The world has been through the same pandemic but the actions taken by leaders have resulted in differing outcomes. On International Women's Day, we want to celebrate the achievements of women who are managing and leading during this crisis, and encourage all leaders to urgently address the big challenges for a better future.
The Big Challenges for a Better Future
Monday 8th March | 5.30pm (GMT)
CMI invites you to celebrate International Women’s Day with us this year as we ‘choose to challenge’ for a better future. You will hear from top leaders, how it feels to be in their position and what support they believe women impacted by this marathon crisis need going forward.
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There’s still time to register for our IWD Event.
The Big Challenges for a Better Future
Watch back from our International Women’s Day celebration as we ‘choose to challenge’ for a better future. We heard from top leaders, how it feels to be in their position and what support they believe women impacted by this marathon crisis need going forward.
Keep challenging in your area and take a look at our regional IWD events
Choosing to Challenge
It’s been a year of big challenges for everyone. This year’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘choose to challenge.’ We challenge organisations to embrace gender equality and put it at the heart of their agenda to drive organisational performance. Organisations need to better support, retain and promote women, CMI offers the solution to help address this change.
We’re highlighting the practical steps that can be taken to create an inclusive future for organisations, sharing open-access resources and highlighting just a few of the stories of our fantastic members, and how they have navigated through the last year.
To get the conversation started, Chartered Companion Edwina Dunn OBE, creator of The Female Lead shares her experience in business and leadership in a special Better Managers Briefing.
Five Ways to Create an Inclusive Future
“From challenge comes change.” This is why we are looking to leaders to keep or adopt the policies and practices that we know work. We need to take collective action to ensure gender equality does not regress as a result of the pandemic.
This means adopting a wide-range of good practice approaches such as flexible working, implementing sponsorship and mentoring, supporting and training line managers and removing bias from recruitment and promotion.
Here are five ways to provide yourself and your team with the knowledge to create an inclusive workplace.
Support your team
Now, more than ever, it’s important to ensure team’s have the support they need in the workplace. Whether that’s in ensuring flexible working, closing the gender pay gap, or supporting your team’s wellbeing.

Get Educated
Making informed and educated decisions sets the benchmark for inclusivity. CMI offers a range of qualifications, designed to support the needs of those in the workplace, no matter the professional level.

Improve your skills
Chartered Manager Status is about reflecting on achievements and building confidence to take on our changed world. Put yourself and your team on a route to Chartered Status, or improve your team’s knowledge by offering CMI membership to your team.

Access Mentoring
Influence the next generation of managers to create inclusive and diverse workplaces, or tap into the knowledge and insight of senior managers in their fields with our mentoring support service.

Have your say
Choose to challenge by increasing your network and working together to affect change. CMI’s community networks, including CMI Women, support, encourage and empower individuals and organisations to create inclusive workplaces.

Celebrating Women in Leadership
Hear the inspiring stories of women who have led through the pandemic, putting their management skills to the test.
The biggest success I can think of is the sheer resilience we – both myself and my organisation – have displayed, in the face of this pandemic. Learning to pivot and adapt to a work-from-home environment, learning to balance work and home life, taking on additional projects at work and in my personal development.
Neha KirpalaniLearn from Leaders
CMI Chief Executive Ann Francke OBE is Board Member of the P&G Alumni Network’s Women in Leadership Forum. In February 2021 she hosted a special event for its UK, Germany and Geneva Chapters, which highlighted leaders’ contributions to gender balance. Hear from high impact women and men promoting gender equality and its effects.
Additional Resources for inclusivity
Ensure diversity and inclusivity is firmly on your radar by keeping your knowledge up-to-date.
Here you’ll find some additional resources and webinars to help you to create an inclusive and forward-thinking organisation.
Get involved with CMI
Join the Gender Equality challenge
If you’re not yet a member of CMI, why not take a look at the different ways to get involved with the wider CMI Community and the amazing benefits it offers Managers and Leaders of all levels.
Join the CMI Community