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March 8 is International Women's Day (IWD), a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.
International Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the 20th century. In 1908 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay, and the right to vote. One year later, on March 19, 1909, the first National Woman's Day was observed.
A lot has changed since its inception over 100 years ago and today IWD has grown to become a global day celebrating all women across the world. To mark the occasion, today we are sharing some of the many achievements of women at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and its London venue, RCP London Events, from the past and present and take a look into what the future may hold for women working at our organisation.
Past
While women had been allowed to practice as physicians, apothecaries and midwives for centuries, their role in these male-dominated fields was repeatedly challenged and often led to the ‘vexed question’ of women’s capabilities in these professions.
Despite being over 500 years old, the RCP only allowed women to join the college as members in 1909. In 2019, our exhibition ‘This vexed question’: 500 years of women in medicine tried to shed light on the histories of well-known pioneers and hidden medical women, uncovering and exploring the inspiring stories of the women who made not only the RCP but also the history of medicine.
In 1909, Ivy Woodward became the first woman member of the RCP, but it was only in 1935 that we see the first woman fellow being appointed. Dr Helen Mackay was the first female house physician and surgeon at Queen’s Hospital for Children in Hackney Road where she conducted ground-breaking research into rickets and anaemia. To her, we attribute the landmark discovery that iron deficiency was a major cause of anaemia in infants.
Sujata Chaudhuri was the first woman of colour to become a fellow at the RCP. She was a professor of medicine and first physician at the Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi, and from 1936 to 1950 she worked for the Women’s Medical Service of India.
Zahira Hafez Abdin was the first Egyptian woman to become a member and later a fellow. She identified streptococcal infections as a cause of rheumatic heart disease in children in her community.
Dame Margaret Elizabeth Harvey Turner-Warwick was elected as the first female president of the RCP in 1989, 471 years after its foundation.
At one stage in her career, she was the only female professor of medicine in the UK, and she is recognised as a principal architect of the modern speciality of respiratory medicine.
She retired from medical practice in 1987, two years before being elected as the RCP’s president. 1989 was a time of major reforms for the National Health Service (NHS) and there was also a looming workforce crisis.
Margaret created a specialist unit at the RCP to collect detailed and reliable data to use in pressing for an expansion of the consultant workforce.
During her clinical and research career, she published over 200 papers and several books, including a monograph on lung immunology.
She established an international reputation in the field of respiratory medicine and research, and numerous honours came her way, including being made Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1991.
Present and future
Today, the RCP strives to ensure inclusivity and diversity in recruitment and employment, as well as across its leadership roles and staff. Our organisation is currently made up of 68% female and 32% male staff.
Dr Mumtaz Patel, currently acting as the RCP president, was elected to cover this role in 2024. Out of 124 RCP presidents, our organisation has only had four women presidents: Dame Turner-Warwick, Dame Carol M. Black, Dame Jane Dacre, and Dr Sarah Clarke.
RCP London Events' Meetings and Events team is led by a woman, Natacha Allen. We are also proud to have several women working not only in this team but also in Operations and AV.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, we met with a few of them to discuss the importance of this celebration and their ideas of empowerment and equality in the workplace.
What do equality and empowerment in the workplace mean to you?
"My journey and experiences to this point have not been without their challenges and roadblocks, but the shift in culture and mindset around women in business and inclusivity which is gaining traction within the events industry is so positive.
As a senior leader, I feel real achievement and empowerment by being able to ‘pay it forward’, encouraging and providing opportunities to develop young people and women to be leaders of the future. It is also incredibly liberating to see how many women have come up through the ranks to be given equal opportunities that previously would not have been as easily attainable.
My top tip is to always remain positive, determined, committed and reliable, because hospitality is a people business and a ‘team effort’ and it literally ‘takes a village’."
"I have been very fortunate in my career to be led and guided by influential women in the hospitality industry. Their mentorship has not only shaped my professional growth but has also reinforced the importance of strong female leadership in creating supportive and inclusive workplaces. I believe having visible role models and mentors is essential for women navigating their careers, as it provides both inspiration and practical guidance.
Equality and empowerment in the workplace mean having the opportunity to grow based on merit, with access to the same opportunities, respect, and recognition as anyone else. It’s about fostering an environment where women are encouraged to lead, contribute, and have their voices heard.
Looking ahead, my vision is for workplaces and society to continue breaking barriers, ensuring that leadership and success are defined by capability rather than gender."
“International Women’s Day is all about the achievements of women with their grace, boldness, resilience, and intelligence. Hard work and persistence always pay off.
As Michelle Obama says, "There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish". My advice is to believe in yourself and your potential. Do not think you have less chance as a woman to achieve what you want, whatever the position you are aiming for. Just keep going towards your goal, never give up”
"I used to work for a venue where management was rigid in terms of working hours – my son was very young and was going to nursery 4 days a week – and I was always worried that I would arrive late at pickup time.
My advice to women just starting in the hospitality industry is to be confident in your abilities. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something because you're a woman. Be authentic, genuine and supportive of other women.
Equality and empowerment in the workplace to me means that the organisation needs to ensure that we all have the same opportunities and that we are all treated fairly regardless of gender. It also means that we should be trusted when decisions have to be made."
“Since joining the RCP in 2021, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a team that has traditionally been male-dominated. While it’s certainly been a journey, I’ve been fortunate to have managers who are supportive and truly understand the unique challenges I face as a woman in this industry. There are times when I’ve had to stand up for myself more, but I’ve always embraced these moments as opportunities to demonstrate my skills, professionalism, and expertise.
It’s always rewarding to be the person my colleagues turn to for advice and guidance – feeling helpful and valued in the workplace is something I’m passionate about. I firmly believe in equality at all levels and take great pride in being a part of the AV team in London, where I feel trusted and empowered by my superiors.”
Supporting RCP’s women on IWD (and beyond)
From routinely collecting diversity information to finding suitable solutions, promoting a range of initiatives, and implementing policies to ensure equality, diversity, and inclusion, our organisation strives to foster an inclusive culture for all RCP staff. We aim to provide accessible and appropriate services for everyone and offer equal opportunities for continuous improvement and learning. Moreover, our policies demonstrate the RCP’s commitment to eliminating all forms of discrimination and harassment.
Support for Women
Support for women spans various areas, including:
Listening and Improving
- The Women’s Network was established to prioritise issues affecting women and individuals identifying as she/her throughout the organisation, using focus groups and a survey.
- We created a Gender Pay Action Group to benchmark salaries against other organisations.
- Inclusion and diversity training is provided for all during the induction stage, with regular refreshers and in-depth sessions.
Career Development
- A range of courses are available to support women in their career progression. Examples include: Negotiating Your Worth, CV Writing, and Fighting Imposter Syndrome.
- By sharing colleagues’ profiles and inspiring career journeys, we offer real-life examples of how women can develop professionally.
Health and Caring Responsibilities
- A quarterly menopause café is open to all who are experiencing symptoms or who are interested in learning more about menopause.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Quarterly dementia café.
- The new Menopause and Menstruation Policy provides managers with guidelines to support employees experiencing menopause or menstruation-related issues. This policy aims to create an inclusive environment where colleagues can openly discuss periods and menopause, empowering employees to request adjustments when needed.
Benefits
- Maternity leave and pay.
- A hybrid and flexible working policy, which allows staff to organise their workday flexibly.
- Free period products in back-of-house toilets.
Additionally, the RCP recognises the importance of acknowledging and marking key dates, and will do so by participating in a week-long celebration for International Women’s Week.
International Women’s Day is an important opportunity to reflect on the progress we’ve made in the fight for gender equality and advocate for further change. We all have a role to play in making the world a more equitable place for everyone—whether through participating in events, engaging in conversations, or supporting organisations like the RCP that work toward this goal.
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