Female Delegates are doing it for themselves!

Please read the above title as if you are singing the 80’s hit by none other than the winning combo of Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin.  ‘Female delegates’ admittedly does not have the same ring to it, or amount of syllables as ‘Sisters’ but humour me for the sake of the title…

Being an office (not intentionally) of 100% women, articles highlighting that we’re pretty good in the business world do make us smile (and want to boast a tiny bit).  The European Federation of the Associations of Professional Congress Organisers (or EFAPCO to people who believe that is an unnecessarily long title) held their annual meeting in Portugal last month.

The seventh General assembly proudly presented two thirds of its delegates being of the female variety.  We do love a conference, after all.  Isabella Lenarduzzi, Managing Director of JUMP “Empowering Women, Advancing the Economy” believes that equality in the EU would create a 27% increase in GDP.  Furthermore, Lenarduzzi believed that the global energy source which is most untapped is talent and energy from the females of today.  Would a ‘Woop-woop’ be appropriate now?  I believe so.  Woop Woop!  To place some lovely icing on our metaphorical cake, President of Belgium’s EFAPCO member association, Anne de Smet, believes very simply that the industry’s future is being led by women.

In terms of female leadership, the meetings industry is where we are dominating other sectors.  In order to continue this trend, De Smet stated females need to “develop a number of leadership skills, which will be essential in tackling future global trends”.  We’ll get on that immediately, De Smet, we promise.

Gentlemen, for the record, we are not putting you down here, and you guys can also have a Woop-Woop if you like (Woop-Woop!).  However, as an all female team we do like to recognise and acknowledge female contributions to the business world today and give our selves a pat on the back (and maybe the consumption a celebratory muffin..or two…an maybe a cheeky beverage…)

To finish on a quote from Mariana Abrantes de Sousa, an independent financial consultant who spoke at the EFAPCO meeting: “Educate a man and you educate one person. Educate a woman and you educate the whole family.”  Well said Mariana, well said.