Lars Owe Nyland is a Managing Director in our European offices. For Women’s History Month, Lars joins us in celebrating by sharing his female inspiration and how he intends to help fight for a gender equal world.

Do any particular women in history inspire you? Why?
There are so many, but I would like to mention Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland.

A medical doctor from the University of Oslo and Master of Public Health from Harvard University, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland spent 10 years as a physician and scientist in the Norwegian public health system. For more than 20 years she was in public office, 10 of them as Prime Minister, 3 terms in total.

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland was the youngest person and the first woman ever to hold the office of Prime Minister in Norway. In 1986, Norway received international attention when the world’s first “women’s government” with 44 percent women in the government.

In 1987 she gained international recognition, championing the principle of sustainable development as the chair of the World Commission of Environment and Development (UN) in the Brundtland Commission’s report Our Common Future. Although many definitions abound, the most often used definition of sustainable development is that proposed by the Brundtland Commission.

Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland took office as Director-General of the World Health Organization on 21 July 1998.

How will you help forge a gender equal world?
To me, a gender equal world calls for both the equality of women and equality between women. We can, and absolutely should, advocate to elevate women’s voices – in politics, in the workplace, and in the media. But in doing so, we must make certain that women rise together and also support each other.

Be fair – ensure we recruit a diverse team and ensuring promotions and pay is fair. Support women, ensure a safe working environment is available to women

How have generations of women in your family before you impacted the work you do in your job and/or your community?
In our family as part of my upbringing, there has always been equality between men and women, and that has shaped my view and job. These are values I strongly believe in and will fight for.

How do you plan to support IWD 2021 campaign theme: #ChooseToChallenge?
I believe it is crucial the role we men play in promoting gender equality.  As a leader of Trintech I will role model and ensure as a leadership team we lead by example.

I will partner with female colleagues and coach females in my team to advance women’s leadership and equality by breaking ingrained gender stereotypes, overcoming unconscious biases, developing, and supporting the talented women around me.

I’ll commit to put gender equality on the agenda this year and the years to come. I will challenge the biases that are observed. I will ensure women are empowered and that there are mentors available as part of development.