The University of Wolverhampton in collaboration with WLV Business Link held an event in celebration for International Women’s Day on Friday 14th March 2025 called Women Leading Change – Celebrating Triumphs and Breaking Barriers. This event took place at the Technology Centre at the Wolverhampton Science Park and was open to all.

The welcoming address was by Dr Opinderjit Takhar MBE a researcher within Sikh Studies and Director of the Centre for Sikh and Punjabi Studies at the University of Wolverhampton. Dr Opinderjit Kaur Takhar, opened the talk with a call to “accelerate action” and the need for “global equality and legal rights” for all women. She went on to welcome Sureena Brackenridge MP of Wolverhampton North East to the stage.

Sureena had not only graduated from The University of Wolverhampton but had also been a teacher, Deputy Headteacher, as well as former Mayoress and part of the Education Select committee. She also called for a “fairer and safer world for all…internationally and at home”. She spoke about how she is tackling issues surrounding domestic violence, education, health and the justice system and has also introduced a focus on a Young Future Programme for teenagers so that they can become mentors for their community and give targeted support as well as Family Hubs, to help families from pregnancy to pre-school.

We were next introduced to the panel. The panel Chair was Jo Birch of Growthinnk Associates, a Managing Consultant who was also a strategic innovation leader. The panel included Di Vernon MBE of Employability UK, Dr Samia Mahmood University of Wolverhampton and Cherry Shine of Wolverhampton Business District (BID)
who after discussing how they achieved what they have achieved in their exciting careers were followed by a question-and-answer session from the audience. Cherry Shine, spoke about the “power of confidence” and Di Vernon spoke of the importance of having a positive “can do attitude”. Jo Birch raised the significance of understanding what position you are in before you can try to break the barriers.Dr Samia Mahmood spoke about the need for “equity not just equality”, so that this solidarity is spread across the globe.

At the end of the panel Jo Birch introduced Saida Chowdhury the poet to the stage, who is set to publish her forthcoming debut poetry collection, ‘Broken Minds’ in the next few months. Saida has likened her book to the Japanese art practice of ‘Kintsugi’, whereby broken pottery is mended with liquid gold or lacquer with gold dusting. The emphasis is to highlight and beautify the cracks and not hide them.

Saida has applied this philosophy to people and their own personal scars, physical and mental. “Your past is nothing to be ashamed of, but a beautiful part of your history”. Her intention now is to remove the stigma around discussing mental health, so that people can access the help that they need. The foreword for the book has been written by Sureena Brackenridge MP after meeting Saida on the Ian Henery Radio show for Black Country Xtra, part of Black Country Radio. They were on a panel also featuring Tal Singh of Soul Brite Seva CIC discussing mental health and wellbeing. Saida wrote a poem specifically for the International Women’s Day celebration event, Women Leading Change – Celebrating Triumphs and Breaking Barriers.

The Worth of Women

I stood in the shadows and watched them talk,
How for centuries for recognition we earnestly fought.
But these glass ceilings conceal nothing,
We still saw the sky.
For without self-belief,
There’s no way, to just fly.

They put barriers in our way,
To dissuade us from trying,
But we wouldn’t give up,
Even through all the tears we’ve been crying.

We struggled with the powers,
But defied their expectations.
We weren’t put here to blindly follow,
Archaic regulations.

Resilience is what we had,
In order to prove to the world.
That monumental footsteps had been taken,
From progress of becoming a great woman from a girl.

We don’t deny our struggles,
We are here to inspire.
From continual promotion of ambition,
We will never retire.

We’ve defied their barriers,
We’ve reached new heights.
We didn’t get to where we’ve gotten,
Without endless sleepless nights.

So don’t discount our value,
We’re paving the way.
For new generations to recognise,
The worth of women every day.

By Saida Chowdhury 7/3/25

This celebratory and insightful event inspired everyone who attended, and even with a delightful brunch after the talk, attendees continued networking. These powerful women explained how they have defied barriers and overcome challenges to achieve great success addressing honestly the difficulties that they faced. Sheer resilience has been a contributing factor and through this event we have understood the importance of “accelerate action” so that we can see a more fair and just world for ‘every’ woman.