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Clare Cooper: "Teams perform better when there's balance."

​International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for communities and organisations around the world to raise awareness about accelerating gender parity. Here at Phaidon International, we take this day to celebrate the contributions women make to our business and our daily lives. We sat with Clare Cooper, one of our Executive Directors, to talk to her about her career and what International Women’s Day means to her.

Hi Clare, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I’ve been at Phaidon International for almost ten years now. I oversee Glocomms, our tech recruitment brand, across Europe and the technology side of Selby Jennings, which handles banking and financial services. My clients range from stealth mode start-ups through to Fortune 500 companies across a number of industries, including fin-tech, ad-tech, fashion-tech, e-commerce and more. I’ve lived in London, San Fran and New York – giving me unique insight into different tech markets and talent pools. I’m also a certified STEM Ambassador – I’m very passionate about working with clients on helping them find diverse talent!

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

I think it’s just a really great day for us just to take a step back, reflect and celebrate women. What I really like about it, particularly here at Phaidon International, is we get everyone involved – male and female. That’s great for us just to take the day and look how far we’ve come, all the great things we’re doing as a company, and look forward as well. What can we do in the future to compound on the progress we’ve made so far?

Who are the female role models in your life and career?

So, I don’t actually have any ‘business’ female role models. My role models are people who are really close to me, who are so inspiring, like one of my best friends Evita is my role model. She’s just worked so hard. She’s originally from South America and moved to the States. Her work ethic is unreal. And some of my other friends and what they’re doing with their careers... they’re the ones who inspire me. People I know, not people I haven’t met.

The theme for this year’s IWD is #BalanceforBetter. What do you think companies can do to create better gender balance?

I think a lot of companies are very aware that it’s very important to have gender balance, but where there’s a missing link is the communication of why it’s so important to employees on the ground. We need to educate everyone in the organisation from the bottom up as to why teams are better and why they perform better when there’s balance, whether it’s gender, whether it’s race – whatever it is. So, I think that’s one thing that business can do to balance for better.

Thanks Clare. Lastly, who would you have over for dinner, man, woman, dead or alive?

Jennifer Lopez probably. I’m sure there are better people I could choose, but you know what? I think she’s so cool and so strong – I’m a bit obsessed actually – I would just love to meet her and maybe we could sing, because I love karaoke.

Are you struggling to make your workforce more gender balanced? Are you curious to know what employees think about diversity? Download our guide here.