We love to empower our female Gliders and in light of International Women’s Day, we have asked Data Analyst Jess Shotton a few questions about the her career, inspirations and what International Women’s Day means to her.
Can you tell us about your career and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been working at Glide for nearly 7 years now (with a brief hiatus in London) and I’m lucky enough to have worked in a variety of different roles – all of which I’ve loved. I’m really excited to be moving into a new role in the company as a Data Analyst. I see this as a really positive step for me personally, but also for females in general. Traditionally roles and industries like this have been dominated by males, and I’m happy to be helping to break this stigma!
What motivates you to be successful?
I love learning new things, both professionally and personally. To me, my day has been successful if I go to sleep knowing more than I did when I woke up! Seeing change and improvement as a result of something I have done is such an empowering feeling, and it makes all the little things feel worthwhile.
Who is your biggest female role model?
There are so many women that I feel inspired by on a daily basis, for a number of different reasons. For me, though, I have to say my mum! My mum is a strong, independent woman. She has always worked hard to provide me with the best opportunities, and encouraged me to be the best I can be. To help me make a tough decision, I always think, “What would Mum do?”.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
I love the fact that this day is an opportunity for women to come together from all over the globe to celebrate our achievements! The day is not country, group or organisation specific, it breaks down boundaries and belongs to everyone, regardless of background, race, ability, beliefs, culture etc. The first international women’s day was over a century ago, and during this time there has been significant improvements in the equality and emancipation of women. The battle isn’t won yet though, and we’ve still got a long way to go! Let’s pull together and keep working towards equal pay, more women in boardrooms and politics, and empowering women all over the world. Imagine what we can achieve if we all come together and support each other in the next 100 years!
So, to all the women out there, keep being awesome!