【Global News】Celebrating International Women’s Day with Team Panasonic Athletes

Wiesbaden, Germany – In honor of International Women’s Day (IWD), held annually on March 8, Panasonic wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on the achievements and discuss the challenges faced by women in various fields. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) is deeply rooted in the Panasonic Group and is an integral part of our Group-wide Basic Business Philosophy. By maximizing each employee’s skills and potential, we aim to contribute to people’s lives through useful products and services. 

This year, we had the privilege of interviewing two remarkable athletes from Team Panasonic, Hannah Mills and Hannah Cockroft. These inspiring women shared their thoughts on the significance of IWD, the hurdles women encounter in sports, and their personal journeys.

Hannah Mills: “I love learning about women who have done amazing things, and IWD is an opportunity for even more exposure and highlighting of incredible women in all different walks of life.”

Hannah Cockroft: “It’s a really important day to focus on inclusivity. We are all so busy that sometimes it’s easy to look only at what is right in front of us. IWD and similar days give us the opportunity to consider wider topics that impact so many but are often ignored. I’m so passionate about inclusivity that any opportunity for discussion around it is a priceless one. For me, it’s not just about being a woman, but calling for equality and inclusivity across everything.”

Hannah Mills: “There are lots of challenges women face in sport. For young girls at school, there’s so much more that can be done to create the right environment for them to want to take part and feel like they deserve to be there. There’s still an attitude throughout sport that men’s sport is more important, better, etc., than women’s, and so feeling valued as a woman in sport is an important thing to address.”

Hannah Cockroft: “My biggest challenge around being a woman in sport, not relating to my disability, has probably been the way female athletes are spoken about in the media and online. I remember after winning my Paralympic Gold medals in London in 2012, there were more comments online about my acne than there were about my winning performances. I found that so hard to see beyond and it made me so self-conscious. I quickly learned that people will always draw on the negatives, especially when they can hide behind a screen. So my advice would be, ‘Don’t read into things too deeply.’ It’s really hard to do, but as the old saying goes, ‘It’s tomorrow’s chip paper.’ Everyone will have an opinion of you, so stay true to yourself and only listen to the close circle that you choose.”

Hannah Cockroft: “It starts with the people working within it to be open to all and then extends to those who influence and present it. Take the media and how little female-only and disabled sports are shown. There was a great uptake in interest around the Paralympics and the all-women Football World Cup, but it’s not continued because the media drop it for the heritage of larger interest in male-dominated and able-bodied sports. But without it being shown, how can people choose? And how can others be inspired to join in?”

Hannah Mills: “For me, sustainability and IWD are completely linked. Gender Equality is one of the U.N.’s SDGs. If women and girls aren’t thriving, then how can the world be thriving? We also desperately need more women in decision-making roles throughout industry and politics to achieve the sustainability targets that we need to hit to limit the effects of global warming.”

Hannah Cockroft: “IWD is a chance to remind everyone of the need for equality of opportunities for all. We need to support each other and our planet if we are to ever fulfill a future rich in health, wealth, and happiness.”

Hannah Mills: “The ultimate inspiration for me was Serena Williams. She was the epitome of an athlete—mentally tough and a fighter. Knowing what she had to endure, particularly early in her career as a black athlete, to achieve everything she did in her sport and becoming a mum, she’s just incredible.”

Hannah Cockroft: “I was really lucky to have Chantal Petitclerc as one of my mentors. Her inspiration and knowledge made all the difference in my experience at my first Olympic Games. I try to take every opportunity I can to pass on the incredible knowledge and opportunities that have been imparted onto me during my career.”