Tech entrepreneur and inclusivity champion Carlene Jackson says advances in the workplace must continue and March 8 should still be a day of celebration
A prominent female entrepreneur is calling for a reinvigorated response to International Women’s Day, despite lockdown restrictions.
Carlene Jackson, CEO and founder of Cloud9 Insight, says March 8, 2021 must still be recognised as a major global event for women even though this year’s events will be virtual.
“Normally I’d be out and speaking at events on March 8, networking with other female business leaders and really enjoying the amount of talented women in the UK business scene.
“Obviously this year is going to be a bit different. But I am determined to connect with as many as possible this year, even though it’ll have to be done via a screen.”
Jackson, who serves as a board member for diversity and inclusion on the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP), says she is concerned about the impact of the pandemic on women at work and insists that women's ambition must not be locked down in 2021 as a result of the pandemic.
“We must strive to ensure that the many advances that have been made on equality of opportunity for women in the workplace do not go into reverse as a result of the pandemic.
“Women have been especially impacted by lockdown and in particular by school closures. Many have had the burden unfairly placed on them to step in to deal with their children’s education as well as having to do their day jobs.
“The theme of this year’s IWD is ‘Choose to Challenge’, and I believe we must challenge ourselves to overcome the difficult situation we are in and to make the world a better place for everyone.”
About Carlene Jackson
Carlene Jackson is the CEO of Brighton-based Cloud9 Insight, which she founded in 2010 and has 35 staff. It is a Microsoft Gold Partner that has provided more than 700 UK businesses with cloud-based CRM software systems.
Carlene has over 25 years working in the tech and software industry, advises Parliament on apprenticeships and training and is a board member of the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP) on diversity and inclusion. A serial entrepreneur, she established her first business aged 17.
