International Women's Day 2023: At Chowdeck, #EverybodyEats

Happy International Women’s Day! 

Today, we celebrate the economic, social, cultural, and political triumphs of women across the world while advocating for women’s rights and gender equality in all facets of society. This year’s theme, #EmbraceEquity, calls for individuals and communities to strive for gender equity and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women of all races, social classes, and cultures. 

At Chowdeck, we pride ourselves in being an equal opportunity organisation where our employees are not discriminated against by virtue of their race, religion, ethnicity or gender. With us, #EverybodyEats! 

The Women of Chowdeck make up 40% of our highly accomplished work force and 30% of our leadership executives! Each woman on our team is a progressive, open-minded problem-solver leading the change in their field. They manage, orchestrate, lead and make vital decisions for our organisation, and have led us to immense success!

We’ve spoken with a few of the inspiring women who make up our team about their experiences working with us and how they interact with the world around them as female professionals. Let’s take a dive into the world of the Women of Chowdeck. 

What is it like working as a Customer Success Representative at Chowdeck? 

I’ve worked as a success representative for a little over a year and three months now, and it has taught me quite a lot. 

In my work, you must be solution-oriented. Every time I interact with a customer, I do so with the mindset of providing a solution. I simply will not leave my customers hanging. They are like babies and as such, one must provide for them. To do so, you must gain as much knowledge about the product, company, and service as there is to gain. Only then can you grow in this role as I have. 

Learning to satisfy my customer’s needs has highlighted the importance of adopting an empathetic attitude. As a success representative, I purposefully see things from their perspective so I can grasp their difficulties.

Connecting with customers from all walks of life has been such a rewarding part of my job because it has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally. My ability to relate to others, understand their needs, and provide them with a great experience regardless of their circumstances is something I have developed through practice and exposure.  I am a better, more empathetic and more-rounded person today because of how I’ve been serving a wide range of customers.
 

How do you navigate your area of expertise as it is male-dominated?

I’m no stranger to male-dominated spaces. I studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering in university and there were less than 10 girls in a department of over a hundred students! Despite the daunting challenges we faced, we graduated with fantastic results. 

After my graduation, I worked in Telecommunications and landed a high-stress field job which was not considered “ideal for a lady”. My colleagues often asked why I was working a "man’s job". When I decided to evolve to Software Development, the expectation was that I’d focus on Front-End Development because it’s "simple", "pretty", and more importantly, one of the tech specialisations that has been stereotyped as a female domain. Backend engineering is perceived to be "technical", "difficult" and "complex" and thus considered more suitable for men. 

Today, I’m a backend engineer. As someone who never backs down from a challenge, I decided to defy the stereotype and tread the path perceived as harder for women. No matter what I am told, I remain focused and open minded towards my learning. This is the reason I am able to grow and thrive in these male-dominated spaces. I’m a curious soul on a journey of learning and self-discovery, and the fact that something seems "hard" does not mean that it cannot be excelled in.

I’d be remiss not to mention my family, friends and mentors who have guided, advised and supported me through every step of this journey. Even when I stumble and fall or suffer from astonishingly frequent bouts of diffidence and self-doubt, they are there to assure me that I totally got this!

How does the culture at Chowdeck inspire you towards personal and collective success? 

I’ve been at Chowdeck for 14 months as a Brand Designer/Illustrator and I must say that one of the most important aspects of our culture is that it provides massive opportunities for growth. It is one of our core values. Every problem we solve and every challenge we triumph over is an opportunity for us to grow, personally and as a collective. 

Our leadership encourages us to learn, challenge ourselves, and grow. The women of Chowdeck are warm and intentional, and have provided support to me when I needed it. This uplifting culture has allowed me to naturally evolve as a brand designer and strengthen my skills all while contributing to other teams within our ecosystem. A win if you ask me!

 How has it been working with The Women of Chowdeck?

I love The Women of Chowdeck! I’ve been working with Chowdeck as a Product Designer for just two months and in that time, I can already see how inclusive the team is. Everyone here is treated well and equally with no discrimination, particularly towards gender.  

The Women of Chowdeck are super helpful and fun to work. Honestly, we have a real ‘women supporting women’ culture going on and it makes the workplace thrive. I think it’s so much easier working with women that support you. It makes your job a lot more enjoyable!
 

How have The Women of Chowdeck supported your growth within our ecosystem?

My career at Chowdeck began as a member of the Customer Success Team. Over time, I began to wear many interesting hats within the company. First, I was a member of the Business team, and now, I am a City Lead for Ikeja, Alausa, Ogudu and Egbeda.

Having worked across three teams within Chowdeck, I have been privileged to cross paths with the most amazing women. The Women of Chowdeck are intelligent, empathetic, and complete rockstars at what they do. They continue to empower me and motivate me to do better and be better. I do not think that I would be able to accomplish all that I have without the backing of these women. 

As a leader, how do you ensure that the women of your department are evolving personally and professionally?

I believe that it is of utmost importance to provide equal opportunities for professional growth and development to all members of the Customer Success team, including the women of my department. 

As a leader, I have created a culture of inclusivity amongst my team members. Everyone feels seen and heard. All opinions, ideas, and concerns are given representation. I encourage open communication, providing opportunities for sincere feedback in order to improve our rapport and productivity. 

Everyone on my team is a star! I recognize the importance of their achievements by regularly acknowledging their contributions, and continually steering them in the right direction. I ensure that my team members, especially women, have equal opportunities for promotions, career advancement, and job assignments. I avoid gender biases and treat all team members equally based on their skills and performance. 
 

Has working with the Chowdeck supported your growth personally and professionally?

Working with Chowdeck has been interesting. I’ve been on a learning curve. I joined Chowdeck fresh out of university, and I’ve had to learn a number of skills on the job. This has not only challenged me but has allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone. 

We have a great, warm working environment here, and I am confident that each woman here has been hired because they are completely competent at what they do. 

I have grown immensely since I joined Chowdeck. I am much better at what I do now. 
 

What is your advice to people, particularly leaders, looking to create more inclusive environments for women to work in?

To begin, I would love to praise The Women of Chowdeck.  We are owners, hustlers and go-getters. We’re like the mitochondria of the cell. The powerhouse. Working with people who are not only experts at what they do but maintain excellence from ideation to completion is just exciting. I’d choose them again and again. 

Within my team, which is 100% female, I have created a supportive environment that makes everyone feel heard, valued and respected.  I encourage open dialogue and a feedback culture. People can share their ideas and concerns freely. Through regular performance reviews, I provide feedback and guidance towards growth. This allows my team members to evolve personally and professionally. As a leader, being supportive of your team’s personal and professional needs is the first step towards building a safe work environment.

I’m so proud of the strides that have been made towards gender inclusivity in the workplace but there’s still a long way to go. I believe that this is a journey, not a destination. You can ensure everybody eats by leading by example. Creating a culture that supports and values inclusivity, celebrating and recognising the contributions of women, providing equal opportunities for growth and advancement and being empathetic by listening to feedback and taking necessary actions are amazing steps to take. 

It takes real commitment, dedication, and a willingness to learn and grow as people and companies but the results are boundless.

The Women of Chowdeck are valued and respected, and we would not be where we are today without their contributions to us. We encourage you to embrace equity as individuals and collectives, and provide women with spaces to thrive personally and professionally. Eliminating gender stereotypes and promoting gender diversity is a collective responsibility. Let us make sure that in the years ahead, #EverybodyEats. 

Written and edited by:

Denise Eseimokumoh

Growth & Marketing