#PRESSFORPROGRESS hosted by
Baroness Sandip Verma and Universal Peace Federation, under masterful leadership of Her Excellence Margaret Ali and Robin Marsh, at House of Lords, London

For centuries the status quo has endured that women are homemakers and men are breadwinners. While, in the West, we may perceive this notion as outdated, limiting and completely devoid of our reality, I want you to remember that this is still very much the case for large parts of the world.

Just as women in the West were taught that they belong inside, and the outside world belongs to men, so does this remain the reality for millions of women around the world. And YES more needs to be done to achieve gender equality even in our own reality because a society where all genders are equal benefits everyone.

As I see it, and this is just my point of view, our gender lacks the understanding of our true worth. For so long we have fought to be equal to men but failed to remember that we are so different. Of course, we should demand to be treated as equals both in law and in practice, to have the same opportunities, to be given the same respect as our male counterparts AND yes we should be paid the same. BUT we should also remember that we Are women and that we do not need to be men. Most importantly we should remember the example we set to the next generation. Leadership starts within us, if the women leaders of today believe that equality means we should be like men then by default we are telling the next generation they are not good enough as women. Until we understand and accept our worth the gender pay gap shall remain because we have decided to compete by someone else’s rules. We need to set our own rules and we need to do it now. We need to shed our limiting beliefs about ourselves.

In the opening remarks, the speakers Maria Miller MP, highlighted the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings that the gender pay gap parity is still 217 years away. Her Excellence Margaret Ali Director of Universal Peace Federation and Robin Marsh, Secretary General UPF, brought together an extraordinary action group of creative, innovative, and responsive women and men who are not willing to wait 217 years to right the wrong and eliminate the gender gap

Brilliant minds get together often at the Universal Peace Federation ( www.uk.upf.org) but Monday 26 March, an extraordinarily diverse and experienced professional London women group connected with each other to accelerate the process of social diversity and equal pay, #pressforprogress

What is possible when women from the political realm, media, arts, education, start combining their desire to be more with their limitless creativity, life experiences, skills, and wisdom with resourceful, loving energy and talent? 

Join the conversation and discover how women from different paths of life, women of excellence of all ages, can navigate into new possibilities, change the culture to support, to encourage, inspire, and build each other from the ground up.

Marie Miller- MP

‘We can learn from the Canadian government, that women are not an add-on or an extra but an integral part of society. We will not rest until we have more elected women, we have to press for women inclusion’  

Dr Darie Nani, Co-Founder MTN Network and BYP TV 

‘From my own perspective, I am surrounded by strong powerful women every day, it is my job to give them the platform from which they can reach more people and share their wisdom, to help them become purposeful leaders. Not because they are women but because they are brilliant human beings. Perhaps this is a generational issue as much as it is a gender one. Considering equal pay, I do not know a single person, either male or female, in my age group who believes our gender should have any effect on our wage. Why this continues to remain the case I believe has more to do with the culture at the top of large organization and government. The old way of doing things is toxic in many avenues of our lives, including equal pay, the tribalism that dominates boardrooms and cabinets, that excludes women from top positions is one and the same with the culture gives breaks to the rich and powerful while taking from the most vulnerable.’

Dr Yvonne Thompson- Founder Wintrade Week London, Author, Award-winning leading Entrepreneur

‘Immigrants are the true entrepreneurs as we often come here from a different country, we speak a different language, we have a different culture, different weather but we still make it through. We all heard what great things men do for each other, but this is something women do not do, nominate each other for Queens honours, and open doors for other women.’

Dr Gill Barham, TV Presenter, Award Winning Author ” Your Heart Matters”

‘We have the talent of women who can lead, women who can teach other women, women who can support their community through cultural change, women who can influence and #PressforProgress, but nobody is interested in them. We created BYP TV from where women can be seen for who they truly are and broadcast their passion globally We women and men making their mark on issues such as equality and diversity – teachers, senior politicians, corporate leaders, thought leaders and entrepreneurs.’

Dr Marina Nani, Chief Editor, Sovereign Magazine, Advocate for Social Edification

‘I hear that we need 217 years to address the gender parity. There is a solution that could effectively resolve the gender pay gap in the next 10 years: educating women and help them understand, become aware of your Self-worth. Make it part of the national curriculum, studying self-worth same way you study geography and maths, passing exams to discover your unique talent, what makes you different and valuable to your community!’  

Dr Wendy Sneddon, Purposeful Leader Founder Lodestone Lounge, Award Winning Author- “Get out of your own way”

‘There is no better place to discover your own strengths than your own community, there is no better time to act upon your dreams than now, there is no greater joy than inspire others to be kind and lead with Purpose. We are inspired every day by the women who surround us at work and in our personal lives. We’re looking forward to lunching with many of these women new successful business and create progress!’

Roger Cheetham, TV Presenter,  Author “The Life you deserve- Surviving Trauma through Empathy and Inner Peace”

‘Lack of empathy is an actual disability and can be healed. Unlike other disabilities, which are recognized and treated, we are not aware of the lack of empathy and uncounted tragic stories are left untold, affecting generations of sufferers and their victims, which leave individuals and the society at a great loss.’

Donia Youssef, Award Winning Author, Cancer Survivor, Clear Communication Advocate

‘If you knew how long it takes and how hard it is to re-build your life, you too can decide to step up to the challenge and play to your strengths, lead your life with a renewed purpose, inspiring and empowering other parents to overcome traumatic news.’

Women Of Excellence Award 

CAROLE STONE CBE

Director of YouGov

Director of YouGov the research and polling company specialising in the political arena. Ex Producer of the BBC’s Any Questions, Carole has the art of networking buttoned down. With a database of 50,000 “friends” and her personal big black book of Who’s Who including past and present Prime Ministers, Politician, Journalists, Celebrities, Entrepreneurs, and many more. Carole takes networking beyond networking for friends to networking for contracts. Carole is also Patron for Charity One Young World, Chair of The Desmond TuTu Foundation and also chairs EDV a charity against domestic violence. 

DR YVONNE THOMPSON CBE

Founder WINTRADE WEEK

Dr Yvonne Thompson CBE founder of WINTRADE WEEK has two honorary degrees for work with SMEs, Women, Minorities, Global Diversity, Business & Enterprise, and numerous other business awards.

DR MARINA NANI

DR MARINA NANI is an advocate for Social Edification which she is coining as a new industry, building up purposeful leaders, helping women from around the world to make a significant difference within themselves, their industry and their community.
Founder of MTN Media, Radio W.O.R.K.S. World, BYP TV, Marina is the Editor in Chief of three Publications: 
Sovereign-Global Magazine for Executives and Leading Entrepreneurs
The Quantum of Light- Magazine for Authors and Authors to be
Rich Woman Magazine- Inside Philanthropic Minds
Marina believes that there is a genius in each individual, regardless their present circumstances and when individual, unique talent is not celebrated, it is a cost to the individual prosperity and, consequently a loss to society. Sharing success stories in her Talk Show The Stardust Hour, guests from around the world are delivering value to an inspiration hungry audience., Marina’s sole focus is to empower at least one million women worldwide, help them understand their genius which she calls it Stardust and become aware of their true worth. Best stories are broadcasted and published so the guests receive the recognition they deserve for the contribution they make in their industry/ local community. 
Marina is the founder of three professional networks and Annual Awards Ceremony: 
The Author Club, The Authors Awards,
Sovereign Club, The Stardust Awards, 
Rich Woman Club and MTN Media Awards
To share your STARDUST Story connect with Marina now
www.MTNMedia.co.uk