​At half the sky, we celebrate women 365 days a year. To us, International Women’s Day is yet another day to celebrate the amazing women who inspire us every day and who make a difference in the world. We recognize that, as a career platform, we are creating an essential tool for forging equity and empowering women in their personal and professional lives. Whether it's through mentorship, networking, or educational opportunities, we provide women with the resources and support they need to achieve their goals and pursue their dreams.On this day, it is important to remember that celebrating women is not just a once-a-year event but a constant effort to recognize their achievements and contributions to society. In IrnizahKhusaini of Johnson Controls words, it means to be “empowered, and take ownership to create the environment and space for every one of us to develop, succeed and thrive”.This year’s IWD theme is all about #EmbraceEquity. In this blog post, we have asked our incredible companies that care to share with us how they uniquely #EmbraceEquity in their organization. #EmbraceEquity is about ensuring that every woman, regardless of her background, has equal access to employment, support and opportunities for reach her full potential, despite the roadblocks they are be presented with. Janelle Delaney, Women@IBM A/NZ Executive Sponsor shares the importance of driving conversations about “flexible working, tackling tough issues like menopause, domestic violence, infertility – yes these are topics that need to be spoken about - as well as looking at how to support our teams in life after COVID”. And this isn’t limited to the global gender gap. Hwa Choo Lim from Equinix shares the organization’s commitment to “accelerating digital inclusion and closing the gender digital divide” through “empowering women specializing in technology roles, giving them the support and confidence, they need to succeed and thrive in the field.”Hearing their stories, we are proud to celebrate our Companies that Care, who share the same mission as us and inspire us daily with their profound and authentic commitment to helping women succeed in the workplace and beyond. Read on as we highlight some of our amazing clients who share our mission of how they #EmbraceEquity and celebrate their achievements! ​​Hwa Choo LimVice President, Human Resources, Asia-Pacific, Equinix​"Observing the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, this year’s International Women’s Day is an opportunity for us to recognize the achievements of women who forged their own path no matter the obstacles thrust in their way. Whether it’s dispelling stereotypes, speaking up for themselves and their peers or achieving beyond what was expected of them, we celebrate their accomplishments and courageous perseverance. At Equinix, we place great importance on making women feel “I’m safe, I belong, I matter.” Through long-standing communities for empowerment like the Equinix Women Leaders Network (EWLN), women are able to mentor, connect, belong and nurture one another through ongoing programs that encourage professional growth.Going the extra mile this year, Equinix Foundation, our employee-driven global charitable organization, has committed a $100,000 grant to World Pulseto support its work accelerating digital inclusion and closing the gender digital divide. In order to close the digital divide for women, we will continue to empower women specializing in technology roles, giving them the support and confidence they need to succeed and thrive in the field."Spring AiSoftware Development Manager, Autodesk"I'm embracing equity by taking a new role as the China Region Chapter Lead for Autodesk Women's Network (AWN), our Employee Resource Group dedicated to empowering and developing women at Autodesk. In this new role, I lead the community and collaboratewith other talented women in the executive team. Due to the pandemic, the China AWN community has been relatively quiet for the past three years. Now it's time to restart, reinvigorate, and reunite community members and empower people through various programs and activities. This position allows me to use my strengths to support other women, extend my network, and discover growth opportunities.I'm also embracing equity by engaging in the Autodesk Mentorship Program. This program has helped me learn a lot of practical knowledge, including people management and communication skills."Janelle DelaneyPartner, IBM Consulting and Executive Sponsor, Women@IBM ANZ"​Working with our fantastic Women@IBM in Australia and New Zealand squads, we plan to continue to make IBM the best place for women to grow, work and flourish. We focus on initiatives that not only support women but support everyone in our workplace, such as looking at flexible working, tackling tough issues like menopause, domestic violence, infertility – yes these are topics that need to be spoken about - as well as looking at how to support our teams in life after COVID. We are also running events to enable technical women from different organisations to network and encourage each other in their career development. At IBM we care about our people and inclusivity is key to an organisation’s success, so I love having the opportunity to contribute to our success through the work of Women@IBM."​Azadeh KhojandiManager, Engineering, The Trade DeskWe recently held our Global Convention in Singapore in February. We hosted a breakfast for all our members of APAC Women in The Trade Desk (TTD). It was a fantastic opportunity to network and we had the chance to meet lots of new people from many different offices. We also posed a challenge to our attendees. We created bingo cards with TTD leaders names on them, and asked our members to take photos with everyone on their bingo card. The pose was in light of International Women’s Day theme for 2023, ‘Embrace Equity’ and we asked each person to pose with a self hug. This challenge was an excellent opportunity for our members to engage with leaders outside their immediate work circle and for them to also have some fun along the way.  In 2022, Women in TTD Circles was created to provide a space where women can pursue their own version of success, with a solid base of TTD members who will cheer each other on.​​Irnizah Khusaini​Senior TA Manager, Southeast Asia, Johnson Controls​"​Creating an equitable and inclusive culture is key for us at Johnson Controls, especially one that’s sustainable over time. For such a culture to happen, we recognize that the journey goes beyond creating appropriate resources and opportunities. It’s also about increasing visibility and support through a collective effort as One Team. Together with the rest of my colleagues in Johnson Controls, we are empowered, and we take ownership to create the environment and space for every one of us to develop, succeed and thrive.  I’m committed to reducing bias in the recruitment process, and to amplify the voices of my team and people around me. This journey starts today, and I invite you to join us to build a better tomorrow together!"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to showcase some of our exceptional clients who are leading the way in promoting gender equity and creating a more inclusive and supportive workplace. Their dedication to empowering women and providing them with the tools they need to succeed is truly inspiring, and we are proud to partner with them to make this mission a priority in 2023 and beyond! By having a glimpse into their passion and commitment to women in the workplace, we hope to inspire others to join us in the mission of promoting equity and creating a brighter future for women everywhere. 

​“Equality is giving everyone a shoe; equity is giving everyone a shoe that fits.” ~ Dr. Naheed Dosani, advocate for equitable healthcareToday is International Women’s Day (IWD), a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women, raising awareness against bias, and taking action in support of equity. This year’s IWD theme “Embrace Equity” is especially important as it calls attention to why, in order to advance women, we need both equality and equity.Equinix is proud to support IWD 2023. As the executive sponsor of our Equinix Women’s Leadership Network (EWLN) and an ally who pushes for the empowerment of women, we want to inspire a conversation about how everyone can collaborate to achieve equity in and out of the workplace​Equality vs. EquityEquality strives to give everyone the same opportunity; equity recognizes differences that prevent equal outcomes with the same opportunity. While equality and equity get used interchangeably, they are inherently different concepts.Equality assumes we are all starting from the same place with the same shared experiences, background and privilege and that by providing access and support equally, everyone will have equal opportunity for success. Equity accounts for the fact that not everyone starts from the same place with the same privilege of access and support, which can create significant disadvantages, making it more difficult to achieve the same goals. This difference is subtle, is often misunderstood and stands in the way of providing real access to opportunity. Equity removes the barriers that get in the way of people’s ability to thrive.Everyone starts from a different place, so how do we learn how to spot inequity? How do we raise awareness? How can we help forge positive change?​Allies are necessary to drive equityHere’s how The Great Place to Work organization describes allyship: “Allyship in the workplace means using your personal privilege to support colleagues from historically marginalized communities. Allies wield their influence to amplify the voices and elevate the employee experience of their underrepresented coworkers.”[1]Women are a truly diverse group and not all policies and practices benefit all women equally. Women of color, LGBTQ+, disabled and economically challenged are often disadvantaged which is why women must provide allyship to each other, but women cannot achieve equity alone—we need male colleagues to join this effort as allies who collaborate, promote and fight for equity in the workplace. Getting this buy-in is crucial to systemic improvements to workplace policies, practices, and culture.​Diversity of thought helps all of us. Get excited about knowing you can always achieve the best outcome by hearing all views. Allyship is an active, iterative process that starts with recognizing that you don’t have all the answers when interacting with people that may be different than you. An ally asks—and doesn’t assume—what another person needs.”- Mike Campbell, Chief Sales Officer, Equinix​While many of our male colleagues already believe in gender equality, they may not be sure how to turn gender equality into gender equity. If you’re looking to evolve as an ally and want to take steps to learn how to build equity in support of your woman co-workers, we recommend a few steps to get you started:Be curious, don’t assume and educate yourself– First, read, listen, watch and deepen your understanding. When you do speak with someone to understand their challenges, be fully present and suspend assumptions, ask for permission to discuss, and don’t assume everyone shares the same experience. Listen and pay attention to the specific ways they want to be supported.Own your privilege– Has someone ever questioned your ability to “juggle” raising children while excelling at work? Do you adjust your speech, appearance or behavior to fit into a particular culture because you are the only one like you in the culture? Recognize the advantages, opportunities and resources accorded to you as an ally. By doing so, you can understand how privilege is a resource to deploy for good. Don’t sit back and wait for others; own taking action yourself.Seek and accept feedback– Seek to understand if you have unconscious bias. Ask others for feedback. Establishing trust with women and anyone from a marginalized group is critical before they will feel safe in the power dynamic to provide “unvarnished” feedback. If you miss this step, you risk creating additional stress and work for the person from whom you are seeking feedback. Show appreciation and that you value their feedback (even when it is painful) and be thoughtful and sincere.Become a confidant– Research shows that women advance when they have trusted relationships with male partners at work. These relationships provide women with a space to confide in someone they trust about issues like microaggressions encountered in the workplace. Make the time to be available and to empathize and validate the woman’s experience.Take action– When you witness microaggressions, racist or sexist comments and behavior, be clear and decisive in shutting them down and giving your support in the moment. The key is right in the moment. Explain that you are offended by the comments or actions and that they aren’t acceptable. When you see someone taking up most of the space in a meeting, ask specific questions of women whose contributions and expertise are being overlooked or devalued.Expect challenges as you venture into this new world of allyship, but like any other learning experience, it will get easier. What’s important is that you continue checking in with yourself and others to ensure you’re not slipping back into biased thinking and get feedback about how you can fine-tune your approach.​Equinix paves the way for allyship in the workplaceThe Equinix Women Leaders Network (EWLN), one of many in the Equinix Employee Connection Network (EECN), is open to all employees. EWLN is a network of women and allies pursuing growth, visibility and opportunities to increase business impact, and they’ve been doing so for over ten years. Men are welcome to participate as sponsors, mentors and allies. By meeting together, women and men can learn from each other and understand different perspectives. The EWLN is an excellent opportunity for women and men to network and discover new talent. As gender equity becomes core to the company culture through the active allyship of men, it will be exciting to observe the advancement of even more women into leadership roles."EWLN is a network of women and allies pursuing growth, visibility and opportunities to increase business impact, and they’ve been doing so for over ten years."Our Allies Council, which includes 50 senior leaders, promotes gender and racial equity through various programs designed to empower them to become advocates for diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIB). In a six-month reverse mentorship program, the Allies Council partnered with our EECNs to connect leaders with mentors to learn and experience communities with a different perspective.Equinix is also helping close the gender digital divide worldwide with our continued support of World Pulse. We recently announced the expansion of our long-time commitment with a $100,000 grant from the Equinix Foundation to help accelerate digital inclusion for women and girls globally.​To learn more about how you can become part of this inclusive and empowering culture, we invite you to explore opportunities to join the Equinix team—worldwide.You might also be interested in:Equinix Employee Connection Networks​​[1]Claire Hastwell, What Is Allyship in the Workplace?, Great Place to Work, December 14, 2022The original article was published on Equinix Interconnections Blog.

As a remote worker, I often find myself struggling to stay focused and productive throughout the day. I’ve tried all kinds of tactics and strategies to stay on track, but I have recently discovered my secret weapon: the coffee shop.It may sound strange, but there’s something about working in a coffee shop that really helps me stay focused and productive. Maybe it’s psychological, but whatever it is, its working! I call it: the “coffee shop effect,” and it has been a game-changer for me.For starters, there is the atmosphere. Coffee shops are usually bustling with activity, which can be energizing and inspiring. Even if I’m not actively participating in the conversations going on around me, just being in the midst of all that activity can give me a boost of motivation and focus.And then there’s the fact that I’m not alone. As a remote worker, I often work from home, which can be isolating and lonely. But when I’m at a coffee shop, I’m surrounded by people – other remote workers, freelancers, students, businesspeople, and more. More often than not, I stumble upon a friend or two who happen to be looking for a spot to get work done, too! It’s nice to feel like I’m part of a community, even if we’re all just there to get work done (apart from the few chatty titas (aunties) gossiping passionately next to me. ​Group & Boiler, Muntinlupa City, PhilippinesBut it’s not just about the atmosphere. There are some practical reasons why coffee shops are a great place to work, too. For one thing, they have reliable Wi-Fi (as reliable as it can get, I may add, here in the Philippines), which is a must for any remote worker. And there’s usually an endless supply of caffeine to keep me going when I start to flag. Not to mention, the warm and welcoming attitude of your favourite barista who welcomes you into the café is always a great feeling for me!Of course, there are some downsides to working in a coffee shop, too. It can be noisy, which can make it hard to concentrate. Because of this, when I have an important client meeting coming up, I tend to avoid cafes altogether. And sometimes it’s hard to find a good spot to work – especially during peak hours. But for me, the pros far outweigh the cons.​Exchange Coffee, Muntinlupa City, PhilippinesAnother thing I’ve noticed about working in coffee shops is that it helps me stay focused on one task at a time. When I’m at home, it’s easy to get distracted by household chores, social media, and other non-work-related tasks. But when I’m in a coffee shop, there’s nothing else to do but work. I’m able to zero in on my writing or editing or research and really make progress.Let's be honest, not everyone is going to love working in a coffee shop. Some people find the noise and activity to be too distracting, while others prefer the solitude of working from home. But for me, the “coffee shop effect” is a real thing – and it’s made a huge difference in my productivity and overall work satisfaction.​Wallflower Café, Muntinlupa City, PhilippinesSo if you’re a freelancer or remote worker who’s struggling to stay focused and motivated, I highly recommend giving the coffee shop a try. It might take a bit of experimentation to find the right coffee shop (or even the right time of day to go), but once you do, you just might find that it’s your new secret productivity weapon, too.  ​