In this final episode of the Gender Equity Rebels series, Cynthia Fortlage sits down with Emily Button-Ham, founder of Emily Button Coaching, to discuss the reality behind Pay Gap Day in the UK (15 November 2023). What begins as a conversation about the numbers quickly becomes something more deeply human.
Emily shares her professional insights and personal reflections on what it means to navigate workplace systems that still undervalue women. The two discuss confidence, reconditioning, pay transparency, and the cumulative impact of inequity across a woman’s career journey. Cynthia adds powerful perspective from her own experience living and leading with two genders' worth of insight, making this a nuanced and emotionally resonant conversation.
They explore why a 0.1% reduction in the gender pay gap is not progress—it's an indictment. And they highlight the emotional cost of inequity, especially when companies plateau at targets rather than pursue real culture change.
Cynthia also reflects on the socialised ways women are conditioned to lead and how unlearning these patterns is part of reclaiming confidence and space. The episode closes with a reminder that asking questions and demanding more from ourselves and our workplaces is where real change begins.
🎧 Key Themes
The truth behind Pay Gap Day in the UK and Europe
Confidence, power, and the impact of gender socialisation
Why small tweaks can lead to big transformations
The tension between legislation and lived experience
The broken rung and the cost of early career inequity
Mentorship, maternity bias, and the ripple effect of awareness
#GenderEquityRebels #PayGapDay #AcceptanceWithoutUnderstanding
📄 Transcript
A full transcript is available on the YouTube video page to support accessibility.
