At HeadBox we’re so proud to be an almost all female team, and we wouldn’t be here today without the many incredible women who contribute so much to our company. Today, and everyday, is about celebrating all of their amazing achievements, so we spoke to some of our incredible team about what International Women’s Day means to them.

Tell us about yourself, what is your background, where are you from?

I’m Nelangi Gunathilaka, I’ve been working in the HeadBox finance team from June 2022. I’m from Sri Lanka and moved to Australia in 2019, and I’m a mum of two loving daughters.

Who’s a woman that really inspires you?

A woman who really inspires me is my Mum. I saw how hard my mum worked, how dedicated and strong she was. She achieved all that she owned by herself, and always stood up against unfair situations. She is always with me in my ups and downs.

She is my backbone. She is an iron woman to me.

What does equity mean to you?

Equity means everyone is provided with what they need to succeed so that they have the opportunity to thrive regardless of their background.

What is a goal we, as a team of powerful women, should strive towards? 

It’s so important to make everyone feel welcome and supported, and to provide everyone with equal opportunities to grow and succeed.

As a team of women it’s so vital to uplift each other by supporting and collaborating with other female run and owned companies.

Who’s a woman that really inspires you?

Aretha Franklin – coming from humble roots, and becoming a worldwide phenomenon. Her music and presence in the community played an important part in the civil rights movement. Not only was her talent enough to inspire millions, but she had a heart of gold backed by powerful messages that fought for change and justice. On top of her passion for feminism and civil rights, she also supported and funded food banks across the nation, bettering the health and lives of so many.

What does equity mean to you? 

I believe Equity represents kindness and understanding, which promotes the belief that all people deserve equal opportunity regardless of who you are. Equity means to recognise that we are all formed from different circumstances, and sometimes adjustments need to be made in order to reach justice and fairness for everyone. One size does not fit all.

What’s an achievement you’re really proud of?

Helping Launch HeadBox into 3 different cities in one year; it was incredible to see all the hard work pay off and know the work I put into achieving this!

 What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

International Women’s Day is a recognition of the works women from all walks of life and colour have made in the past and in our present, pushing for more equity in our world. It’s a chance to truly celebrate all women.

What’s it like to work in a female dominated industry? 

It makes me feel incredibly empowered. I feel, no, I know I can do it and I’m doing it.

How can we uplift women in the workplace?

There are so many ways we can uplift women at work; I think one of them is having a menstrual/menopause leave policy in place to support women to recover and maintain their physical and mental well-being. It’s about inspiring women to feel more reverent towards their monthly cycle, to break down the stigma around menstruation and menopause, and make women feel valued and supported. At the moment, there is no official government legislation on menstrual and menopause leave. It’s incredible to see it implemented across companies such as The Victorian Women’s Trust and Modibodi. It makes me feel incredibly empowered. I feel, no, I know I can do it and I’m doing it.

Who’s a woman that really inspires you?

I thought I would go for inspirational (albeit fictional) female characters who played a huge part in my growing up: Merida from Brave and Toph from Avatar. Both are strong, badass characters who refused to simply succumb to life’s circumstances or accept the cards they’d been dealt but stood up, made a way and overcame great adversity to follow their heart’s passion.

How can we uplift women in the workplace?

‘I am a firm believer in small, meaningful impacts that create change on a larger scale over time. HeadBox empowers each team to perform at their highest level by having weekly catch-ups in place with our direct managers as a means of checking in and making sure everyone is feeling supported.’

What’s one message you’d like to give to young women looking to enter the workforce?

Know your value and your worth! It can be easy to feel a bit of imposter syndrome coming into the workforce, but own your talent and what you can offer to the world. Back yourself, and don’t be afraid to offer new ideas and try new things. Seek support from those around you; even though we’re amazing, we all need a bit of support and there’s nothing stronger than recognising you need that!

What’s it like to work in a female dominated industry?

It’s incredible to work with such an amazing group of women. It’s absolutely empowering to see so many women working together to achieve both their goals. I think in particular the support and celebration of each other that our whole team embodies creates such a beautiful and welcoming work environment. I feel very lucky to work within such a beautiful workplace!

FAQ’s

1. Who can use HeadBox?

Anyone! Whether you’re a corporate booker looking for a private dining room, meeting room, Christmas or EOFY party venue or you’re a social booker looking for the perfect spot to host your birthday party, hens night or wedding – HeadBox has you covered.

2. What is HeadBox?

HeadBox connects corporate and consumer bookers with venues and suppliers and is the easy way to book, manage and deliver everything in one place. No long searches, no stress, no hidden costs.

3. How do I submit an event brief?

Submitting an event brief is an easy process. Our intuitive brief builder will take you through a series of questions collecting all the necessary details needed to host a great event. We want to know details such as where your event will take place, on what date, how many people are attending, and what your total budget is. Once you submit this information, relevant and available venues will respond to your brief!

4. How long will it take for venues to respond?

Our venues are super quick to respond! You should receive responses or a proposal within 24-48 business hours.

5. What are the top 5 things to consider when choosing a venue?

The cost, the location, style, capacity & catering options.