Photo credit: Holiday Inn & Suites Port Moresby
A powerful panel of five (5) consisting of three female leaders in the community and two male IHG leaders were on centre stage at the hotel’s Gekko Bar. Surrounded by an audience of Holiday Inn staff and management, the theme #BreakingTheBias was the focus of the day.
Sharing experiences, overcoming barriers, empowerment through personal strong life contributors and personal drivers that assisted them make tough decisions and stand by decisions to see a multitude of outcomes come to pass were all encompassed in the discussions had in the morning session.
IHG globally celebrated the day through varied events all focussed around the theme #BreakingTheBias, and Holiday Inn Port Moresby was on fire with the feedback and insights given by the women leaders – Anna Kavana Bais, Sylvia Pascoe and Tania Bale.
Questions posed to the panel, gauged responses from the panel with real life experiences.
Photo credit: Holiday Inn & Suites Port Moresby
Anna spoke about the challenges she faced as she rose up the ranks in public office over her 27 years starting as a payroll officer and eventually after 19 years, promoted to Head of Department where she held office for 8 years before deciding to step out, and into politics. “Unbalanced decision making....” Anna stated, was the direct outcome from men because the prioritising or lack of it, was predominantly driven by their lack of empathy toward the burdens carried by women, that men did not share at home.
When questioned about overcoming feminism, Sylvia responded, “A feminist is not about females trying to take over the world.... it’s about strong people standing up and making decisions that make the country a more equal place”.
Tania said, “A feminist is not just women but it’s men as well.... Believing in equality. It’s not about women being better than men and vise versa, it’s all about equal opportunity”.
Holiday Inn & Suites supports equal opportunity, allowing both men and women to rise up in the ranks through merit and potential.
Both IHG male managers, Oala Patrick and Azriel Natera, acknowledged the strong women who featured in their lives through upbringing and social experiences. Resonating sentiments, feedback and life learnt experiences in support of their female panellists, but even more was their alignment with #BreakingTheBias.
The morning session ended on a high note with panel speakers taking time to mingle with the audience.
Holiday Inn & Suites staff and management take this time to say, “Thank-you” to the guest speakers for taking the time to share their experiences and challenges with the audience in the morning session, of 8th March 2022 in celebration of “International Women’s Day” - #BreakingTheBias. The global theme for 2022.
