Forget tokenistic displays of solidarity in the form of pink cupcakes or themed coffee cups…
For International Women’s Day 2024 we’re leaning into this year’s theme #InspireInclusion by detailing a selection of first-hand career tips, courtesy of our colleagues at Amply.
This idea of paying it forward isn’t new, nor is it an exact science. However, research has found that acts of solidarity and support can have a ripple effect, something that is very much needed in the workplace where women are still vastly underrepresented, underpaid and underappreciated.
Here’s what the women of Amply had to say:
Rosaleen McMeel, Director of Publishing
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“The only bad decision is no decision.”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Don’t be afraid of failure. It’ll show you what you’re made of.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Know your values and stick to them, regardless of role, level or industry.”
Orla Murphy, Account Manager
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“Back / trust yourself and the rest will fall into place (both personally and professionally).”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Ask the questions, you’re not expected to have all the answers from the get go (you soon learn no one else does either). Your career path/direction is your responsibility so take the time to shape it.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Always go with your intuition, if something feels wrong it likely is and if you believe something is right for you, go for it! Don’t let the opinions of others hold you back, you know you best. Take the leap.”
Sravanthi Burra, Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“Setbacks are not the end of the world, they’re just new directions.”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Your goals and purpose can evolve, and it’s okay not to have everything figured out.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Remember, you’re in that room for a reason. You belong there!”
Amanda Kavanagh, Content Editor
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“Double your salary exceptions. From a male friend. It worked.”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Stop focusing on developing technical skills, and focus on soft skills. They will be more valuable to you in years to come.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Make as many salary gains in your twenties as you can. If you decide to have kids, the motherhood penalty can set you back so it’s better to have a solid base to begin with.”
Haya Siddiqui, Account Manager
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“Never undermine yourself and what you bring to the table. Always be vocal about your achievements.”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Allow yourself to flow with changes that come out of nowhere. Most often these changes will strengthen your ability to be versatile, resilient and increase your knowledge levels.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Seek discomfort. Go after things that terrify and challenge you. That is where your hidden talents and true purpose lies.”
Carolina Silva, UX/UI Designer
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“Be mindful of imposter syndrome. Remember that you earned your place and deserve to be where you are.”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Don’t mind other people’s opinions and follow your own path.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Stay curious and adapt to changes, invest in learning and skill development.”
Ayomipojojo Tosin Ogundiran, Quality Assurance Engineer
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“’Venture outside your comfort zone’. This has taught me that challenging yourself is a great way to promote career growth.”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Embrace a growth mindset. View challenges and failures as opportunities for learning and improvement. I believe that approaching difficult tasks and projects with a positive attitude helps you develop essential skills.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“You can do anything you set your heart to do. Once your heart can conceive it, you can do it!”
Katie O’Connor, Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Don’t be afraid to make a linear move into a different industry. There are no wrong career moves, just experience to gain.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Set yourself goals. This will keep you motivated and help you stay focused as you navigate your career path.”
Heather Lynch, Senior Strategic Partnerships Manager
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“You don’t have to do the same career forever, it’s okay to zig and zag, and explore different options, it’s called a career path for a reason, and it can be a scenic one!”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Constant striving for perfection can be paralysing and unrewarding. It’s okay to make mistakes. It’s just as important to celebrate progress, even if it’s not always picture-perfect.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Don’t be afraid to start somewhere, even if it’s not your dream job, it could lead you to amazing destinations and to meet even more amazing people. All experiences, both positive and negative, contribute to who you become. So, while not everything might feel productive in the moment, it can all be part of your life story.”
Kirstie McDermott, Senior Content Manager
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“Move jobs every few years. It sharpens your skills, and turbo-charges your earning power.”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Most people will get laid off at some point – and it might even happen to you a couple of times. It is absolutely not the end of the world and can often lead to new opportunities you may not have previously considered.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Do the things you’re intimidated by. Ask for help, figure things out and keep on learning, always.”
Aoibhinn Mc Bride, Content Editor
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever been given?
“Foster your professional network as it will prove to be invaluable throughout your career.”
What career advice would you give your younger self?
“Take more risks. There are jobs I should have moved on from earlier and others I only took because they seemed like the safe option, but get out of your comfort zone and don’t be afraid to challenge yourself to think outside the box.”
What advice would you give to young women starting out in their careers?
“Set boundaries. When you’re starting out and want to seem enthusiastic and eager, you might feel as though you can’t say no to things but it’s important to establish clear boundaries early on. Working hard and being consistent will always trump staying late in the office or answering non-essential emails while you’re on holidays, just for the sake of it.”
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