photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: leen ahmed from art of colors
charley stokhof(she/her)
head of product at brand new day
about
having a background in economics, i did not expect to end up in tech. what drew me in was the problem-solving, learning a new field, and building products that actually work for people (although i still love a good spreadsheet!). i am still often the only woman in the room, which make you doubt yourself if you’re not careful. i learned not to question whether i belong in a field simply because i do not fit the stereotype. bringing a different perspective has proven to be a valuable asset in how i do my job.
why is international women’s day important for you?
international women’s day matters to me because it forces a spotlight on gender inequality, and because we are simply not done. it matters for who gets encouraged, who gets funded, who gets listened to, and who gets access to education and opportunity. i strongly believe diversity, far beyond gender, strengthens teams and decision-making. research has proven this, but i have also seen it firsthand: when different perspectives challenge the status quo early, the work gets better and decisions improve. international women’s day is a reminder to acknowledge the inequality, but more importantly, to act on it.
brand new day
money matters affect everyone, while banking has been dominated by men for centuries. that’s changing, but not on its own accord. women are still less financially independent than men, even though research shows that they often make better, more informed financial decisions. that’s how diversity makes the financial sector stronger. it’s why we are making women in finance visible and contribute to a world that takes more perspectives into account. until the day comes when role models are no longer needed because equality is a given.