Rootz hosted an International Women’s Day breakfast at its Ta' Xbiex offices, featuring a guest speaker and a panel discussion with industry experts. The event was structured to encourage open dialogue about gender representation, workplace inclusivity, and work-life balance within the sector.
Women for Women General Manager Elaine Compagno led the way as keynote speaker at the event, introducing her journey from being a domestic abuse survivor to being a leading advocate and activist. Elaine is renowned as a promoter of women’s rights in Malta with Women for Women, where she challenges society’s decision-makers and empowers women survivors. Her inspiring story tells of her path to leadership in these areas and her efforts in bridging the gap when it comes to helping women recover and thrive.
Leadership voices
A panel discussion was held featuring Shelley Hannah, CPO at Relax Gaming, Lina Pecorella, Rootz CFO, and Christine Hili, Rootz Head of HR, facilitated by Evandro Martos Da Silva, ESG Manager at Rootz.
These three representatives shared their fascinating paths to success in the industry and addressed some of the challenges they faced along the way. Under the spotlight were topics such as the evolution of workplace culture in providing a more inclusive environment, the challenges faced by women such as ensuring their voices are heard, and opportunities available for women in the iGaming industry.
The audience was reminded of the importance of avoiding unconscious bias in the workplace, i.e., making assumptions based on gender, and the need to address glass ceilings that still exist in many industry contexts for professional women.
This breakfast event was held so that leading women professionals could share their experiences to inspire and motivate women and men at Rootz to continually work towards an inclusive work environment that takes into account different backgrounds and personalities.
A common theme that arose was the need for balanced and empathetic leadership that recognises the importance of ‘give and take’ in the workplace, recognising that equality is both individual and institutional in nature.
Engaged and motivated
Rootz team members expressed that they’d found the content presented by guests and panellists engaging and meaningful; the common response was that there’s an appetite for more of these stimulating discussions as a catalyst for ongoing personal and professional development.