International Women's Day is a crucial day to acknowledge women's achievements and, importantly, to accelerate action in tangible ways. At the Irish College of GPs, we dedicated one hour during the work week to meaningful progress. This blog post delves into diverse perspectives on IWD, exploring how it's celebrated in different contexts, the importance of its recognition, and the personal experiences shaping our understanding of this significant day.
We hear from two individuals from the college, Kayla Gant and Dr. Suzanne Kelly, each sharing their unique insights on IWD, sources of inspiration, and strategies for prioritising well-being in their busy lives. From reflections on the American and Irish approaches to IWD to personal stories, we aim to spark conversation and inspire women. Exploring how each individual plans to spend their "one hour" during the working week, offering a glimpse into their personal commitments.
Introducing Kayla Grant, Programme Executive at the Irish College of GPs.
1. How is IWD recognised/celebrated in your home country, USA?
Having moved to Ireland at the age of twenty-one, I have celebrated International Women's Day (IWD) only in Ireland in a corporate setting. However, it is often celebrated in the U.S. with Women's History Month, which highlights important women throughout history. In recent years, with the changes in the availability of certain rights for women, this day has been used to highlight the struggles women face, often through marches and social media campaigns.
2. Why do you think it is important to recognise IWD and should be doing anything further to recognise IWD in Ireland?
Recognising International Women's Day is important for various reasons, including promoting gender equality, raising awareness of issues that continue to impact women, and celebrating all that has been achieved so far. Diminishing the gap between men and women in pay, safety, and rights is a continuous struggle—one that can be forgotten when we are constantly bombarded with so many other struggles throughout the world. Having a day to recognise the particular issues women face reignites the passion to continue fighting for equality.
3. Which female figure inspires you and why?
While there are countless female figures to look up to, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Bessie Coleman, Heather Renée Sweet, and Marilyn Monroe, like many, I would say that my mother is the female figure who inspires me the most. She possesses a resilience and ambition that is hard not to admire. She dropped out of college in her teens to help raise her family before returning in her 30s. She chose a profession and worked her way up from a receptionist at a small pharmaceutical company in our hometown to Senior Director of Global Controlled Substances at Pfizer. She has never let anything hold her back and has strived to live the life she wanted. She inspires me to keep working even when it's hard and to be unafraid if others don't understand my dreams.
4. What do you do for your own wellbeing (e.g. mental, physical, spiritual, health) and how do you make time for this?
Growing up, I spent time with many strong women who enjoyed taking care of themselves. One activity that soon became associated with looking after and taking pride in oneself was getting your nails done. I spent countless afternoons with my grandmother as she got her nails done by the same artist in the same shop even having specific tools that were set aside only for her. This activity has now become my own signature ritual. It forces me to take time for myself and do something that is solely for me. I enjoy wearing something that is creative and fully expresses how I might feel at the time.
5. During our IWD week, how will you spend your one hour?
Being part of a growing family, weekly activities that I used to take care of myself, such as going to the gym and meal prepping, have fallen to the wayside. With a toddler and a baby due in May, it's hard to find time (and the energy) to return to such activities. I intend to use my hour to return to the gym, even if it's just to spend the time walking to reincorporate it into my schedule.
Introducing Dr. Suzanne Kelly, Deputy Medical Director at the Irish College of GPs
1. Describe your average week.
Like many working women, my weeks are busy! I juggle multiple roles, which keeps things interesting. I run my own practice in Cork alongside two fantastic female colleagues. My clinical days are Monday and Thursday, packed with patient consultations every 15 minutes, phone calls, prescriptions, paperwork, and tutoring both final-year medical students and GP trainees. There’s always the occasional emergency walk-in to keep me on my toes! These days are full-on, but I enjoy catching up with my clinical and admin colleagues—most of whom are women. I usually set up a slow cooker meal in the morning to make evenings smoother, then collect my youngest from after-school care before heading home.
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I work for the Irish College of GPs, often from home. This setup makes school runs easier, allows me to prep dinner between meetings, and even lets me enjoy a homemade lunch. Occasionally, I have an evening meeting but can attend from my home office. After work, my evenings are filled with school runs and bringing the kids to GAA and tennis training.
This year, Fridays are dedicated to a Leadership course via IBEC. It’s an intensive online program with additional project work and reflective diaries, but I’m enjoying the challenge.
2. What do you do for your own wellbeing (e.g. mental, physical, spiritual, health) and how do you make time for this?
Weekends are for catching up on family life, tackling household jobs, and making time for exercise, friends, and family. For my own well-being, I joined a local women's running group that meets three times a week. It’s non-competitive, filled with great chats, and often followed by coffee and cake! Running has been brilliant for my mental health—it gives me a break from work and a chance to reset. I also do online whole-body stretch classes at home to counteract long hours in an office chair. To make time for these, I simply tell my husband and children, “I need this hour,” and we make it work. They all understand how important it is to me.
3. What one piece of advice would you give a woman struggling to find time for themself?
For women struggling to find time for themselves, I always advise them to schedule personal time first before filling up their calendars with work and family commitments. We shouldn’t wait until everyone else’s needs are met before prioritising our own well-being.
4. During our IWD week, how will you spend your one hour?
This year, International Women’s Day falls during a well-earned break—I’ll be in France, skiing! I’m looking forward to hours on the slopes and savoring a creamy hot chocolate on a terrace high in the mountains.