Pivoting Online in Pandemic Brings Expansion Success for Women in Sustainability
Bristol-based Women in Sustainability Network are expanding their reach to the United States with the launch of a new hub in New York. Sustainability Strategist, Sneha Patel, is aiming to create an eco-network in Manhattan and connect likeminded women together to create powerful change.
Women in Sustainability (WINS) is the network for professional female change makers seeking to maximise their impact, with hubs across the UK, Europe and now the United States.
Led by Sneha Patel, an experienced sustainability professional, they are looking to bring together purpose-led, talented women from the widest variety of sectors, businesses and organisations who share a similar mission at heart; They are all are passionate about making a difference, about creating solutions to the environmental, social and economic challenges we currently face.
Through their online (and when possible, in-person) events, WINS create a space for meaningful conversations, new collaborations, learning and sharing. Their growing community of women come together for a boost of inspiration, practical help and real connection. And the NYC Hub will be no exception!
I am looking to bring Women in Sustainability to NYC because I am hoping to connect women, from diverse backgrounds, who are continuing to face challenges; who are seeking a common ground to share best practices and who are pushing the boundaries towards achieving UN 2030 SDGs. Sneha Patel, WINS NYC Hub Lead
WINS Founder, Rhian Sherrington, says;
“When the Covid19 pandemic hit us in March, it was clear we had to rapidly pivot our events based network online in order to keep providing the support and connection we knew our community needed. Essential to this shift was ensuring how we ran an online event programme maintained the sense of safety and openness our in-person events had offered, enabling those meaningful conversations that bring about new collaborations, new projects and new business.
I never thought we’d actually be able to expand our reach during what has been such a challenging and difficult time, but the launch of our New York Hub is testimony to the value and support the Women in Sustainability Network brings to women who have been disproportionally impacted by the pandemic”.
Since March this year, Rhian Sherrington and various Hub Leads have managed to keep supporting the WINS community through offering 20 online WINS events, bringing together just under a 1000 women at a time when isolation, challenging home working conditions and living under lockdown have created even greater pressures.
“If we are to be successful in tackling the incredible challenges of this world’s climate and ecological emergencies, it is vital that women are able to play an equal part in the leadership and decision making process. Early studies has suggested that women could be thrown back to where we were in the 1950’s as a result of the pandemic, which would strike a perilous blow to both gender equality and achieving net zero. We simply cannot let that happen. Our new Hub in New York City is part of our commitment to create a community where women find a way to nurture their purpose and amplify their impact as change makers”.
In addition to the newly launched New York location, WINS also have hubs in Bristol, London, Oxford, Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Hertfordshire (also newly launched), and Frankfurt, Germany.
Contact information:
Women in Sustainability Network, Third Floor, St Thomas Court, St Thomas Lane, Bristol, BS1 6JG
contact@womeninsustainability.net
Notes for editors:
For more information on the launch of the New York hub click here: https://womeninsustainability.net/hub/new-york-city
Recent articles on impact of Covid19 on women:
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/14/how-coronavirus-could-do-long-term-damage-to-womens-careers.html