Leadership. Resilience. Inspiration.
Ahead of International Women’s Day, we sat down with our very own Co-Founder and Director, Jacqueline Ebanks, to discuss her leadership journey, the challenges she’s faced, and her advice for the next generation of women breaking barriers. Her words are a powerful reminder of why representation, resilience, and empowerment matter. Read more below.
As a female leader, what does International Women’s Day mean to you, and why is it important to celebrate it?
International Women’s Day recognizes and celebrates the contributions and achievements of women in a variety of spheres. I think it’s important to continue to celebrate not only to remember where we’ve come from, but the efforts of those before us who worked so hard to make our progress possible. It’s also important to bring attention to what we’re working toward and what we hope for, for future generations.
What has been the most rewarding part of your leadership journey, and what advice would you give to women aspiring to leadership roles?
The most rewarding part of my leadership journey is having the opportunity to work with many talented people and being able to collaborate to make a difference. This is both professionally, in our healthcare practices, and in various volunteer capacities, such as having the opportunity to serve on the Education Council.
The advice I would share with other women, is that to remember you can be a leader no matter what your title is. Your personal growth is very important – keep learning, take care of yourself, and prioritize nurturing your core relationships – whether that be familial, friendships or professional.
Have you faced any challenges as a woman in leadership, and how have you overcome them?
Absolutely! Everyone faces challenges. Our individual challenges and approaches to them vary. I try to focus on what I can control and remind myself that challenges help us grow. Life does not get easier; we get better equipped to deal with whatever life sends our way. Personally, I strive to face my challenges gracefully, and to build capacity. I do my best to learn from every experience. I do my best to live out my faith daily. This is definitely a work in progress.
What changes would you like to see in the workplace to further support and empower women in leadership?
I think one of the most powerful ways to empower women in leadership begins very early in life, and we can each play a role, by
Who has inspired you the most in your career, and what lessons have you taken from them?
So many people have inspired me and continue to inspire me, I could probably write a book. Some of the key lessons that continue to serve me well are:
To find out more about International Women’s Day and this year’s “Accelerate Action” theme, please visit www.internationalwomensday.com
