Balance for Better: Key Insights from Boyden Ireland’s International Women’s Day Event

The Boyden Ireland team hosted an extremely successful event in Cork last night to celebrate International Women’s Day 2025, embracing this year's theme of "Accelerate Action." As part of the "Balance for Better" initiative, the event brought together thought leaders, industry experts and passionate advocates to discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion in the business world.

Boyden Ireland curated an exceptional panel of speakers to explore whether balance is indeed better for business and to share their experiences in advancing Diversity and Inclusion (D&I). The event fostered meaningful discussions on how organisations can drive positive change through diversity, equity and inclusion (EDI).

Held at The Address, Military Hill, the event featured an outstanding panel of leaders who shared their personal journeys, the challenges they have overcome and the strategies they have implemented to create more balanced and successful businesses.

The evening was opened by Maurice Carr, who welcomed attendees and set the stage for an engaging and thought-provoking discussion. "Balance for Better is not just about gender—it’s about creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Tonight, we take another step in accelerating that change."

The event was later concluded by Alan Finnegan, who provided a comprehensive recap of the insights shared and key takeaways for attendees to bring back to their organisations. "The insights from tonight’s discussion reinforce that inclusivity is not just a goal—it’s a continuous journey that drives real business success."

Meet the Speakers

The distinguished panel included:

• Evelyn Moynihan, CEO of Kilkenny Group, champions of premium Irish craft and design, overseeing retail, e-commerce and operational growth.
• Aongus Hegarty, former President of Dell Corporation, co-chair of Balance for Better Business, a founder and director of Lakeside Capital LTD and an advisory board member of the 30% Club Ireland.
• Sharon Kelly, Chief People Officer at Woodie’s, who has transformed workplace culture and spearheaded diversity and inclusion initiatives, leading Woodie’s to multiple workplace and diversity recognitions.

The discussion, facilitated by Boyden Ireland Partner Linda Roberts Power, centred on real-world experiences and tangible strategies to accelerate action on gender balance and broader EDI goals. "The vital importance of company culture facilitating EDI and the impact of having the SLT visibly supporting and promoting balance is clear."

Key Themes and Insights

Overcoming Challenges

Sharon emphasised the importance of taking small steps to achieve gender balance: "It has taken ten years, but Woodie’s is now in a great place and gender balanced." Aongus added, "It’s not about one thing but many things—it’s a journey that never stops."

The panel discussed the importance of providing mentoring and coaching for women who may not put themselves forward for development.

Beyond Gender: A Broader EDI Focus

Sharon shared how Woodie’s engages with specialist agencies to implement policies aimed at achieving equality and diversity for employees with disabilities and neurodivergent individuals and spoke about recognising and removing unconscious bias in recruitment with the use of AI. She also stressed the importance of leave policies that encourage men as well as women to take paternity and carer's leave, leading to better balance across the workforce.

Evelyn highlighted the importance of building a culture that nurtures ideas and encouraging people to bring their authentic selves to work and creating an environment where people feel safe to make mistakes and learn.

The Business Case for Diversity

The discussion reinforced that diversity is not just about doing the right thing—it is a competitive advantage. Research consistently supports this:

• Companies in the top 25% for gender diversity are 39% more likely to financially outperform competitors in the bottom quartile. (McKinsey)
• Organisations with diverse management teams generate 19% more revenue from innovation. (Boston Consulting Group)
• 80% of employees believe that inclusive leadership enhances engagement and a sense of belonging. (Harvard Business Review)

Building a Culture of Advocacy

Aongus emphasised the importance of fostering an environment where people feel safe to be themselves: "It is crucial to engender the right environment for people to bring their whole selves to work and feel supported."

Creating Leadership Teams that Reflect Customers

The panel highlighted the necessity for senior leadership teams to be representative of the customer base they serve. Evelyn shared how Kilkenny Group has achieved this: "85% of our team is female, which works because it reflects our customer base."

She also spoke about the importance of developing a learning culture instead of a blame culture, ensuring employees feel supported in their growth.

Looking Ahead: Turning Inspiration into Action

The event underscored that companies that build inclusive, diverse teams aren’t just doing the right thing—they are driving better business outcomes. Achieving true diversity and inclusion requires commitment, action and continuous effort. It involves challenging biases, breaking down barriers and implementing policies and practices that promote equity and belonging.

The Boyden Ireland team extends its gratitude to all attendees and speakers for contributing to such an insightful and engaging evening. Together, we can accelerate action and create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Get in Touch

If you would like to learn more about how Boyden Ireland can support your organisation in advancing diversity and inclusion, please get in touch with our team today.