UScellular Celebrates International Women’s Day – Women’s History Month
This week, women and allies of women across the world are choosing to #EmbraceEquity in celebration of International Women’s Day on Wednesday, March 8. It’s part of our broader celebration of Women’s History Month throughout March and offers us time to celebrate women’s achievement and consider the role each of us plays in advancing equity by challenging gender stereotypes and inviting greater inclusion.
We’ve asked members of our Women in Action associate resource group to offer their candid thoughts on questions related to the 2023 International Women’s Day theme #EmbraceEquity. Here’s what they had to say:
What are you doing to celebrate International Women’s Day this year?
I’m celebrating by helping to moderate with one of our special guest speakers that will present how the ARG they are part of supports “EmbraceEquity.” Being engaged on this day to share what “EmbraceEquity” means to each of us and how we can all have an impact on changing things. I feel fortunate to work for an organization that supports this kind of opportunity to share and learn. - Keri Mullen, Customer Support Manager, Business Care
What are the ways you #EmbraceEquity in your life?
To me equity is non-negotiable. It’s an integral part of my upbringing and something I closely cherish. My father encouraged me to pursue engineering along with my brothers, which has opened many doors for me to achieve success. And I stress that same principle as I build my teams and provide them with opportunities and guidance for growth within the organization. - Sangeeta Khedekar, Director, Revenue Assurance & Billing Control
What ways do you feel are helpful to raise awareness of how we can #EmbraceEquity and fight discrimination?
Each day in my life, I #EmbraceEquity by being a fierce ally to women. For me, it’s about using my voice to speak up for those who may be under-represented whenever possible, ensuring women are paid and treated equitably, and given the same opportunities in the workplace and beyond. - Benjamin Karetnick, Human Resources Strategic Business Partner
What makes you feel a sense of belonging in the workplace?
I have felt a sense of belonging in the workplace here at UScellular because of the open communication that is encouraged from top to bottom in the organization. The amount of passion that is behind the tremendous and impactful events that our ARG groups, our DE&I team, and our leadership team put together shows that it’s not just words, but that there are actions around promoting a culture at UScellular that includes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. - Ryan Vaught, Retail Area Sales Manager
How will you carry forward #EmbraceEquity as the year goes on?
I will take the time to understand what others need or what needs to change to guarantee everyone is included, and we raise /win together. – Edna Roberts, Regional Planning Manager, Access Engineering