MIMA Summit 2017 Opening Keynote

At the 2017 MIMA Summit, there was a lot to be inspired by. Working professionals, founders, and CEOs all shared their stories over the course of the day, and we couldn’t help but feel motivated to drive change in the workplace.

Most notably, Jana Shortal sat down with Elizabeth Nyamayaro, head of UN Women and social movement HeForShe, to talk about the importance of gender equality for all. Their conversation took a glaring look at inequalities still present around the world, pointing specifically to how we must work together to drive change.

On behalf of HeForShe, Elizabeth spoke to the power of catalyzing small steps into actions by uniting people around a shared goal. Using the influence of social media, this movement has helped ignite change in real time, spreading awareness to people in communities. People who might not otherwise think to take action. Globally, #HeForShe has already driven 1.3 billion conversations surrounding gender equality and inspired 1.5 million commitments to continue talking. With the support of so many, Elizabeth thinks we can all make an impact in our communities and around the world.

Many suffer from gender bias, discrimination, and violence, and all genders must work together to stop this. Questions from the audience such as, “how do I ensure my son and daughter are treated equally?” and “How do we redefine masculinity?” revealed the importance of celebrating all genders rather than pushing others down. After responding to questions from female audience members, Elizabeth even refused to leave the stage until also hearing from men, cementing her conviction that we all must be a part of the conversation.

Elizabeth spoke about the impact of her work with the UN and #HeForShe, but time and time again she returned to one insight: it comes down to all of us. Every single person needs to help drive this train for it to get anywhere. So let’s remember to keep pushing forward in our communities and unite around our shared humanity. As Elizabeth said, “What we share is much more powerful than what divides us.”