The women who took to the stage at Coca-Cola’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit, Level the Playing Field, have achieved some extraordinary feats as changemakers.
Manal al-Sharif, Malala Yousafzai, Ellie Cole, Dr Lois Peeler and Phearong Sdeung and others shared their inspiring stories, outlining what it takes to push through seemingly unbreakable barriers and put yourself forward as a spokesperson for others without a voice.
Their stories and advice were invaluable to the 450 business leaders in the room at the August event, held two days before the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, with Coca-Cola being a major sponsor of the tournament.
Below are some of the key takeaways from some of the remarkable women who took to the stage.
‘It was about driving our own destiny’
Manal al-Sharif was a key player in the movement to win back the right for women to drive in Saudi Arabia. Back in 2011, she posted a video of herself driving on social media during the Arab Spring, sparking intense backlash in the Kingdom. But it was her activism that helped launch a movement that ultimately saw the ban on women driving overturned.
Al-Sharif told attendees at the Coca-Cola summit about being jailed for nine days, and what it was like to be exiled from the country and separated from her son.
“We won the right to drive. It wasn’t about driving cars; it was about being seen, being heard. It was about driving our own destiny,” she told the summit in Sydney.
Her key advice to those at the summit? In bringing about change, silence is costly.
“The cost of silence is even more because in silence, tyranny and injustice happen more” she said. “What if we all spoke? That is deafening. That is unstoppable. Those few brave won’t be singled out and targeted.”
Holding on to culture is paramount
Yorta Yorta and Wurundjeri woman, Dr Lois Peeler, highlighted the importance of connecting to culture.
As an Aboriginal woman and respected Elder, Dr Peeler said her lived experience has taught her many things about what’s needed for young Aboriginal people to thrive.
“I’m Aboriginal, a woman, and I’ve been around long enough to have lived experience,” Dr Peeler said.
“Giving young women the opportunities to have preferred futures and choose what they want to do. Holding on to their culture, and being proud of who they are as Aboriginal people.”
Truth-telling is key to this process and essential if we are to close the gap in outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, Dr Peeler explained.
“We are still trying to close the gap. We are not represented in these corporate bodies, and barely in the public sector,” she said. “It comes back to education and providing opportunities.”
“It’s about the entire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. It’s about corporate responsibility. It’s about truth telling and creating opportunities so the young women and men can make the decisions about what’s best for them.”
Difference can be a superpower
When Ellie Cole was 2 years old, she was diagnosed with cancer. After a year of chemotherapy and unsuccessful clinical trials, her parents made the shattering decision to amputate her leg.
“I was born a fully able-bodied girl, but as soon as I came out of that operating theatre, I was branded with the word ‘disability. I was a girl who didn’t know I was different until I was told that I was.”
Fast forward to 2000. Cole was 9 years old and Sydney was hosting the Olympic Games. She fell in love with the heroes of swimming and realised that’s what she wanted to do.
But there was a problem. “I was chasing a dream that was never going to happen for me,” Cole said.
“I didn’t know anything about the Paralympics, because it didn’t exist in the media. I didn’t see anyone who looked the way I did.”
Fast forward another two decades and Cole made history at the Tokyo Paralympics. She became Australia’s most decorated female Parlaympian of all time. It was an achievement like no other, but it didn’t come without struggle.
“It’s really hard to feel like an Olympian when you are made to feel invisible,” Cole shared. “I was always reminded that I was less than them. I was always reminded that I was “just” a Paralympian.”
And Cole’s key learning? There are three types of people in this world including:
- those who make things happen
- those who watch things happen
- and those who wonder what just happened.
We must realise the power of education
Her first name is known all around the world. Her survival after being shot in the head by the Taliban is a miracle. And it’s a miracle that Malala Yousafzai uses every day to fight for the rights of others, particularly girls who are being denied access to education.
“I think the Taliban have figured it out. They don’t want women to have a voice,” Yousafzai told the Coca-Cola summit. “They know the best way to deprive women of their rights is to never let them learn.”
“The best way to fight back is to educate women and educate girls. Education is one of the best equalisers.”
At the summit, the Nobel Peace Prize winner shared the story of her beginnings in Pakistan, her survival, and the years she has dedicated to being an activist for the rights of girls. She also spoke about her desire to keep learning every day, even though her formal education is over for now.
“I realised that I cannot stop my journey as a student. We have to keep learning from the experts,” she said. “We have to keep learning from people with wisdom. We have to keep learning from people with experiences. We have to keep learning from people who are a lot younger than us, who see the world in a very different way.”
Yousafzai is also advocating for the recognition of the Afghan women’s national football team, who are living in Australia in exile, and were not included in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Empowering women at the grassroots is critical
Executive Director at Banteay Srei, Phearong Sdeung is passionate about giving women in Cambodia access to finance, mentors, and support so they thrive in a country that has few female role models.
Speaking at the Coca-Cola summit, Sdeung shared her insights into the state of play for women in Cambodia, and how she is working to empower women at the grassroots so they can become leaders in their communities.
“Women have a lack of access to finance,” Sdeung explained. “We empower those in the community with access to finance so they can start their own businesses.”
‘In Cambodia, there aren’t many female role models. When I am sitting at a table and it’s all male, I have to work out how I’m going to have my voice heard.”
Her key piece of advice?
“Empower those who are near you, if you can. If you have the opportunity, do it, because you never know where it could go.”
Women’s Agenda is sharing a number of key insights from the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit held in line with the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, thanks to our partnership with Coca-Cola. You can read our first piece in this series, exploring how Jessica Brown’s charity helps vulnerable women take charge of their lives.
You can read Coca-Cola’s Level the Playing Field Report here.