At swipe, there’s a running joke that gets thrown around when the aircon is too cold, or there is more beer than wine provided at after-work events - #WomenWorkHereToo.
It’s a tongue-in-cheek reminder that in a male-dominated office and oftentimes male-dominated industry, there are women that are a vital and integral part of keeping the swipe cogs turning.
In honour of the ladies who keep Swipe going, we’re doing a quickfire profile of each of them to show them our appreciation for all they do & who they are.
What does "Women Work Here Too" mean to you? Aircon is NEVER below 22 degrees.
If you were a female superhero, who would you be and why? Leonora Redelinghuys, MD of Swipe ix. Just being around her inspires, watching her work motivates and learning from her blows your mind.
What’s your hidden talent that no one at Swipe knows about? I'm really good at DIY-ing. It's really, really well hidden though, I can't wait to find it.
What does "Women Work Here Too" mean to you? For me it means that I’ve got a voice too, especially in a very male dominated industry.
If you were a female superhero, who would you be and why? Wonder Woman - She fights for justice and equality solo and as a founding member of the Justice League against a rogues list that includes literal gods and colorful criminals like Cheetah. Good thing she has a magical lasso and an invisible jet to help her out.
What’s your hidden talent that no one at Swipe knows about? Some people at Swipe know that I sing as a side line, but have not actually heard me. So, I guess that’s a hidden talent.
What does "Women Work Here Too" mean to you? Women are treated with respect in the work space and treated as equals.
If you were a female superhero, who would you be and why? Catwoman. She has a killer outfit, sleeps all day, can jump really high and gets to talk to cats.
What’s your hidden talent that no one at Swipe knows about? I can make a flower with my tongue
What does "Women Work Here Too" mean to you? We are in a predominantly male industry where most developers, "the talent",are men. However, I think that very often us Women Who Work Her Too are overlooked as well as underestimated. Our industry and product knowledge over the years has allowed us to see the bigger picture with regard to very bare briefs, manage expectations and produce some great ideas for our clients. Our client management expertise and pedantic process management is in almost all cases the "glue" that sticks all the bits and pieces together. Without all of us #WomanWhoWorkHere who would be there to fight the battles, pick up the pieces and cheer everyone on.
If you were a female superhero, who would you be and why? Jean Grey From X-Men. She is the most powerful of all the X-Men but is humble, and willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good and for the ones she loves.
What’s your hidden talent that no one at Swipe knows about? I can step over a broomstick and pull it around my head, 360 degrees, back to the same spot.
What does "Women Work Here Too" mean to you? That Gin & Tonic should be stocked in the office fridge at all times.
If you were a female superhero, who would you be and why? Harley Quinn. She’s the ultimate badass and never backs down from a fight.
What’s your hidden talent that no one at Swipe knows about? I can rap any Eminem song.
What does "Women Work Here Too" mean to you? It means that we’re privileged enough to work in an environment where the unique strengths, qualities and positives we, as women, bring to the table, are heard, acknowledged and celebrated.
If you were a female superhero, who would you be and why? Wasp - she’s a natural leader and a fierce warrior, all while having a killer fashion sense.
What’s your hidden talent that no one at Swipe knows about? I can touch my nose with my tongue.
What does "Women Work Here Too" mean to you? It’s a fun attempt to break the gender biases associated with certain job titles and employment fields. This hashtag spreads awareness and aims to alter (and potentially erase) employment stereotypes. Yes, it’s still a man’s world, but with millennials absolutely shattering the gender barrier (“did you just assume my gender?!”), gender specific terms such as “man” and “woman” won’t even be relevant in the future. In short, I wholeheartedly believe in this hashtag and I’m excited to see how it will inspire others.
If you were a female superhero, who would you be and why? Definitely Elektra Natchios. As a young girl, I remember watching the movie Elektra on replay, marveling at her martial arts skills and stunning outfit. She was the first female “superhero” I was exposed to and her strong character and badass personality definitely caught my attention. She’s not all good or all bad, but she tries to stay true to herself and her conscience, and looks amazing while doing it - what’s not to love?
What’s your hidden talent that no one at Swipe knows about? I’m an artist. I love painting, sketching and DIY projects and I recently created a Facebook page to showcase and sell my art.
What does "Women Work Here Too" mean to you? I think we all bring different skills and solutions and values to a workplace. The fact that some of us are men and some are women is immaterial, really. It's much more about our contribution.
If you were a female superhero, who would you be and why? Trinity (is she a superhero? If not, she should totally be).
What’s your hidden talent that no one at Swipe knows about? I can literally talk to anyone and find something interesting about them.
We’re so privileged to be able to work with such empowering, inspiring women every single day - and any opportunity to honour them will be seized with both hands.
Happy International Women’s Day!
Account Manager