New year, same Zoom shirt
Hello readers and welcome to our NEWsletter! As you may have noticed, we’ve migrated over to Substack. If you didn’t get the chance to read our 2020 wrap up, you are missing out on a piece of history because that’s our first post in the new space. We hope you like it over here as much as we do. 🤞
And without further ado, congrats on making it to 2021!
Unlike the typical new year, this one feels a little different because, well, things are mostly the same. I mean, we didn’t even upgrade our wfh wardrobe. And let us guess, you’re probably struggling to find motivation amidst the lingering uncertainty. Unfortunately, we don’t have the answer, but a little gratitude practice goes a long way, so here’s some good news from 2020 to be thankful for:
Iceland’s equal pay for equal work system is still in the early stages, but initial signs suggest that it might be very effective. 🇮🇸
The Brazilian surfer Maya Gabeira rode the biggest recorded wave of 2020, becoming the first female surfer with that distinction. 🌊
There’s been a lot of chatter about how women have done a better job leading during the Covid-19 crisis than men. 😇
And another thing to boost your spirits: our webinars are back!
Mind the Mobility Gap Webinar: Mobility for All
How accessible is your commute? 🤔 If you're not even sure how to answer, we've got you covered. In your favourite event of the year so far, we’ll dive into the topic of accessible mobility with the one and only Ines Kawgan-Kagan, brilliant researcher, advocate, and founder of the AEM Institute which aims to further accessible and equitable mobility.
If you aren’t living with reduced mobility, you might wonder why, to put it bluntly, you should care. Well, it’s easy to see how getting from A to B is key to fulfilling basic needs, but think about your dreams and aspirations — how much do you need to be able to move within your city, or the world, to pursue them? And we hate to break it to you, but we're all getting older. By 2050, 1 in 3 Europeans will be over 60. Everyone has a stake in accessible transportation.
Don’t miss this important conversation, taking place on January 28th at 18:00 CET. Register on eventbrite to join us.
Staying in the Loop: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
It’s only a few weeks into the year, but maybe you’re already ready for a break from that stack of self-improvement books you bought for 2021. Americanah to the rescue. Young Ifemelu leaves her home in Nigeria to follow a westward dream, landing in America where she’s forced to confront her race and identity for the first time. This is a novel you can easily get lost in, but one you can find yourself in, too.
If you’re anything like us, well, you’re immigrants, which is why Americanah hits so close to home. For some of us, our first years in Europe were rough, but THE BEST exercise in self-understanding. And even if you’re reading this from the place you’ve called home forever, the protagonist’s love and loneliness and plans-that-don’t-quite-work-out-how-she-intended are more than enough to draw you in and inspire reflection.
Another reason we love Americanah? The author also believes We Should All Be Feminists and argues this beautifully in a tiny book that’s a great way to refresh your mind (or a friend’s) why we fight the fight.
Woman of the month: Paula Hergert
What do you do? I consider myself very lucky to work with the dynamic Expansion Department at TIER, heading the Expansion Projects Team that brings TIER to new countries and cities. We are a diverse group of Project Managers pushing cross-departmental and interdisciplinary projects forward by bringing together and coordinating the right streams at the right time.
Who is a woman you look up to? I never had that one woman I look up to, but I do look up to a diverse group of strong women influencing the world around them. Well-known public figures like the notorious RBG and Jacinda Ardern in politics, Christiane Amanpour in journalism, Joan Jett in music — any woman pushing forward, normalizing the image of women in positions of influence.
What’s the most important thing you've learned in your career so far?
Diversity in teams is key, which is why I appreciate the effort of Women of TIER greatly. (Awwww, thanks, Paula! ❤️) Creative ideas from people with diverse backgrounds can drive projects substantially, especially in hyper-growth startups.
Fostering a culture in which people are used to speaking their mind, in which disagreeing with one another is normalised, and overall an open feedback culture is difficult to achieve but very much worth it.
We showcase women in and outside of TIER, so if you know someone who should be featured here, reply to this newsletter, write a comment below, or quick, send us a messenger pigeon before they go extinct.
As January draws to a close, we hope you’re still on track with whatever goal you set (80% of New Year's resolutions fail by February). We know it’s hard to feel the same new year’s spirit when it’s basically like 2020: Part II. But you’ve come this far and let’s hope it only gets better from here. So stay sane and carry on. Who knows, maybe you’ll even achieve something cool while you’re at it.
Here for you,
Your Women of TIER: Galuh, Sadie, Ligia, Nastya