Making the difference. Women from the team share what’s accelerated their own careers

With the focus for International Women’s Day 2025 on how organisations can #AccelerateAction, we asked some of the women across the Ipsos Karian and Box team to share their own experiences of what’s made the most difference for them in the world of work.

Louise Breed, UK CEO

It’s been flexibility. While my career has developed over my 25 working years, it's since I had children that the rate of my career progression has significantly increased, during which time – 16 years now – I've always worked part time. I've done this in 7 roles across 5 organisations and have approached it as ‘this is how I work – and it's not something I will compromise on’. While in the early days of small children it was a necessity, it's become how I balance work and life, so I can bring my best to my career as well as my life outside of work. Working with leaders who genuinely embrace and champion flexibility has made a huge difference to me over the years.
 

Bex Crosby, Innovation and Thought Leadership Director

I’ve just returned from maternity leave and learning how to be both a leader and a mother to a small toddler has been made so much easier by being surrounded by other women who have also done just that.

In terms of DEI policies, my husband took extended paternity leave and has been able to benefit from flexible working to spend a day a week at home with our son as I’ve returned to work – both of these things mean I've not become the ‘default parent’ and we’ve been able to have a good balance between work and family all round.
 

Heather Corbett, Head of PMO

As a woman with ADHD, being able to express myself and have my ideas taken seriously, even if the way I work might look different to other people’s, has had a huge impact on my confidence and my career. Working somewhere where we allow people to be themselves and that celebrates diversity is huge.

I’ve had the pleasure to work for some incredibly strong female leaders, and it’s great to hear so many strong female voices at Ipsos.
 

Emily Dessent, Principal Consultant

What's made the most difference to me has been having role models who have similar styles – seeing there's not just one way to be a leader. As more of a preparer / reflector, it gave me the confidence to lean into and use my style to my advantage, rather than trying to be someone I'm not!