The official International Women’s Day 2023 campaign theme is centered around how we can #EmbraceEquity which aims to recognize that people start from different places and face unique challenges and barriers to success, and that these differences cannot be ignored or overlooked. Instead, we must take action to address them to create a more equitable society.
The official International Women’s Day #EmbraceEquity campaign is centered around challenging stereotypes, embracing diversity, and seeking out inclusion. In celebration of Women’s History Month and this year’s campaign, Shiri Avnery, Co-Founder and President of Thistle, shares her insights and experiences on empowerment and entrepreneurship. Read on to learn more about Shiri’s personal journey.
Who is a historical woman or woman in your life that you admire and why?
I would have to say my mom. She grew up very little, became the first in her family to go to college, and then she and my dad moved to the U.S. without knowing a soul and with zero support network. She went from cleaning houses to make ends meet to enrolling in graduate school and ultimately earning her PhD in her field of passion (education) – all while raising three young girls. I’m inspired by her strength and resilience and am so grateful that she raised my sisters and me as strong feminists, independent thinkers, and to feel empowered to speak up, be heard, and drive change.
What is your cultural heritage and your background that led you here today, and how has it influenced your personal journey of empowerment?
Both of my parents immigrated from Israel, and I grew up Jewish. Although I’m not religious, one aspect of Jewish culture that has always stuck with me is the encouragement of asking questions (even the obligation to do so). I’ve always embraced that mindset and the values it fosters: the pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking, spiritual growth, and honoring individual perspectives and insights. Viewing the world from this lens gave me confidence that my voice mattered and that boundaries are meant to be pushed.
How have you navigated gender-based challenges and biases in the business world, and what strategies have you found to be most effective in overcoming these obstacles?
While encountering bias is incredibly frustrating, one strategy that helps me feel empowered is to address issues head-on, call out what I see, and give feedback directly. It means getting comfortable with having some pretty uncomfortable conversations, but making individuals aware of the unconscious or conscious biases they are perpetuating, and making it clear that such biases won’t be tolerated is the only way to drive change.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, what advice would you give to young women who aspire to become leaders in the plant-based food space?
I would say some key pieces of advice are (1) have confidence in yourself and your abilities; (2) develop a strong network of mentors, advisors, and peers that can help navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship; (3) know your strengths, be realistic about your weaknesses (while always trying to grow), and build a great team to complement and support them; (4) get comfortable with failure – it's a natural part of the journey, and each failure is just an opportunity to learn; and perhaps most importantly, (5) have a thick skin – know that you will be faced with impossibly tough decisions and won’t be able to please everyone, so you need to stay true to yourself, your vision, and your values as you navigate the daily complexities of running a business.
How do you believe women can continue to break barriers and make history in the future?
Women have been breaking barriers and making history for centuries, but there is still much we can do as a society to ensure that progress not only continues but accelerates. We need to address structural inequality with policies that support equal pay for equal work, flexible work schedules, paid parental leave, and affordable, quality childcare. We need to invest in diverse women-owned and women-led businesses, hire and promote more women of all backgrounds to the highest levels, and elect more women political leaders. We need to support and mentor other women, including building professional networks that encourage the sharing of knowledge and advocate for opportunities for women. And we need to constantly challenge stereotypes and cultural norms wherever we encounter them, no matter how tough the conversation.
The official International Women’s Day 2023 campaign theme is centered around how we can #EmbraceEquity which aims to recognize that people start from different places and face unique challenges and barriers to success, and that these differences cannot be ignored or overlooked. Instead, we must take action to address them to create a more equitable society.
The official International Women’s Day #EmbraceEquity campaign is centered around challenging stereotypes, embracing diversity, and seeking out inclusion. In celebration of Women’s History Month and this year’s campaign, Shiri Avnery, Co-Founder and President of Thistle, shares her insights and experiences on empowerment and entrepreneurship. Read on to learn more about Shiri’s personal journey.
Who is a historical woman or woman in your life that you admire and why?
I would have to say my mom. She grew up very little, became the first in her family to go to college, and then she and my dad moved to the U.S. without knowing a soul and with zero support network. She went from cleaning houses to make ends meet to enrolling in graduate school and ultimately earning her PhD in her field of passion (education) – all while raising three young girls. I’m inspired by her strength and resilience and am so grateful that she raised my sisters and me as strong feminists, independent thinkers, and to feel empowered to speak up, be heard, and drive change.
What is your cultural heritage and your background that led you here today, and how has it influenced your personal journey of empowerment?
Both of my parents immigrated from Israel, and I grew up Jewish. Although I’m not religious, one aspect of Jewish culture that has always stuck with me is the encouragement of asking questions (even the obligation to do so). I’ve always embraced that mindset and the values it fosters: the pursuit of knowledge, critical thinking, spiritual growth, and honoring individual perspectives and insights. Viewing the world from this lens gave me confidence that my voice mattered and that boundaries are meant to be pushed.
How have you navigated gender-based challenges and biases in the business world, and what strategies have you found to be most effective in overcoming these obstacles?
While encountering bias is incredibly frustrating, one strategy that helps me feel empowered is to address issues head-on, call out what I see, and give feedback directly. It means getting comfortable with having some pretty uncomfortable conversations, but making individuals aware of the unconscious or conscious biases they are perpetuating, and making it clear that such biases won’t be tolerated is the only way to drive change.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, what advice would you give to young women who aspire to become leaders in the plant-based food space?
I would say some key pieces of advice are (1) have confidence in yourself and your abilities; (2) develop a strong network of mentors, advisors, and peers that can help navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship; (3) know your strengths, be realistic about your weaknesses (while always trying to grow), and build a great team to complement and support them; (4) get comfortable with failure – it's a natural part of the journey, and each failure is just an opportunity to learn; and perhaps most importantly, (5) have a thick skin – know that you will be faced with impossibly tough decisions and won’t be able to please everyone, so you need to stay true to yourself, your vision, and your values as you navigate the daily complexities of running a business.
How do you believe women can continue to break barriers and make history in the future?
Women have been breaking barriers and making history for centuries, but there is still much we can do as a society to ensure that progress not only continues but accelerates. We need to address structural inequality with policies that support equal pay for equal work, flexible work schedules, paid parental leave, and affordable, quality childcare. We need to invest in diverse women-owned and women-led businesses, hire and promote more women of all backgrounds to the highest levels, and elect more women political leaders. We need to support and mentor other women, including building professional networks that encourage the sharing of knowledge and advocate for opportunities for women. And we need to constantly challenge stereotypes and cultural norms wherever we encounter them, no matter how tough the conversation.
