The theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is #ChooseToChallenge. We can choose to challenge and call out gender stereotypes and bias, and to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can create an inclusive world. From challenge comes change.

We sat down with Imane Nassif, a five-year veteran of Ford and a Buyer at Ford Direct Markets purchasing office in Tangier, Morocco, to find out how she’s adapted to new ways of working, and what International Women’s Day means to her.

“Since the pandemic started, we all had to find new ways of doing business. With no face-to-face interactions with neither colleagues nor suppliers, no manufacturing plant visits, and a travel ban, we relied more on technology to keep things going; prudent in times when staying home and keeping safe distances are still of great importance. But perhaps even more crucial is balance. You should always seek a balance between work and wellbeing, especially when days start to look the same.”

Who’s the most inspiring woman you know?
“I hold so much admiration and respect for all the female doctors, nurses, and frontline workers, who have spent the last year treating and caring for Covid-19 patients, putting their own lives at risk to save those suffering. Many of them had to leave their families to do so, enduring extreme physical and mental challenges. They truly are heroes.”

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
“I love to see women celebrated year-round, but International Women’s Day shines a brighter light on all their achievements, and puts into perspective the challenges women still face. This annual day of acknowledgement gives us an opportunity to broadly communicate, exchange, inspire, and touch lives, while focusing a keen eye on the actions we must take to ensure even greater advancement.”

What does this year’s theme #ChooseToChallenge mean to you?
“The theme no doubt embodies the ethos of numerous events witnessed globally this year; we simply cannot make a significant improvement if we remain in our comfort zone accepting what has always been. Challenging inequality, bias, and discrimination can be difficult; consequences can be unpredictable. But we must consider just how satisfying change can be for all of us and strive to make it so.”

How do you #ChooseToChallenge?
“One thing I learned this year, is to challenge our perception first. An inspiring woman I had the pleasure of meeting taught me to actively connect with people from different backgrounds; of varying race, religious beliefs, and political views – those in contrast to my own. This has allowed me to become more aware, and better understand opposing perspectives. Over time, my social media feed, populated by these new connections, has become more and more diverse, as has my viewpoint. Interacting only with people just like you will prevent you from growing, and hinder your self-awareness and acceptance development.” 

How Does Ford support women who #ChooseToChallenge?
“Ford provides women with innumerable platforms to connect and work together, outside of our expected role. I’m fortunate enough to participate in the Women of Ford workshops – an initiative where women from many nationalities meet for discussion groups. In them, we talk about challenging issues, listen and assist each other, and build strong professional and personal connections. I’m also a member of the European Purchasing Diversity and Inclusion committee, where we work to promote – at all levels – a culture of equality, encouraging every individual to contribute to their functional objectives within the region, regardless of background or circumstance.”

What inspires you?
“Simply put: Equality of opportunity inspires me. When people from different, potentially difficult, social circumstances are given the same chance as those with a more privileged background, we can witness outstanding results. I aspire to afford those opportunities. Through volunteer work in Tangier, we are teaching young orphans coding and robotics, offering admirable skills in a future-facing field. But my one piece of advice to those children, and all the young girls hoping to pursue a dream in the face of adversity, is to ‘take that step you’re afraid of’. If it is the right step, you will succeed. If it’s a stumbling block, it will lead you down the right path. Either way, you win!”

To download the Word document of this press release in English, click here