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Welcome to Inclusion Bites, your sanctuary for bold conversations that spark change. I'm Joanne Lockwood, your guide on this journey of exploration into the heart of inclusion, belonging and societal transformation. Ever wondered what it truly takes to create a world? Remember, everyone not only belongs, but thrives. You're not alone. Join me as we uncover the unseen, challenge the status quo and share stories that resonate deep within. Ready to dive in? Whether you're sipping your morning coffee or winding down after a long day, let's connect, reflect and inspire action together. Don't forget, you can be part of the conversation too. Reach out to jo.lockwood@seechangehappen.co.uk to share your insights or to join me on the show.

So adjust your earbuds and settle in. It's time to ignite the spark of inclusion with Inclusion Bites. And today is episode 178 with the title Breaking Barriers for Women. And I have the absolute honour and privilege to welcome Christine Boston. Christine is a lifelong gender equality advocate and leadership specialist who's on a mission to build inclusive cultures that empower everyone to thrive. When I asked Christine to describe her superpower, she said that it is turning strategic vision into inclusive purpose led action. Hello, Christine, welcome to the show.

Hi, Jo. Hi, Jo. Nice to see you.

Yeah, and we were just chatting in the green room just now and we first connected on LinkedIn in 2018, so that's. We've been stalking each other for seven years. That's a while.

A long time. Indeed.

And did I pick up on the fact you're based in Wales, is that right?

I am in Wales, yeah. Just outside Cardiff.

Lovely city. I've spent many a night out in the. Near the Wetherspoons area. The Prince of Wales, is it the.

That's the one, yeah.

In my younger days, when I was a bit more of a party animal than I am now.

Great part of town.

So the kids are breaking up for Easter soon, aren't they? Is that right?

They are, yeah. One more week of school and then, yeah, they'll be home for two weeks.

Wow. Wow. What are you gonna do with them?

Well, probably avoid the rain. We've had really good weather all week, you know, in the run up to the Easter holiday. So that means it's definitely going to be a wet one. So I'm sure we'll be, you know, doing lots of soft play and finding some indoor activities to keep them occupied instead of letting them run around outside.

Well, you. Yeah, the introduction. I said this is the title is Breaking Barriers for Women and I realise and know that that's a huge passion of you around gender equity and equality for all gen and calling out some of the constructs that are there. So what got you into what you're doing? And, yeah, give us a bit of background as to why you do that.

Yeah, so I've been a gender equality activist since I was about 6 or 7. And I know that always kind of sounds really strange, you know, how is that possible? But actually, I grew up in a Catholic family, so we were at church every week. I went to a Catholic school and it was about that age that, you know, as a girl, I realised there were things that I would be told I couldn't do, you know, just for that reason, no other good reason, just because I'm a girl. So, you know, we were kind of, as girls, we'd sit and think, well, that's not fair, you know, why can't we do that? And that's kind of where it started. And then I was a child of the 80s as well, so, you know, that was a really big time for women's empowerment. And I don't think, you know, there was any way really of avoiding having that influence me in my household as well. My mum was the main earner, but we'd still have salespeople, people ringing the house and not wanting to speak to her, but wanting to speak to my dad or, you know, if they're coming round, you know, can they come round when my dad's home? Because they're still kind of obsessed with the man making the buying decisions, you know, and that wasn't the case practically in my home growing up, so. But of course it was into the 80s, you know, the Sex Discrimination act was passed in 1975, so kind of awareness, empowerment was kind of really coming about.