This year, the theme for International Women’s Day “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the gaps that remain.

Bowker Motor Group is proud to employ many women who have helped to lead us through these uncertain times. To celebrate International Women’s Day we challenged them to share their proudest achievement and offer some advice in the spirit of equality and a better future.

Happy International Women’s Day!!

Amy Lancaster-Hall, Group Marketing Manager

• Proudest achievement- Seeing my team's dedication recognised when we win franchise marketing awards. There's no better feeling.
• Best advice - Be understanding, approachable and always offer to help

Katie Needham, New Car Sales Executive

• Proudest achievement - During the pandemic, I found myself feeling quite low and hating the role I was in. While wiping tears away from my face, I picked up the phone and started contacting dealerships in my local area. I managed to secure a couple of interviews, one of them being at Bowker BMW.
• Best advice - There is no such thing as a man's world. When I first started in the motor trade, there were not many female salespeople. I was actually the first one at my first dealership, this pushed me on to do better. Just because you are the first at something or you feel like it’s male dominated, you can be the person that changes that. Since my start, the company has employed numerous women to join the team. My advice to other women would be; don’t be scared, if you don’t ask then the answer will always be no! Push yourself and always have faith in yourself.

Phillipa Wachter, Showroom Team Leader

• Proudest achievement - Moving to Abu Dhabi at 23 on my own to start a career as Cabin Crew for Etihad Airways.
• Best advice - Surround yourself with positive people and support other women in your company and your personal life.

Aimee Keane, Group HR Manager

• Proudest achievement - My proudest achievement is studying for my CIPD qualification while raising a young family and working full time. Although it was challenging, it gave me the opportunity to progress in my previous employment and opened the door to further progression in other businesses. I was offered my current position during maternity leave with my 2nd child. I made the decision to return from maternity leave early to start my new challenge; working for an established family business in a job where I feel valued. I enjoy supporting the business and the employees.
• Best advice - Support each other, always listen and offer an open-door policy. Continue personal progression- don’t wait for good things to happen, go get out there and make them happen 😊

Jennifer Sage, Group Marketing Executive

• Proudest achievement - My proudest achievement is the fact that I used lockdown to learn many new things, from learning how to bake bread, pizza dough with stuffed crust and many Romanian desserts, to becoming a painter, decorator and plumber, completing a number of jobs around the house. During lockdown my partner and I also tried our hands at gardening, like many others, growing our own tomatoes, shallots and chillies.
• Best advice - Be supportive, willing to listen and push yourself and others to reach their potential.

Lauren Grigg, CRM Controller

• Proudest achievement - I'm most proud of my travelling trip around the world! It was a life changing experience that had its highs and lows, and made me far more resilient. I met so many people from different backgrounds and visited some incredible, and breathtakingly beautiful, places! Growing up, I was always a shy and nervous person, and even now I can hardly believe that I managed to safely navigate my way around 15 countries, without losing my passport, luggage or friends! It will always be a huge highlight of my life which I will never forget. Each experience I had (including sky-diving at 16,000 feet, and bungee jumping off the highest bungee bridge in the world!) has helped me become the woman I am today, and for that I will always be grateful. "
• Best advice - To always have 'me time' in between the stresses of life. Don't be too hard on yourself! Eat the cake and drink the wine :)