Watch our full IWD video below
International Women’s Day is an annual event celebrated globally on March 8th.
This year’s theme is #InspireInclusion, something that is incredibly important to us and is ingrained into our whole ethos here at the Seventy Ninth. When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world – a more diverse and equal world.
At the Seventy Ninth Group, we’ve created an environment where all talents are not only welcomed but embraced. Our shared commitment to equality and inclusion has created an environment where women feel valued, heard and respected. We pride ourselves in knowing that we hire based on skills and merit and not on gender stereotypes. Across all of our global teams, women are included in key decision-making and given the opportunity to develop and grow.
This is a culture that has been purposefully created, allowing us to gain access to diverse perspectives, which has been instrumental in our company’s growth. For International Women’s Day, we’re going to show you some insights from female leaders and key decision-makers within the company. We’re going to look at their ambitions, their career path, and what motivates them, all to encourage other women to do the same.
Natalie Bellis
CEO | The Seventy Ninth Group
When you began your career, did you always see yourself working in a corporate business and reaching the position you are now in?
“I set myself a personal target, probably when I was around 24-25, going into the corporate world. I thought – not knowing or fully understanding what this meant – I wanted to be a director of a company by the time of 40. Having achieved that ahead of schedule is great, but what’s next?”
How can we recognise the positive impacts of having women as decision-makers in a company?
“Recognising women shouldn’t be, in my opinion, any different to recognising anyone within the organisation. Everyone here is hired based on the fact that they can do their job. And if they can’t, they have the attitude and the drive to be able to get to do that job successfully.”
“That’s something I’m really proud of at Seventy Ninth Group, the fact that there is always that open conversation there. For example, someone may have come in to work within the finance department, but actually, they’ve got a real passion for another department, and that’s something that we like to tease out of people.”
If you could, what advice would you give to your younger self?
“What advice would I give to my younger self? Don’t be so critical of yourself, and stick with it. Be encouraged by yourself, and positivity will come from all of that hard work that you do. Unfortunately, you do get knocks along the way, but it’s how you pick yourself back up and keep yourself in the right frame of mind, remembering that you’re moving towards your goal. It’s not a race. One small step is still a win. Ten steps is a win. It’s just how you how you believe in yourself.”
Hannah Gregg
Marketing Executive
When you began your career, did you always see yourself working in a corporate business and reaching the position you are now in?
“Originally, I didn’t want to go to university, so it was a pretty last-minute decision for me to go, but I’m so glad that I did because now I’m here.”
How can we recognise the positive impacts of having women as decision-makers in a company?
“It’s really important to have role models, especially in the place you work, and it’s great that we’ve got so many role models here at the Seventy Ninth Group. My personal role model is my cousin. She started off stacking shelves at Tesco down the road, and now she’s a regional manager for Tesco. I just think, what a woman.”
Alicia McMahon
Head of HR
How can we recognise the positive impacts of having women as decision makers in a company?
“When I came for my interview at The Seventy Ninth Group, Natalie was the pull for me to start here. Her ideas and aspirations for the company going forward made me want to dive into the Seventy Ninth Group and be a part of it.”
“I’ve seen us grow from just six people in one office to the 45 employees that we now have at our head office alone, at the moment. I’ve seen how hard Natalie has worked, and that’s made me want to work harder, too.”
“We’re all here for the growth of this company, regardless of gender. We all work together as a team. We all come together, we all support each other, and that’s what I love about working at the Seventy Ninth Group.”
