On Monday 9th March, The Two Counties Trust hosted its fourth annual International Women’s Day event, bringing together students, colleagues and women from industry for a day of reflection and meaningful conversations.

Now a key moment in the Trust calendar, the event gives students the opportunity to meet inspirational women from a range of sectors, hear about their experiences and reflect on what International Women’s Day means to them personally.

The day began with a short introduction from Emma Howard, Headteacher at Swanwick Hall School. She encouraged everyone to think throughout the day about what International Women’s Day means to them and to write their thoughts on the cards placed on each table.
Students and guests then heard from keynote speaker Michelle Holmes, who shared the story of her journey to becoming both a European and World Triathlon Champion. Michelle spoke about the significant health challenges she has faced along the way and how she overcame them through determination and belief in her own ability.

Her story focused on the importance of trusting your own strengths, particularly at moments when your ambitions feel out of reach. Everyone was struck by her honesty and resilience.

After the keynote, students had the chance to speak with women from a range of industries. Students were able to have open conversations about career paths, personal experiences and the challenges and opportunities women can face in different sectors. It was also a moment for everyone to discuss how they can make all spaces more inclusive and supportive for women.

After lunch, students took part in a workshop led by Sarah Bailey, Executive Headteacher (Pastoral). The workshop encouraged students to reflect on their inner strengths and how these qualities can become their own personal “superpowers” as they move through education and take their first steps into the world of work.

The day concluded with a moment of reflection as a couple of cards written by students were read aloud. It was wonderful to see how a simple prompt turned into a poignant moment, with their words perfectly highlighting the power of women supporting one another as well as the inner strength.

Manor Academy student, R Wightman said:

“I really enjoyed today speaking to several inspiring women and learning about the barriers that they have faced in the workplace. It was a great opportunity to connect with like-minded people who share similar interests with me and to find out more about how they got to where they are.”