Celebrate International Women’s Day with career insights from the women shaping the future of work at The Instant Group.
This year on March 8th, we celebrate International Women’s Day—a time to recognise the invaluable contributions women make in the workplace and beyond. As we honour Women’s History Month, it’s also a moment to reflect on the evolving future of work and how flexible work models continue to shape women’s careers and opportunities.
Our company would not be where it is today without the dedication, expertise, and leadership of the women on our team. Their work is instrumental in creating flexible workspace experiences that empower businesses and communities every day.
To mark this occasion, we asked women across our organisation to share the career advice that has had the biggest impact on their journeys. Here’s what they had to say.
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"The best career advice I’ve received came early in my journey, during my first role on a global leadership team at Shell. In the initial meetings, I mostly stayed in my lane—speaking up only when it was my turn. But one day, I started asking a lot of questions about something outside my area of expertise, simply because it didn’t make sense to me. At the end of the meeting, the Chair asked me to stay behind. I braced myself, expecting a reprimand for taking up too much time. Instead, he told me, 'You add the most value to our team when you ask the hard questions.' That moment shifted my perspective. It gave me permission to contribute beyond my specific role and made me realize that asking the right questions can be just as powerful as having the right answers." Lucinda Pullinger, Managing Director of Client & Partner Services |
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"The best career advice I’ve received is to focus on what I can control, choose and empower the right people, and be intentional with my time. Asking insightful questions is just as valuable as making a strong point, and balancing urgent tasks with strategic thinking creates lasting impact. Even a few minutes of uninterrupted focus can make all the difference." Valerie Bonnin, Managing Director of Services, Incendium Consulting |
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"Say yes to the opportunities that come your way, embrace challenges, and step outside your comfort zone. Progression comes when you open yourself up, take risks, and put yourself out there. It’s such a simple mindset shift, but so true." Emma Owen, Marketing Director |
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"The best career advice I’ve received is to show up as the person you aspire to be, seek out challenges that push you forward, and lift others as you grow—mentorship benefits everyone." Tonia Rodriguez, Executive Assistant |
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"Many years ago, I was given a promotion to lead a team but with no pay increase. I was prepared to take it as I felt grateful to even be promoted and recognised. I felt at the time that it wasn't great that there was no pay bump with all this extra responsibility, but didn't want to make waves. I went to another woman in the business and asked for some advice. This was her advice: 'What would a male colleague do in this situation?' It made me laugh and realise I had nothing to lose and to back myself." Cara Sugrue, Senior Account Director |
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, these stories serve as a powerful reminder of the impact that mentorship, self-advocacy, and bold decision-making can have on a career.
The future of work continues to evolve, and flexible work models play a crucial role in creating opportunities for women to thrive. By sharing these insights, we hope to inspire more women to step forward, ask the hard questions, and shape the workplaces of tomorrow.
