International Women’s Day: Let’s Start by Taking Action Within Our Company

Gender Equality: “Let’s start by taking action within our own company.”

On Thursday, March 13, the La Poste Group’s “Un Une” Parity Network held an event. The goal was to discuss gender equality around the world and in France with distinguished guests. Here’s a look back at this enriching exchange.

Following International Women’s Day, and against the backdrop of a troubling global situation marked by a rollback of women’s rights, the “Un Une” Parity Network organized roundtable discussions to reflect on gender equality.

The event took place in the auditorium at La Poste Group headquarters and was also streamed online, with 350 participants.

Powerful and passionate opening remarks

Marie-Aude Dubanchet, Deputy Director-General for Communications, opened the ceremony by highlighting a troubling reality: women’s rights are under threat, from Afghanistan to Iraq and the United States. She stated that every commitment and every voice can make a difference: “It’s true that we feel terribly powerless, but ultimately, I want to believe that coming together, reflecting, and trying to take action sends out a kind of energy—waves that tell our sisters who are struggling that they are not alone. So even if that’s all it serves, let’s stand together!”

Valérie Decaux, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of human resources, highlighted La Poste’s efforts toward gender parity (52% of the Group’s workforce is female, 39.6% among senior executives), while emphasizing the need to continue making progress, particularly in promoting women to leadership positions.

“Let’s remain vigilant at all times because biases resurface, and so does history,” she concluded with determination, “so let’s start by taking action within our company.”

Roundtable Discussions on Current Issues

The event featured presentations by renowned experts, who gathered for roundtable discussions moderated by Aurore Mayer, director of the “Un Une” Parity Network.

To begin with, the discussions focused on women’s rights in the context of the current global geopolitical landscape, with the participation of Marie-Cécile Naves (General Delegate of France Universités and Research Director at the Gender and Geopolitics Observatory at IRIS), Chahla Chafiq (sociologist and writer), Candice Prévost (former professional soccer player, sports and equality consultant), and Delphine O (Ambassador and Secretary-General of the Generation Equality Forum, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs). The discussions were rich and engaging, providing a better understanding of the issues at stake and the challenges to be addressed.

The second roundtable discussion addressed the impact on gender equality in the workplace in France, emphasizing the crucial role of businesses. Julie Gayet, a filmmaker, and Florence Sandis, president of the media outlet Club’Elles, consultant, and author, emphasized the importance of ambitious equality policies and raising awareness among men. Pierre-Yves Ginet, a journalist, author, and expert on gender equality issues, particularly stressed the need for zero tolerance toward sexism, highlighting the essential role of businesses as the “final guarantor of equality in our society.”

To conclude the roundtable discussions, the speakers emphasized that there are many ways to take action and that these require collective and sustained mobilization.

A French feminist pioneer and source of inspiration

The event culminated in an exclusive screening of the film “Olympe: A Woman in the Revolution,” directed by Julie Gayet, which tells the story of this pioneering feminist and committed humanist.

A French writer, playwright, and politician, Olympe de Gouges authored the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and the Female Citizen in 1791. She left behind numerous writings and pamphlets advocating for women’s civil and political rights and for the abolition of Black slavery in the colonies.
This gender-equality event provided an opportunity for the director to remind the audience that Olympe de Gouges is a timeless source of inspiration, whose message resonates particularly strongly today.

Every day, La Poste Group leads the way by placing equality at the heart of its strategy. Today is a testament to that.