It’s International Women’s Day on 8th March and at the Entrepreneurial Spark Accelerator Hub I run in Milton Keynes we are holding a #BeBoldForChange event.

Women in Business is a topic that I am really interested in but I recently got challenged on it. Someone told me to be careful not to paint myself with the ‘Women in Business’ brush which really confused me. I would class myself as a feminist simply because I believe women should be treated equal to men – nothing more nothing less. However, my interest in Women in Business isn’t anything to do with this. It’s quite simple really. My vision is to be the CEO of an Entrepreneurship organisation but I also want to have children – at the moment I don’t know if it is possible to have both (because there aren’t many role models who have managed to do this. Thank goodness for Sheryl Sandberg though).

I asked a friend’s opinion who is also very interested in the Women in Business topic – she said it’s nothing about being feminist. She said that the difference between women and men in the visions that both my friend and I have is that we as women have to physically carry the baby – it’s not that we are blaming men for not being able to but it’s just how it is. Therefore, we have to make certain sacrifices to be able to have children and if we want a career too it means we have to make tough choices.

The #BeBoldForChange campaign will mean different things to different people but to me it’s finding a way that I can have both my dreams and not be judged for doing it. I don’t want to stop myself going for my dream now because in a few years time I may have a baby. And I equally don’t want to have opportunities held from me because I’m female and at an age where children could be on the cards. Luckily I’m part of an organisation that doesn’t make me make those choices!

If you are attending an International Women’s Day event make sure you know what change you want and put actions in place to make that change happen. Do you want equal pay? Do you want to be the first female on your Executive Board? Or do you simply want to be able to have both; a successful career and a baby.

Believe in that change you want and go for it. I believe in you!

Oh, and do check out Sheyl Sandberg’s Ted Talk – it’s fabulous.