Evalinde (Belgium)
Access to education
Online MBA student Evalinde Eelens has always been fortunate to have access to excellent education in a safe
Inequality in the workplace
Working in the financial industry as a professional pension fund board member, Evalinde does not find many women in her working environment: “There are very few women present in my professional environment, and I still feel like an anomaly. Nowadays, however, I embrace my unique status. I have learned to use my uniqueness to my advantage, and it helps me to get the best out of me, the situation, and my peers. It contributes significantly to what I bring to the table in, and outside of the boardroom.”
“…I have learned to use my uniqueness to my advantage, and it helps me to get the best out of me, the situation, and my peers.”
Choose to challenge
Evalinde indicates that she always speaks up for equality, makes room for different viewpoints, and keeps an eye out for those not adequately heard or seen. “Where boards are often commended when they have more than one female board member or minority representation, a board with “only” two men is frowned upon.” This needs to change,” she adds. ”We need to break the mold of our own prejudice to achieve inclusiveness and equality. Actively seeking out areas of inequality and speaking up - loudly - is imperative. Willingness to participate is of equal importance and I actively encourage all underrepresented groups, including myself, to seize every opportunity presented to them, even, or especially, when it might be out of their comfort zone.”
How the Women Ambassadorship Scholarship and the MBA help
Female empowerment, and equality in general, mean a great deal to Evalinde: “The Women Ambassador Scholarship, not only helps me build my confidence and profile, it shows the new generation and minorities, that they are not alone in their struggle, that opportunities are available to all, and that, albeit slowly, progress is being made. It also gives me a platform to speak out on matters that mean a great deal to me personally and professionally. The Scholarship and MBA further build my confidence and puts me in a privileged position to provide a helping hand to those who need it the most and the voices that are heard the least.”