Published 8 March 2024
This year the 2025 International Women’s Day campaign is #AccelerateAction, reminding us that gender equality has not yet been reached.
In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, at the current pace, full gender equality won’t be reached until 2158—about five generations from now.
At Engage Squared we’re proud to have above industry standards when it comes to female representation across our business, with 45% of our employee base identifying as female in our last count. We believe in hiring the best talent for the job and providing them with a competitive salary and benefits. This approach has allowed us to attract and retain the best talent – regardless of gender. Unlike many other organisations, woman are not paid less than their male colleagues at Engage Squared. Something that we believe should be common-place in all organisations
To celebrate #IWD2025, we asked four women across our organisation to share what their biggest career learnings have been so far and what they would advice they would give to their younger self.
Grace Geldard
Tell us a little about yourself, Grace
I’ve been with Engage Squared as a project manager for 3.5 years now. My career path has been a bit of a journey—starting out as a primary school teacher, then making a career shift after moving to Australia following an OE in London. I worked at a travel magazine publisher and then in outreach at a university before getting my foot in the door at Engage Squared, thanks to a little nepotism (shoutout to Chels). At work, I’m passionate about collaborating with and empowering our team to do great work and make a meaningful impact for our clients. Outside of work, I love being active, enjoying a few cocktails or wines with my loved ones, and travelling with family.
What’s one of the biggest learnings you’ve had in your career so far?
One of the biggest learnings has been how priorities shift once you have a family. Returning to work after having a baby was one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced, and my perspective on career aspirations has definitely changed. While I still value my work and career, my current focus is on balancing it with family life. The key takeaway for me is that you can do anything once you have a baby—but not everything. It’s important to take stock of what’s most important to you and embrace flexibility in your work-life balance. I’m incredibly grateful to be in a workplace that supports flexible working arrangements, allowing me to navigate this new chapter of life.
If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you say?
I would tell my younger self to have confidence in her abilities and not shy away from opportunities that seem daunting. I would also say that it’s okay to change direction and explore new paths—life’s journey isn’t linear, and sometimes, the detours lead to the best experiences. And when life gets busy or overwhelming, remember that it’s okay not to do it all. Focus on what matters most and be kind to yourself in the process.
Lucy Adlam
Tell us a little about yourself, Lucy
Hi! My name is Lucy Adlam and I joined Engage Squared as a Change Consultant in 2024. I love guiding people through change, with empathy and good communication. This translates into my passion outside of work too, where I really love to work on community development. I have set up a charity in New Zealand to help connect older generations with younger generations and hope to make some positive change to people’s lives.
I’m also a mum to two girls, aged 7 & 9 and love spending my time with them, as well as with lots of friends, going on road trips, going to gigs and working on my health and wellbeing.
What’s one of the biggest learnings you’ve had in your career so far?
A good attitude can make up for skills you don’t have (yet). Having a positive and proactive attitude can often compensate for a lack of skills, which can be taught.
If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you say?
Make time for your health and trust the process. It’s really important to take a little bit of time every day for yourself, so you can achieve the things you want to, while feeling good mentally and physically. You also need to roll with the curveballs life sends you sometimes, and trust that everything will work out for the best.
Laurel Manangka
Tell us a little about yourself, Laurel
I’ve been working and growing with Engage Squared for almost 2 years now as a Project Manager in our Bali office. But if you ask “if this is my dream job?” I would say no. Since 2015 my dream job has always been a barista 😂 But I am also interested in the tech/digital industry, hence why I started this career in 2020, just a few months before the pandemic. I’m proud of what I do at Engage Squared, as we deliver work that adds value or creates impact for customers, and seeing them keep coming back to us to collaborate for more is rewarding. Outside of work, you will find me at the gym doing some mobility and powerlifting training. I also take a French course at the weekend (Oui, pourquoi pas?) or hunting hidden gems (good food) across Bali.
What’s one of the biggest learnings you’ve had in your career so far?
The biggest lesson learned for me throughout my career is to have a life outside of work. It’s a game changer and good for mental health. Also don’t be afraid to ask questions and keep learning.
If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you say?
Work hard, but don’t forget to enjoy life. Prioritise your mental health, take breaks, and spend quality time with the people who matter. Your well-being is just as important as your career. Also start saving and investing early!
Misa Pu
Tell us a little about yourself, Misa
I work as a Power Platform consultant and developer at our Tokyo office. My journey with Power Platform started when I joined the development team at my previous company. I quickly found myself enjoying the process, which led me to specialise in this field.
Outside of work, I love traveling—especially to tropical destinations where I can go sky diving and connect with nature. Recently, I’ve also been into weight training, hitting the gym about four to five times a week. Since my job involves long hours in front of a screen, I make sure to stay active during my free time.
What’s one of the biggest learnings you’ve had in your career so far?
One of my biggest learnings is that even if you haven’t done something before, just trying it can lead to surprising results. Every new experience adds to your confidence, and confidence helps you carry yourself with assurance—something that builds trust with others.
Being part of the Tokyo office, where the team is still growing, has given me many opportunities to take on new challenges. While stepping into the unknown can be nerve-wracking, I’ve learned that each challenge turns into valuable experience and greater confidence for the next one. In the IT industry, where new technologies emerge daily, it’s important to embrace change and enjoy learning.
If you could give advice to your younger self, what would you say?
Follow your interests and do what excites you. If you ever find yourself spending an entire day just browsing the internet, don’t feel guilty about it. Sometimes, the most unexpected things spark new passions—like how a random Instagram post led me to start weight training and completely transform my lifestyle.
—
We hope you enjoyed learning more about the women working at Engage Squared and are inspired by their learnings and advice. We’re always on the hunt for wonderful people to join our team, so take a look at our careers page and get in touch if we sound like your type of people.
