Could you imagine being a woman in 1926? The flapper era was in full swing and the idea of the “modern woman” was beginning to take shape, helped along by changing fashions that ditched restrictive silhouettes in favour of movement and comfort. Bobbed hair and shorter skirts became cultural shorthand for a generation beginning to push back against expectations that had shaped everyday life for decades, even if many of the systems around them were still slow to catch up.
Looking back over the past 100 years, the contrast is striking. In 1926, British women had only recently gained the vote and full equality at the ballot box was still just out of reach. Divorce law had only recently begun to treat women more fairly, while true financial independence was still viewed with hesitation by many institutions.
A century later, the landscape feels dramatically different, with women shaping industries and building careers in spaces that earlier generations would have struggled to enter.
We have women leaders, women business owners, women dominating traditionally male-centred spaces, and on the flip side, women choosing to stay home, because the movement was always about choice and opportunity!
We have some incredible women at TRO who are here because they want to be and are making a difference at TRO and on the client accounts every day. Without them, we wouldn’t be the TRO business everyone loves.
For this International Women’s Day, we wanted to highlight some of the women at TRO.
Kerri Melville-Gee said, “International Women’s Day should be a moment to pause and recognise how far we’ve come.” For Shelby Nelson, “It’s a moment to celebrate what we’ve achieved so far and shine a light on ALL women and the contribution they make to society in being where it is today”. And for Katie Holland, “It’s a great moment to reflect on how far we’ve come. When I think back to starting my career 17 years ago, the landscape felt quite different. It’s encouraging to see the progress that’s been made and to celebrate the women who’ve helped shape that change.”
Katie said, “I feel really positive about the direction we’re heading. I’d love to see the momentum continue.” Whereas Rebecca Naughton commented, “More visible female leadership and clearer pathways for women to progress into senior creative and leadership roles. Whilst we have come a long way here, I still think there’s more we can do!” Jasmine Gooch stated she wants “more representation, especially in more ‘traditional’ male roles,” whilst Alice Holden-Brown sees it being around confidence saying, “I’d love to see women feel more confident in their abilities and owning the positivity they can bring through trust and knowledge.”
Kirsty Finding does it by, “Listening, really hearing them, and validating what they’re going through. I make a point of reminding them of their strengths and encouraging self-belief.” Jasmine, “ensures she’s advocating for the women she works with, especially those younger or new to the industry,” and Alice does it with, “Patience, understanding and always giving a judgement free zone to ask questions and seek advice.” Adding to this, Shauna Cahill says, “I try to support other women by being open, approachable, and encouraging, whether that’s sharing knowledge, offering reassurance before a big moment, or simply listening. Creating a supportive environment where people feel comfortable asking questions makes a real difference.”
We asked Rebecca, and she said, “There have been many! But one springs to mind, A TED Talk by a speaker/author called Susan Cain, which really resonated with me. She talks about the power of introverts, & it was the first time someone had really challenged the way schools and workplaces are often designed to favour one type of person. It inspired me to lean into my own strengths and recognise that different perspectives make teams stronger.” Blythe Grieve had our favourite answer for this! “Outside of work, my Mum and my sister have had a huge influence on me. Their determination, confidence and constant drive helped me build that in myself. Professionally, one of my first managers was a young woman in her twenties. Despite not always being the most senior person in the room, she commanded it, leading meetings with confidence and ease. I remember thinking I wanted to be like her when I grew up, and now I realise I’ve learned so much from watching women like her. More recently, I’ve been inspired by women across different teams, brands, roles and disciplines. They bring different perspectives and approaches to problem solving, which is something I value hugely. It’s a great reminder to never discount someone’s insight just because they work in a different area.”
Katie feels, “Many organisations are already doing great work in this space. Continuing to prioritise open dialogue, flexible working, and clear development pathways.” Whereas Shelby believes, “More mentorship opportunities that are female-led, to build more women up to be leaders. We’ve come a long way, but there is still so much confidence that needs to be built for females within the workplace so they feel they can do it all without having to sacrifice anything,” Kerri stated more growth could happen by “offering genuine flexibility, creating mentorship opportunities and ensuring women have access to leadership pathways. I think it is all about making women feel like they don’t have to choose between a personal life and professional ambition.”
Kirsty Finding proudly said, “Taking to the ‘stage’ in front of a room full of people.” Shauna mentioned, “My younger self would probably be surprised at how confident I’ve become navigating high-pressure situations. I don’t think I always believed I’d be able to trust myself as much as I do now.” Emma Daynes said, “ I think my younger self would be surprised at how far I’ve come in my career already, I didn’t expect to be heading up a finance team and representing finance at leadership level in my early 30s!” Heather McDonald told us, “Finding a job I genuinely enjoy and having the confidence to take ownership of my own tasks and areas of responsibility, things I wouldn’t have felt capable of a year ago. I’ve always struggled with confidence in my work from a young age, so I think my younger self would be surprised by how much I’ve achieved and how much I’ve grown over the past year.”
Would the women of 1926 believe they held such positions? Had this influence? And could be a part of a great conversation that continuously helps women?
We hope they would be proud.
