The month of March is beautifully dedicated to Women’s History in celebrating the amazing accomplishments of ladies from the past and present. Here at 百花视频 for International Women鈥檚 Day on March 8th, we are thrilled to spotlight some of our team鈥檚 fabulous females who are leading the way in both their personal and professional lives, which we hope will be a positive reminder of reassurance and encouragement for all women.
Catherine Edwards Whyte
Chief Operating Officer
础驳别:听40
Nationality: British
Residence:聽Jersey City
“Carving out your own path in a patriarchal society [is the hardest, and most rewarding,聽part of being a woman]. If you feel that you manage to achieve this even a little bit then聽take聽a bow. Bravo!”
Where did you grow up?聽
All around London and the south of England. We moved a lot so聽JC聽is actually the place I鈥檝e lived the longest.
Describe your earliest memory?聽
I don鈥檛 know what age I was聽but I remember that we put my younger brother, Julian in the washing machine聽(front loader obvs)聽and shut the door. I think my parents were probably horrified.
What was something you overcame as a woman that could be encouraging to others?
I had a double mastectomy at the age of 33. It meant I couldn鈥檛 breast feed either of my two children – but hopefully I鈥檒l live to be there for them in other ways.
Where is your happy place?聽
Sitting around a dining table playing card games with聽friends聽and drinking red wine. I love all the laughing, teasing and general escapism of it!
Geographically, the French side of St Martin is pretty amazing. Bath temperature ocean, Michelin quality restaurants and authentic French boulangerie makes for a pretty sweet place.
What鈥檚 been your proudest moment?聽
When I realized that my 4 year old was cleverer than me.
Which historical figure do you feel motivates or inspires you and why?聽
I love Katherine Hepburn. I love how people call her handsome when she is in fact stunning. I love how she didn鈥檛 give a crap about conforming. I love how she spoke her mind. I love how she didn鈥檛 care when people 鈥榓ccused鈥� her of being a lesbian like it was a bad thing.
What do you do/where do you go in moments of stress?聽
I鈥檝e definitely struggled with this the past year. Go figure.
One of my friends who also lives in an apartment with two small children gave me a genius tip that I鈥檝e utilized on a number of occasions. To cook supper whilst listening to a podcast on headphones. It鈥檚 a short time out whilst still being productive. Podcast I love are 鈥樷��, 鈥樷�� & 鈥樷��. I sometimes scare my children when I鈥檓 chopping vegetables and let out a massive laugh! Either way, dinner is on the table and聽I made a chore enjoyable!
What stereotypes of women do you wish were broken?聽
I hate the dichotomy that traits admired in men are criticized in women. Think passion, emotion, dedication, confidence, aggression, intelligence, independence, ambition and so on and so on. Pour us both a drink and I can bore you to death on this topic 鈥� it really aggravates me!
Which woman would you love to spend the day with and why?
Twee I know, but probably聽my mother. She died when I was 6 so I would want to learn more about her聽first hand.
Which women related issues do you feel need more attention in the mainstream?聽
Maternity and paternity leave.聽Let鈥檚 catch up with the rest of the world.聽It鈥檚 ludicrous that someone is expected to return to work after such a short period of time. Physically one might be nearly ready, but mentally is a whole different ball game.
What advice would you give to women juggling motherhood and a career?
Gin was made for a reason.
What do you think is the hardest but also most rewarding part of being a woman?聽
Carving out your own path in a patriarchal society. If you feel that you manage to achieve this even a little bit then聽take聽a bow. Bravo!
Brittany Joi Forde
Head of Finance and Human Resources
础驳别:听33
Nationality:聽Panamanian & African American
Residence:聽New York
“Our bodies are very complex and I believe we need more people who understand it. We need more women as leaders in healthcare because they understand. I find it unfair that men tell women what they can and cannot do with their bodies.”
Where did you grow up?聽
Georgia, New York, & Texas
Describe your family in 3 words.聽
Loving, loyal, amazing.
What do you consider beautiful?聽
Love! The various ways people show love, no matter the relationship. Also, laying and looking up at the sky at night, that is real beauty.
What is your go to quote or saying?聽
Tomorrow, I get the chance to be better.
Which TV or movie character do you identify with and why?聽
Kat Edison from聽The Bold Type. I resonate with her because she is this hard shell on the outside but such a softie on the inside.
Which woman in the public eye do you relate to or aspire to and why?聽
Gabrielle Union. She is the epitome of living her best life. Also, Michelle Obama, I only wish I had the grace and confidence that she exudes.
If you could tell your 18 year old self some words of wisdom, what would they be?聽
You do really like accounting, go to school NOW!!!! And – leave him alone, he鈥檚 no good for you!
Who do you turn to for help or guidance?聽
My mother & my aunt. I don鈥檛 know where I would be without them.
What did you last wish or pray for?聽
Discernment in my life & my goals coming to fruition.
What are some “women’s issues” that still need greater awareness in your opinion?聽
Women鈥檚 health issues is a big one. Our bodies are very complex and I believe we need more people who understand it. We need more women as leaders in healthcare because they understand. I find it unfair that men tell women what they can and cannot do with their bodies.
What do you think is the hardest but also most rewarding part of being a woman?聽
A woman鈥檚 ability to carry a human for 9 months –聽that is amazing!
Abby Schuster
Senior Placement Specialist聽
础驳别:听33
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搁别蝉颈诲别苍肠别:听惭补蝉蝉补肠丑耻蝉别迟迟蝉
“I think that the hardest听补苍诲听most rewarding thing about being a woman is freeing yourself of what you think you鈥檙e supposed to do and be, and聽realizing that may not necessarily be who you聽are, and that鈥檚 okay.”
Where did you grow up?
A tiny town in Massachusetts- we didn鈥檛 even have a stoplight or a gas station.聽In fact, I鈥檓 pretty sure that there were more cows than people!
Describe your childhood in 3 words…聽
Active, dirty, free!
Who is your idol and why?
I really look up to Torrance Watkins- the first woman to win an individual Olympic medal in the equestrian sport of Three Day Eventing. She lives near my hometown and I spent time working at her farm during my childhood and again in college. She鈥檚 such a strong woman with unbelievable drive.
Which charity or campaign is close to your heart and why?
is an amazing charity based in NYC. They support聽babies聽and families聽by providing parents with education, community and material goods for the first three years, to help give them a successful start.
Which women have inspired you throughout your life and why?聽
I鈥檝e been lucky to have many strong wonderful women in my life. My mom was so dedicated to my sister and me, always supporting our dreams and goals. I鈥檓 also surrounded by the most the extraordinary group of friends, some of whom I鈥檝e known for 20 years and some who I met when I came to work for 百花视频.聽聽Watching my friends have their own kids, start their own businesses and become the people they want to be is really inspiring.
Which book has changed your life and why?聽
I would say Harry Potter. I grew up with those books. I was 10 when the first one was published, and it was such a journey. On each release date my dad would bring home one copy, and my sister and I would fight over who got to read it first. When the final book was released, I was in college, working as a nanny. I started it at 9pm and finished at 2am. It felt like closing a huge chapter on my childhood. My favorite thing has been introducing those books to the kids I鈥檝e nannied in the years since. Sharing that world and seeing how much they love it too is so special.
Which female artist motivates you and why?聽
I鈥檓 not a very artistic person myself, but I really connect with Beatrice Wood, an artist who helped聽start聽the Dada movement. I learned about her at a small museum dedicated to her聽() that鈥檚 located at her home in Ojai, California. She was born a wealthy socialite and chose to walk a different path, leaving her inheritance to become an artist. She knew who she wanted to be and lived a life that was totally authentic to her. I find that very inspiring.
What does it mean to be a woman in the part of the world and society that you live in?
I always assumed that I would have a pretty conventional journey- fall in love, get married, have some kids. But it turns out that it wasn鈥檛 the way things have gone for me. Here I am at 33, after having nannied around the world for 10 years and happily single. I know that there鈥檚 still work to be done as far as equality goes, but I feel so fortunate that I have the choices that I do, and I hope someday that all women around the globe are able to experience the same.
What do you think is the hardest and also the most rewarding part of being a woman?
I think that the hardest听补苍诲听most rewarding thing about being a woman is freeing yourself of what you think you鈥檙e supposed to do and be, and聽realizing that may not necessarily be who you聽are, and that鈥檚 okay.
A Word from our CEO & Founder Anita Rogers
鈥淚 am so proud to run two all-female companies [百花视频听补苍诲听]. I believe in breaking through the glass ceiling and supporting women on their chosen journeys. Those who decide to become mothers will have job security with flexible work schedules to ensure they flourish in every aspect, at home and at work.聽We have such a cohesive and caring team at BAHS and I believe that to be due to us all being women who understand the stereotypes and challenges聽that we鈥檝e at times previously faced within the workforce. Here at 百花视频, we celebrate the continued success of a company built and led to inspire and encourage through diversity and strength within a sisterhood.鈥�