With female empowerment at the core of everything we do, this International Women’s Day we are shining a spotlight on some of the incredible women and different roles that make up our team. Meet five women who form part of our growing movement of innovators and uplift us every day of the year.
“Being surrounded by brilliant
Vanessa
women makes me feel empowered.”
MEET VANESSA
Head of Product and proud mother to baby boy Nico, Vanessa has an innate love of fashion which has cemented her exciting career in the industry.
“I have always worked in fashion, as it’s a real passion of mine and I love what I do. Working to provide the best product for the customer is what drives me. I feel lucky to be able to work with an outstanding design team and can collaborate across all areas of the business to execute our strategy.”
What makes you feel empowered in your day-to-day life?
I love having conversations with friends, work colleagues or a mentor on my daily commute. Putting on a podcast or listening to music from inspiring and strong females is good for the soul. A couple of favourites are Beyonce and Taylor Swift.
Tell us about one of your proudest moments.
Don’t mind the cliché but it was becoming a mum. Until experiencing it myself, I didn’t realise how amazing women are to carry, birth and care for a child. I discovered how strong and resilient I am, looking after this life amid being sleep deprived and an all-round hot mess. Now juggling full time work with an 18-month-old has added another level of achievement. I am so proud of the sweet and caring boy he is and love watching him grow.
What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
To always believe in yourself and put yourself forward for opportunities that you may not feel entirely comfortable in. These situations are where you grow the most and you usually end up surprising yourself with the outcome. I’ve been very fortunate to have always been surrounded by inspiring, smart and supportive women that always encouraged and pushed me to believe in my ability more than I probably have at times. I am so grateful for those who pushed me to greatness and to be the best version of myself.
“I feel very passionate about young women believing in
Vanessa
their full potential and knowing they can achieve their goals and dreams. I truly believe that if women support each other and collaborate, we will change the equation.”
MEET HELEN
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Helen moved to Australia to pursue her undergraduate study. A crucial part of the finance team and SHEIKE team at large, Helen has begun her journey of motherhood as she patiently awaits the arrival of her firstborn.
“I’m very proud to have moved and settled in a different country, making a life for myself away from my family and comfort is a huge achievement.”
What makes you feel empowered in your day-to-day life?
I feel empowered when I have autonomy over the decisions I make, whether professionally or personally. When I feel confident in my decisions, I'm then comfortable accepting whatever outcomes follow.
What does Inspiring Inclusion mean to you?
To me, Inspiring Inclusion means inspiring women of all ages and backgrounds. It also means valuing their experiences and opinions to make them feel empowered.
“I feel empowered when I have autonomy over the decisions I make, whether professionally or personally.”
Helen
MEET JOANNE
Store Manager of SHEIKE Merrylands, Joanne is an avid voice for the voiceless and passionate about seeking justice for women’s rights and those being oppressed.
“All of my core values align with my faith and my faith teaches me to treat everyone regardless of class or race with love and respect. I believe inclusivity entails creating a culture that celebrates diversity, different perspectives and identities and actively seeks to empower women all around the world.”
What makes you feel empowered?
Part of my role at SHEIKE includes inspiring women on a daily basis. There is nothing more empowering than witnessing women reclaim their confidence and overcome their insecurities. As a hijabi woman, I am faced with many stereotypes and assumptions. It is beyond empowering to challenge this stigma and validate that despite my difference in clothing and beliefs, I am still able to curate and style customers from all walks of life and enlighten them that we too, can be fun, daring and creative.
What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
Give yourself grace. Self-care is not selfish. Remember to pour into your cup as often as you pour into others and prioritise your mental health.
What does Inspiring Inclusion mean to you?
Inspiring Inclusion to me means seeing people that look like myself being welcomed and invited to broader conversations and opportunities.
“As a hijabi woman, I am faced with many stereotypes and
Joanna
assumptions. It is beyond empowering to challenge this stigma and validate that despite my difference in clothing and beliefs, I am still able to curate and style customers from all walks of life.”
MEET GLORIA
Our Senior Marketing Manager Gloria has a penchant for spreadsheets and snacks. When Gloria isn’t leading the marketing team at SHEIKE, you’ll find her binging a new docuseries, baking or taking the time to learn a new skill.
“A day in my life typically involves leading and managing our marketing efforts alongside our wider team. I’m so grateful to be working with a passionate team and empowering leaders who are always open to new ideas, big or small.”
What makes you feel empowered in your day-to-day life?
Carving out time and space for a ‘5-9’ after my ‘9-5’ makes me feel empowered and balanced. I try to schedule in weeknight activities to help me be intentional with how I’m spending my evenings -whether that may be a Pilates class, trying a new recipe for dinner, or seeing my family. I once had a strong female mentor who always reminded me that “we work to live, not live to work” – so being able to strike a great balance between all the things I love keeps me energized.
What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
Learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. I often still remind myself that I don’t always have to have all the answers, and that most times, we grow by leaning in with curiosity instead of fear.
What does Inspiring Inclusion mean to you?
To me, Inspiring Inclusion means doing my bit to help forge the way forward for other women and young girls. It means leading by example, mentoring, and inspiring the younger generation to achieve their goals. It means valuing the different perspectives that each woman brings, and ensuring they are included and heard.
I often still remind myself that I
Gloria
don’t always have to have all the answers, and that most times, we grow by leaning in with curiosity instead of fear.”
MEET JOANNA
Originally from the coast of England, and now living in Sydney, Joanna is a fashion lover, self-proclaimed bookworm and our Senior Planner.
“I love that in this role I get to work with so many different teams across the business, including our wonderful store teams.”
“I am so lucky that I am given the autonomy to make decisions on so many facets of the business at SHEIKE. I am given the space and trusted to try new things to improve the brand.”
What’s one piece of advice you would give your younger self?
To have a vision of where you want to be, what you want to achieve or work towards. But to also remember to be brave enough to give yourself the freedom to change your path as you learn and grow.
Tell us about one of your proudest moments.
Other than being featured in this campaign, it would have to be making the decision to leave London and move to Sydney. Having grown up dreaming of a life in London, realising it wasn’t the right place for me and making the decision to move literally thousands of miles away from my beautiful family and friends was incredibly tough. Starting from scratch, beginning to build a life out here and knowing how much happier it’s made me is my proudest achievement.
What does Inspiring Inclusion mean to you?
To me, inclusion and representation go hand in hand. I feel that inspiring inclusion comes through representation, empowerment and active listening. Representation creates role models to inspire inclusivity to grow across generations which is so important. But also, in the here and now, we need representation of different lived experiences to truly understand how to create an inclusive environment, product or service.
We need to ensure everyone has the space to be truly listened to and are empowered to share their views.”
Joanna
