Baxendale Employee Ownership’s Finance Manager Nicola Trett celebrates International Women’s Day, by sharing how inclusion has impacted her career and shaped her values which has led to her working in an employee owned business.

On this International Women’s Day, I am compelled to reflect on the journey that has brought me to where I am today. A journey marked by many challenges, growth, and profound gratitude. As a woman navigating the complexities of life, I have experienced first-hand the transformative power of inclusion and sadly how damaging exclusion can be throughout my career.

My journey has been one of self-discovery, an exploration of identity, purpose, and belonging. Early on in my career, I grappled with questions of who I am and where I fit into a business world that often seemed to favour certain voices over others. It was through this journey of self-exploration, along with finding role models and authors such as Brené Brown, that I began to understand the importance of inclusion, not just for myself but for everyone who had ever felt marginalised or overlooked, and with experiencing exclusion first-hand one of my highest personal values became kindness.

Inclusion, to me, is about recognising and celebrating the differences that make each of us who we are – as we are all human! Through embracing diversity, we not only enrich our own lives but also create a more vibrant and inclusive society where everyone feels valued and respected.

I am grateful for the inclusive spaces and communities that have welcomed me throughout my journey. We all need these spaces which help to create a sense of belonging and acceptance. It is in these spaces that I have found the courage to embrace my authentic self and to celebrate the unique perspectives and experiences of those around me.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s important to recognise that true equality cannot exist without inclusion.

As I sit here today, I reflect back to those times where I did not feel included and how this fuelled my search to be working in a business environment that met my values. I feel very grateful to now be working in the special space that is employee ownership, and to be included within a team where our employee-owned culture fosters trust, respect and caring for each other, and we all have a sense of inclusion with all our voices being heard equally.  Each day I feel a sense of worth as I can contribute towards creating meaningful, positive change for business owners and their employees.

As I look ahead to the future, and with many more businesses becoming employee owned along with those joining the B-Corp movement where we commit to using the business as a force for good by balancing people, the planet and profits, I am filled with hope and optimism for a world where inclusion is not just a goal but a reality.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Nicola Trett