Canada is Business Coordinator, and I usually have my hand in partner enablement, marketing, event planning, content creation, and recently “zoom master”. Not sure how I feel about the latter, but it’s always good to be a master of something. My work spans nationwide between Barcoding and Barcoding-Canada, so I feel pretty international despite working remotely in my home office here in beautiful Niagara.
Who is your biggest female role model and why?
I get a lot of my tenacity and stubbornness from my mother, who made a life for me and my grandparents despite being an immigrant herself with a large language barrier. She worked 12-hour days to support the family and I owe a lot to her. She is definitely my biggest role model, but I also look up to a lot of Canadian creators like Maud Lewis, Emily Carr, and Margret Atwood.
How have you supported other women in their careers?
My support is usually and largely behind the scenes when it comes to helping friends, family, and coworkers such as assisting with resume designs, event planning, integration with a new network or simply just being a good listener. If it is something I can provide for any woman in my life, then all they need to do is ask or even just receive! I understand sometimes it can be hard to reach out and ask for help.
Describe your job and role at Versatile Mobile Systems?
I am the Maintenance Coordinator here at Versatile. I assist our Maintenance customers during the life of their contract, this includes helping with set up, managing day-to-day, general correspondence, and escalations. I also wear some random hats here at Versatile. I had the pleasure of arranging our move to the gorgeous new facility in Woodinville and I take care of most of our events and morale here too!
Who is your biggest female role model and why?
My very first boss—Bonnie Bowton. Bonnie threw herself into building her team and she trusted us to excel. She was terrific with 1:1’s and goal setting and pushed me and the rest of our team to try things that were new and outside of our comfort zone. Bonnie always had an open door and wasn’t afraid of hard work herself, no job was above her, she pitched in wherever it was needed. She modeled hard work and determination and she also took time to volunteer in the community. I am super fortunate to have had that modeled early in my career!
How have you supported other women in their careers?
I have the pleasure of working with some AMAZING Women here at Versatile. My coworkers are hardworking and care about their work and I’m just so proud to work with them! I see my role as one of the cheerleaders here, sometimes just checking in and being encouraging and sometimes to sit down with and seek solutions for deeper issues. The thing I’ve loved so much about working here at VMS is that we’re a team. Everyone is willing to pitch in, dig deep and make magic happen.
Describe your job and role at Barcoding-Canada?
My role at Barcoding-Canada is to be an exceptional customer service/after-sales service representative. My core role is to continuously support our customers, answering their questions, and support their needs in any way they require. I support our sales team as well as build customer satisfaction with our existing customers. I utilize various tools available to me to recognize new opportunities, handle customer requests in a timely matter and act as the bridge between the customers and the company.
Who is your biggest female role model and why?
I have so many women that I am so inspired by. Women in my family, women I work with, listen, and learn from on social media or read books by, but my real inspiration is Misty Copeland, a professional prima ballerina at American Ballet Theatre in NY city. in 2015, Misty became the first African American woman to be promoted to principal dancer in ABT’s 75-year history. She began her ballet journey at the age of 13, which is incredibly late in the ballet world, her ability to overcome her obstacles and remain focused on her art form is incredibly inspirational to me. As a ballerina myself (in my past life) I recognize the focus and discipline that is required to push yourselves beyond what is possible. Misty does so with such grace and beauty which inspires me greatly. She has broken many barriers in her career, but her true value is in the awareness she brings to the art of ballet and dance in general. She has a pure heart.
How have you supported other women in their careers?
I am always seeking to support women in their businesses and as well as in their daily life where women have so many different roles; we are mothers, sisters, leaders, entrepreneurs, homemakers and so much more. I personally support women’s run charity – Women for Women International and have been sponsoring a few women who are now my dear sisters, located in war-torn countries; to help them acquire an education that starts them on a new & better journey in their communities. I support & shop at small businesses run by women whenever possible. I am always in awe at women’s abilities, drive, accomplishments, and perseverance and I fully believe that we need to support and encourage each other.
Describe your job and role at Barcoding?
I work in operations supporting sales reps and vendors to ensure on-time, under-budget projects are completed to meet the customer needs and satisfaction. Knowing that what I do has an overall impact on the company is important to me. I love my Job!
Who is your biggest female role model and why?
Condoleezza Rice, I supported the Military in a subcontractor role on programs for Navy Ships. I was very proud to be part of something so strong and amazing. To be a woman in a man’s world such as she was, the strength, courage, and struggles she had to overcome to be who she is today, is someone to look up to and be very proud of.
How have you supported other women in their careers?
Supporting women in their roles is important. People are more likely to complain than to give people high praise. Supporting each other via text, email, LinkedIn, phone call, and or even a greeting card, is very important, it helps us get through our day as we the job we love to do. Everyone could use a nice expression from others. It makes the world go around.
Barcoding aspires to celebrate and commemorate all women this International Women’s Day. Through our active efforts and our leaders, we pursue equity and justice for all women. Together, we can celebrate what International Women’s Day represents today, and every day. Check out our blog post in 2020 about our remarkable women at Barcoding!