Financial Changemakers, Series 2 - Body Image

Welcome to the Financial Changemakers podcast with Gretchen Betts – Managing Director at Magenta Financial Planning and Olivia Parnell – Coach, New Horizons, Voluntary Norfolk. This podcast series is for you if you are interested in learning about diversity and inclusion and are keen to embrace and make positive change in your life, business, management style or company ethos. In this fourth episode, hosts Gretchen and Olivia, discuss Body Image with their guests ·        Suzanne Samaka – recent founder of #HonestyAboutEditing Campaign to protect young people’s self-esteem and help them have a more positive body image. ·        James Rae Parnell - curator, educator, and dancer based in the Hague, NL The subject of Body Image affects every one of us. The expectations we have in ourselves are ingrained in our unconscious bias. Body image is extremely fragile, more so than we sometimes realise. Within the corporate world, a lot is needed to be done regarding what is deemed ‘Professional’ from an image perspective. From hair styling, body piercings, clothing choices, make up choices. Individuals should be able to express themselves openly. It should not be a tick box exercise, actual change is needed, now. People need to be able to bring their authentic self to work. If people aren’t given the environment to do this, they’re never going to produce their best work. Representing as many people as possible within your business, encourages people to be more comfortable with themselves, in the workplace. In turn, offering clients more confidence that they are represented, and will received the best service, for them. A more diverse work force makes a better workplace. Individuals who are better skilled, and better equipped to offer more options for clients, which makes for good business! Taking the time to understand the importance of greater diversity within the workplace and taking steps to encourage and actively seek a greater diversity can only be a good thing. Key Take Aways from this episode It's Important to understand that having positive body image doesn’t mean you have to love every bit of your body. It’s understanding that it’s not the most important bit about you, and accepting yourself as you are, not allowing negative thoughts to be all consuming. If you are struggling with body image, try to ask yourself why, where does that thought come from? How can we actively change those thoughts of ourselves? Research ways to combat those feelings and find those who represent you. In our ever-increasing online society, remember that nothing we see in that space is real. So don’t compare yourself. Comparison is the thief of joy. So don’t compare yourself.   Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Don’t be complicit. If you see something is wrong, say something. This podcast series is about creating a safe place for discussion and ultimately enabling you, our listener, to be a Changemaker. Let’s listen. Let’s Discuss. Let’s Learn. Let’s Implement Positive Change.