International Women's Day (IWD) holds immense significance in the working world as it serves as a poignant reminder of the strides made towards gender equality and the continued need for progress. It provides a dedicated platform to recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of women across various industries, emphasising their role in shaping the global workforce. Beyond acknowledgment, IWD prompts organisations to reflect on and address existing disparities, fostering a culture of inclusivity and equal opportunities.  

At Hamlyn Williams, we believe in fostering an environment where talent knows no gender, where every individual is encouraged to thrive and succeed regardless of the barriers society may impose. Unfortunately, this isn’t the way the industry has always worked, so while we are on the journey, we also look to our women to help guide us in our future development. In this special blog, we shine a spotlight on the incredible journeys, triumphs, and contributions of a few of the women who form the backbone of our organisation. 

As we celebrate their resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to excellence, we’ll explore how these trailblazers exemplify the spirit of progress and empowerment that lies at the heart of International Women's Day. 

Meet Ana Paceoaga 

New to Hamlyn Williams is our Global People Development Officer, Ana Paceoaga. Ana shared with us a little of her professional journey which unfolded as a testament to the intersection of her passion, perseverance, and purpose. In her own words, Ana reflects on her dynamic career, "I've actually joined Hamlyn Williams seven weeks ago. It's been exciting." With a background as a recruitment consultant, Ana found her stride in the fast-paced world of startups, revelling in the challenges and opportunities for progression. Transitioning from recruitment, she embraced her passion for people, leveraging her background in management and HR to spearhead the development and performance aspects of her roles. 

In her few weeks since joining Hamlyn Williams, Ana has already spearheaded initiatives to elevate the workplace experience. From implementing new processes and best practice trainings to collaborating with international offices, she's already navigating challenges to improve the working experience within the company. For Ana, in seven weeks, she is most proud of the trust she has already built with consultants and managers. 

I feel like I managed to get a good relationship and build trust with our consultants and our managers. I think that's crucial in my role as people development for everyone to gain that, feel like they can rely on me and they can trust me and work well together.

Ana acknowledges the challenges, especially in a male-dominated industry, but she doesn't let that define her journey. Talking about the real challenges, she shares: "It goes from small things like distractions on desk to being included in the discussions and having a word and say in different matters." Overcoming her own self-limiting beliefs and anxiety, Ana sees challenges as catalysts for growth, pushing her forward to prove to herself and others that she can overcome any obstacle. 

Family forms the foundation of Ana's motivation, citing her hard-working upbringing as a driving force: 

Drawing inspiration from the strong women around her, both in her family and professional life, Ana emphasises the importance of surrounding oneself with ambitious, strong, and hardworking individuals. 

Addressing the significance of International Women's Day, Ana aligns with this year's theme of 'Inspiring Inclusion 2024.' She advocates for creating an environment where all women feel empowered, valued, and included. Ana has actively contributed to initiatives promoting gender balance, such as being involved with increasing female sales-staff representation. She highlights the importance of not just bringing women into the workplace but ensuring they feel included, valued, and able to thrive. On the topic of work-life balance, Ana provides a pragmatic perspective. "Working hard sometimes means that you might have to work long hours." However, she emphasises the importance of setting limits, taking breaks, and prioritising self-care to avoid burnout. 

Looking forwards, Ana is already eyeing what more she can bring to her role and career. Her focus is on aiming for impactful roles where she can influence and support young, ambitious women. As she reflects on International Women's Day, Ana sees it as a global celebration and a reminder to continue the work towards equality. At Hamlyn Williams, Ana says this day as an opportunity to reflect on personal growth and support other amazing women within and beyond the workplace. 

For those aspiring to emulate her success, Ana's advice is clear: "Work hard. Nothing comes easy, but also challenge yourself." Ana believes that striving for continuous improvement and stepping outside your comfort zone, she believes in aiming for more than what one initially thinks is achievable. 

Meet Julie Patsalides 

In the Hamlyn Williams Amsterdam office, we met with Julie Patsalides, a Principal Consultant in Compliance, Financial Crime & Legal, whose journey is a testament to the unexpected paths that lead to remarkable careers. As so many are, Julie was another who “fell into recruitment." Her original background was in hospitality, but Julie's journey with Hamlyn Williams began in May 2022, when she was drawn in by the vibrant company culture and people-centric approach. From starting as an Associate Consultant, Julie has steadily risen to help lead the compliance, financial crime, and legal desk for Hamlyn Williams Europe. 

Reflecting on her proudest career moments, Julie shared her thoughts on what she considers her biggest success, in the account management side of the role. From a client relationship initiated in November 2022, despite initial setbacks, Julie's persistence and strategic expansion efforts were central in the establishment of the Amsterdam office as the EMEA headquarters, showcasing the depth of her impact and commitment to building lasting partnerships. 

Challenges have been part of Julie's journey, both collectively as an office and on a personal level. Addressing the initial struggles faced by the Hamlyn Williams Amsterdam office in 2022 due to a recruitment low, Julie highlights how this adversity actually strengthened the team's bond and resilience, ultimately leading to their current success. On a personal level, she shares the trials of managing multiple candidate dropouts and counteroffers, noting the importance of staying motivated and consistent in the face of setbacks. 

Julie, having experience with both permanent and contract recruitment, sheds light on her motivations, saying, "I love what I do. I love recruitment." Balancing the personal satisfaction of providing for herself and her family, Julie finds motivation in the joy of experiencing and sharing life's luxuries, such as taking her sister to a Formula One race for her birthday – something Julie says she just couldn't have done before moving into recruitment. 

In a market where understanding is key, Julie notes the importance of genuinely caring about and understanding about your markets. For her, having an interest and a passion about the compliance and financial crime sectors means that she can offer genuine authenticity with candidates, which she believes also contributes to her success. 

Hamlyn Williams, according to Julie, has always been an inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated. Reflecting on initiatives, she notes the introduction of period days as a step toward creating a more comfortable and supportive work environment for women. She believes that the company's commitment to equality is demonstrated not just on International Women's Day but throughout the year. 

Julie's journey is marked by consistency and organisation, two qualities she deems essential in the recruitment world. She acknowledges the growth achieved in maintaining this consistency while also navigating the challenge of creating a healthy work-life balance, a feat made possible with the support and encouragement from Hamlyn Williams. Looking ahead, Julie is targeting the continued growth of her compliance desk at Hamlyn Williams. With an eye on emerging regulations and market trends, her goal is to expand the team, ensuring a pool of specialised professionals ready to tackle the complexities of compliance and financial crime. 

As International Women's Day approaches, Julie says that it is important we think of women’s inclusion and equality not just on one day a year, but year-round. Proud of the female leaders within the company, Julie emphasises that while we celebrate on March 8th, we must keep the conversation going, reinforcing the importance of sustained commitment to inclusivity. 

Meet Kate Ellicott 

In Hamlyn Williams’ San Diego office, we met with Associate Director in Financial Services and Head of Office Kate Ellicott, whose journey in recruitment has been nothing short of impressive. Kate has shed light on the background of her career saying, "I joined recruitment straight out of college. Absolutely fell into it like many people do, especially in the United States." Kate's journey in recruitment started in New York, where she navigated the industry, building a foundation in Perm Finance and Accounting within the healthcare non-profit sector. 

Over the span of eight years, Kate's perseverance and dedication saw her rise from an Associate Consultant to a Senior Manager, leading divisions in sectors such as finance, accounting, and legal. Her journey led her to Hamlyn Williams in April 2023, where she assumed the role of Associate Director in the San Diego office. In just over a year, she has expanded her role to oversee finance and accounting nationwide, as well as our West Coast compliance and financial crime division, while also covering off some legal, executive search, and sciences as well! 

Reflecting on her successes at Hamlyn Williams, Kate emphasised personal growth and the challenge of embracing change. For Kate, not having changed jobs since she was 22 years old and fresh from school, starting a new role at Hamlyn Williams was a challenge to embrace. But since joining, her achievements include bringing in new clients, making successful placements, and swiftly ascending to a leadership role all within a short timeframe. 

In navigating the challenges of recruitment, Kate candidly shared her experiences, saying: 

The beginning of recruitment, getting in, understanding recruitment, knowing how to put all the pieces together, and then putting all the pieces together consistently enough to actually see the results is so hard and so challenging.

She addressed the common struggle with imposter syndrome, urging others to acknowledge their worth and the effort invested to reach their current positions. 

Motivation, for Kate herself, is a driving force derived from her natural competitiveness, her refusal to fail, and her love for travel. As a team leader herself, she understands the importance of leaders tapping into individual motivators to fuel growth, both on the day-to-day and when someone is striving to reach the next level. 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hold a central place in Kate's perspective on corporate development. While celebrating strides made within Hamlyn Williams, she emphasises the ongoing commitment required, stating, "any organisation that thinks that they're good and that they're done and they don't need to do more is actually far behind the ball." The work for companies in and around DEI is never done, and that’s something Kate keeps in mind in her role as both a female leader, but also as part of the fabric of Hamlyn Williams.  

In discussing work-life balance, Kate acknowledged its evolution and the necessity to adapt during high-demand periods. Viewing work-life balance as akin to the sea, there is an ebb and flow that must be monitored and maintained. For Kate, self-awareness and open communication with managers to maintain overall well-being is key to managing this balance. Kate's advice for those entering the field emphasises finding your voice early, demanding space to be heard, and understanding that challenges are opportunities for growth. 

Looking ahead, Kate’s aim is to lead the San Diego office to secure "office of the year". She’s always looking to push herself and so identifying the steps that will help her get to the next level in her career is also something she’ll be focusing on. 

As International Women's Day approaches, Kate reflected on its significance, highlighting the need for inclusive dialogue and celebrating accomplishments while acknowledging the challenges women continue to face. She emphasised the importance of men actively participating in conversations and leveraging their influence to foster positive change in the workplace. In Kate's eyes, the journey toward gender equality requires collective effort from everyone involved. 

Why create a culture that celebrates success? 

Celebrating the success and achievements of our staff and team is not just a tradition at Hamlyn Williams; it is the foundation of our dynamic workplace culture. In recognising and marking accomplishments, we not only express gratitude but also cultivate a sense of acknowledgment and value among our team members. Celebrations serve as powerful motivators, fuelling a collective spirit of accomplishment and encouraging individuals to reach new heights. By shining a spotlight on success, we inspire others to set ambitious goals and contribute their best to the collective success story of the company. 

We aim to create a positive and inclusive atmosphere, and celebrating achievements allows us to reinforce our value that every team member plays a crucial role in our company's journey. Doing so builds camaraderie, boosts morale, and establishes a culture where accomplishments, whether big or small, are valued and shared. 

Life in the recruitment industry can be hectic at time. Importantly, celebrations provide us a moment for reflection, allowing the team to appreciate the progress made and the milestones achieved. It's a chance to pause but also a chance for us to collectively look forward to the next set of challenges. 

How does Hamlyn Williams champion women in the workplace? 

At Hamlyn Williams, the commitment to fostering an inclusive and empowering work environment centres around several core pillars, one such pillar is championing women in the workplace.  

Recognising the invaluable contributions of our women to the success and vibrancy of the organisation, Hamlyn Williams has implemented a multifaceted approach that goes beyond rhetoric, translating ideals into concrete actions. The foundation of this commitment lies in the establishment of our mentorship program designed specifically to nurture the professional growth of our employees within the company. Through these initiatives, our experienced female leaders serve as mentors, providing guidance, sharing experiences, and facilitating networking opportunities to accelerate the career trajectories of their mentees. By providing a support network for our female employees, we can equip them with the connections to grow, and a learning environment in which they can thrive. 

Hamlyn Williams recognises the importance of addressing the unique challenges that women may encounter in their professional journeys. By providing tailored resources and support, Hamlyn Williams empowers women to overcome obstacles, equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to ascend to leadership roles. 

In line with the ethos of International Women's Day, Hamlyn Williams hosts regular Town Hall meetings and events that aim to amplify all voices within the organisation, providing an inclusive environment for all to ask questions, share updates, and make suggestions for the development and betterment of the company. There is a designated Teams channel for sharing successes, and a suggestions box for those who wish to make anonymous suggestions or provide sensitive feedback. 

The commitment to work-life balance is important at Hamlyn Williams too. Flexible work arrangements, family-friendly policies, and a supportive ethos contribute to an environment where women can thrive professionally without compromising on their personal lives. Head of HR, Laura Bryce says:

In line with our mission to better serve our employees, we are also developing new family friendly policies in conversation with our wider team to ensure we deliver the best options to support our employees that we can.

Hamlyn Williams recognises that the journey toward gender equality is ongoing, and the company remains committed to continuous improvement. Regular assessments of gender-related policies, listening sessions with employees, and an open feedback culture enable the company to adapt and evolve in response to the changing needs of its workforce. By fostering a workplace where women are not just welcomed but actively championed, Hamlyn Williams is sowing the seeds for a future where women across the organisation can continue to flourish and lead. 

Remember 

By championing women's achievements and highlighting the challenges they still face, IWD serves as a catalyst for meaningful conversations, policy changes, and initiatives that can positively impact workplaces, ensuring that gender diversity becomes not just a goal but a reality in the professional realm. 

International Women's Day is a powerful catalyst for positive change, promoting a more equitable and diverse working world. At Hamlyn Williams, we give our women the tools to not only succeed in their roles, but to support them on their own personal and professional growth journeys. 

If you’re interested in joining Hamlyn Williams, get in touch with our TA team now, or take a look at our current opportunities. Want to learn more about life at Hamlyn Williams? Check out our Instagram and TikTok pages for the latest insights!