Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team says "Give what you know, gain who you become."
Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD) in partnership with its partner Arm, hosting an outstanding event at the AMR Technology Campus.
Giving and gaining on IWD and beyond, alongside Arm
"Building on last year's theme of The Importance of Allyship and Mentoring, this year's international theme of Give to Gain encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration to advance gender equality," said Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team.
"Give what you know. Gain who you become. Together with Arm, we marked International Women’s Day at the AMRTC by sharing knowledge, building practical toolkits and creating space to support one another through tangible allyship. Because when everyone has the opportunity to thrive, we all move forward," announced the group.
"International Women's Day is so important. We want to celebrate the great work that women do around the world, but also recognise that there's still work to be done in achieving equality for women,” commented Arm's Senior Vice President & Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Tamika Curry Smith.
Driving change through collaboration and knowledge-sharing.
This highly impactful event contained three major elements, all designed with a focus on sharing practical tools and knowledge.
The first of these elements was a discussion circle featuring facilitated conversations between small groups, aiming to compare skill sets, share learnings, and unlock development to aid high performance.
Sharing journey towards equality and high performance
An engaging fireside chat hosted by TV presenter Derin Adetosoye took place, featuring six insightful panellists:
- Rob Bloom, Chief Marketing Officer, Aston Martin Aramco
- Janet Wessels, Chief People Officer, Aston Martin Aramco
- Tamika Curry Smith, SVP and Chief DEI Officer, Arm
- Charlotte Eton, Chief People Officer, Arm
- Andrew Howard, Vice President of Partner Success & Licensing, Arm
- Dr Nike Folayan, Chair & Co Founder, Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE)
The panellists focused on showcasing practical, real-world insight on driving change through collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Featuring insights on influencing meaningful change, the panel was an opportunity for Aston Martin Aramco and Arm to explore their shared journey towards equality and high performance and the benefits of these on communities.
"International Women's Day is so important. One, because we want to celebrate the great work that women do around the world, but also recognize that there's still work to be done in achieving equality for women. This partnership has truly enriched me personally. We have shared values. We think about things the same. We really want to be part of the solution together,” said Tamika.
"Formula One is ultimately one of the biggest team sports in the world. So that group of individuals has to come from a diverse background and have a platform to express themselves and bring their very best into the office environment,” commented Rob.
"Give To Gain is about pausing from our day-to-day and really investing time to give back so that we can receive. I think the fundamental life lesson is there's no difference between men and women and the contribution that we can add," said Janet.
"Being here today, I've gained massively, and I thought I was coming to give. And so the interaction between those two things, it's really neat, and it definitely has happened today," added Andy.
Discussing how to seize opportunity and develop skills
Derin then delivered an impressive keynote speech highlighting her personal journey.
Navigating the topic of Seizing Opportunity, Derin revealed how she developed her skills to get where she is today and inspired those in attendance.
"Days like today are so important because it's not just about inspiring others, but it's really about inspiring action. Give to Gain means a lot to me because when people take actions in doing initiatives, you gain so much insights, confidence, and opportunities for you to move forwards in your own career," said Derin.
"Today's been great because we've had the opportunity to be around so many women but also leaders and have these conversations that have helped to inspire so much change and action," added Derin.
Inspiring others to take action and push change forward
The event formed part of Aston Martin Aramco’s Make A Mark commitment, where the team aims to help advance equality, push positive change forward, and inspire those around them to take action.
Aston Martin Aramco’s Make A Mark strategy is made up of three pillars: sustainability, community, and inclusion. Aston Martin Aramco consistently tracks and reports its progress against these pillars to ensure it is making a lasting positive impact and contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
A commitment to ESG is at the heart of everything Aston Martin does. Its success isn't only measured on track, but also through its ability to effect positive change in its team, as well as the communities and environment around it.
"Inclusion is about creating a sustainable future for all. We’re passionate about encouraging and developing a diverse, equal and inclusive team where everyone feels represented and empowered, regardless of gender, age, beliefs, or background. We’re creating a place where people can be their authentic selves and the best that they can be. In doing so we can attract and retain the very best talent, and by cultivating a diverse workforce and inclusive culture, we can unlock the full potential of our team and drive performance on and off the track. We recognise that both we and the sport need to do more to make this a reality. Together with our partners, we are committed to breaking down the barriers to the sport over the coming years and will achieve this through the following principles," cites Aston Martin.
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