From Afghanistan to Kenya/Uganda and France, personal legal battles and cultural law, it's been a time of devastating news for women globally.

I have often wanted to comment, shout, vent, and cry. But watching Kamala Harris wipe the floor with Trump couldn't fail to put a spring in my step and focus the mind. I might eat my dog with happiness!

So, it's with renewed optimism that I am delighted to announce that the Dear Sirs campaign (born 2020) has evolved. After gathering so much support and leading to powerful conversations, I am delighted to share news of our first 'Dear Sirs' webinar series.

The opening guest is the wonderful Harriet Waley-Cohen, a woman who, among other things, has written with eloquence about this recent pervasive violence towards women.

Harriet is a speaker, facilitator, trainer and coach with a background in psychology, a decade in investments and a further decade coaching senior women on confidence and leadership.

Specialising in working with companies in traditionally male-dominated industries, such as estate agency, financial services, and tech, Harriet supports clients in recruiting and retaining the best female talent at all levels, shifting their culture to one of outstanding allyship, and getting a genuine ROI on their gender-focused DEI initiatives.

Dear Sirs examines the challenges women face in business. It's a conversational series covering issues such as everyday sexism in the workplace, childcare responsibilities, and the gender pay gap.

Plus, we'll tackle specific topics like 'the old boys' club' played out in the recent Garrick Club saga. Those who have written/spoken about and continue raising awareness of these issues include Gill Whitty-Collins, Mary Ann Sieghart, Joeli Brearley, Dr Charlotte Proudman, Jamie Klingler, Jeremy Stockdale, and many more. I encourage you to follow their work.

The webinars are open to anyone, especially those who fall foul of this outdated term or are expected to use it at work.

My dear colleague Megan Gray spearheaded the first Dear Sirs eradication at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in 2016 (the first magic circle law firm to do so as policy)—and yet we are still here!

Megan will be joining us for our second seminar later this year.

I hope to hear from people who oppose my way of thinking. Rather than preaching to the choir, we need to get into the minds of those who are resistant and give space to other voices so that we can enter into genuinely healthy and progressive discourse.

Because I REALLY want to know why many people still don't understand why a growing number of men and women passionately believe Dear Sirs is archaic, sexist, non-inclusive and has no place in the modern workplace.

We must share ideas, argue our case, and bring people with us. Because that's how change happens.

Interested? Please join me on 2nd October.

Click here for details.

Thank you,

Ellie

PS: The artwork image is historic and from The Law Institute. I wonder why the salutation "Dear Sirs" became the default...