Celebrating International Women’s Day with our local community
International Women’s Day is a very special day of the year. It’s a day where we get to celebrate all the incredible women in our lives and acknowledge the hard work, they put into the things they’re passionate about each day. Whether they’re creative chefs serving up delicious dishes for the local community, fashion designers creating gorgeous gowns, or simply hard-working mums who are dedicated to teaching their children how to navigate the world, we’re constantly inspired by the women around us and how their diverse range of skills help to make the world a better place. To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’re taking the theme ‘inspired inclusion’ out into our local centres and showcasing some of our incredible retailers, staff, and community members who are paving the way for a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world.
We want to thank these incredible women for sharing their stories!
Masha from Masha Beauty
What inspired you to open your own business?
It was my dream to own my own business and I really wanted to have something for myself.
What’s the most rewarding part about running your own business?
I am independent and have the freedom to work on my own terms.
What does the phrase “inspired inclusion” mean to you?
To be inclusive of everyone.
Who are some other women in your community that inspire you?
My colleague inspires me.
What advice would you give to other women who may be looking to open their business?
Don’t be scared to do anything. If it’s your dream, just do it. You’ll never know if you don’t try.
Katie from Specsavers
What inspired you to want to work at Specsavers?
The staff and the customers. We have great staff here, it’s like a little family. They’re all very supportive and comforting. It’s a very wholesome atmosphere.
What inspires you the most about working in the Optical industry overall?
You never stop learning. Its always changing and evolving. There’s lots of new opportunities.
What does the phrase “inspired inclusion” mean to you?
As a woman, being inspired to be included. Being able to be included with good people, challenges and views. Never back down from your beliefs. Being supported by those around you.
Who are some other women in your community that inspire you?
Leanne from the butcher. She inspires me to work harder. She went from a team of two to just one and ran the business on her own. She’s shown how dedication and hard work can pay off. I think she’s incredible.
What’s a fond memory you have of working at Specsavers?
There’s not just one really. It’s a great atmosphere and we all work really well together. We get a lot of good snacks, you can never have too many snacks! We pick each other up and help each other out when we need it. Everyone’s really friendly and happy.
Leanne from Meat & Co.
What inspired you to open your own business?
I originally opened it with my ex-husband, however six weeks after opening we broke up. This shop was my little baby and I didn’t want to let it go so I decided to take it on myself and see if I could run it myself. I kind of fell into it, but I took on the challenge and I absolutely love it. I have a great team around me, we’re like a little family. It’s my happy place.
What’s the most rewarding part about running your own business' love meeting customers and getting to know them. It’s a great work environment and team, like I said were like a little family here.
What does the phrase “inspired inclusion” mean to you?
There is not a great deal of females in the butcher industry. There's only 2 or 3 other female owned butchers in the whole state. It’s a very male dominated industry. Inspired inclusion to me means including everyone and not disregarding them based on sex.
Who are some other women in your community that inspire you?
There’s a lot of customers with big battles that share their story with me. Some customers with terminal illness. I just think, if they can get through that, then I can get through my tough times too.
What advice would you give to other women who may be looking to open their business?
Just give it a go. The worst that can happen is you’ll fail. Most things can be worked out, as long as you have a supportive team around you it all works out in the end.
This information has been provided by our Stockland retailers. All reasonable care has been taken to ensure that the information is correct at the time of the content going live. However, no warranty is given as to the accuracy of that information. The information may change from time to time without notice. Stocks are limited and only available while stocks last with individual retailers. Products may vary from location to location. Prices may also change without notice. Please contact our retailers for more information.
