The COVID-19 quarantine, uncertainty about the future, and the emotional and mental exhaustion that comes from managing home and work life have been a burden on everyone, but they have been especially taxing on professional working women.
In response, the Beijing-based Bearapy, an organizational consultancy with the mission to make workplaces mentally healthy, has partnered with AmCham China’s Women’s Professional Committee, to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day (Sunday, March 8).
On Tuesday, March 10, the two groups will host an online webinar which will give women a space to, “learn, share, and discuss how to support each other through this difficult time.” Moreover, the event will feature accomplished professional women who will speak on various topics regarding the importance of mental and emotional well-being. The event is free, however participants must register by 11am on Monday, March 9.
Su Cheng Harris-Simpson
“I am very excited that AmCham China will have this webinar to celebrate all the amazing women that have contributed personally and professionally to our families, workplaces, and communities all year long, especially during this challenging time!” said Su Cheng Harris-Simpson, social entrepreneur and Founder of SCHSAsia. As an AmCham China representative and the host / organizer of the event, Harris-Simpson is nothing short of ecstatic, saying, “By coming together to learn, share and support each other, we will over come and even find comfort, joy and peace!”
Enoch Li
Enoch Li, Social Entrepreneur and Managing Director of Bearapy, added she’s excited by “the fact that this is a sharing space that can contain the whole range of emotions and experience, and not just a, ‘Let’s show everyone how well we are doing’ type of event, means there is authentic discussions and genuine sharing and caring for each other in the community.”
When asked about why they think mental well-being is important for (online) working environments during the epidemic, Li stressed that, “for these challenging times, we may experience more intensely the feelings of anxiety, worry, fear, isolation, loneliness, and for a prolonged period of time. If we do not address or process our experiences, we end up suppressing them, and it can come back to bite us.”
Li elaborated, “as there is no day-to-day human contact, it is harder for us to detect how our colleagues and friends are really doing simply through the phone screen. So, we must take an extra proactive step to think about mental well-being in trying times.”
READ MORE: To Play or Not to Play? Enoch Li Explains Her Journey Towards Discovering Bearapy
As for future events, Harris-Simpson told us that, “AmCham China will continue to support the needs of our members with great webinars like this one.” As an AmCham Board of Governors and the Co-Chair of the Women’s Professional Committee, Harris-Simpson is committed to organizing regular events that help empower women, such as the Women’s Economy Summit in October.
WEBINAR: International Women’s Day Celebration, Mar 10
Free. 2-3.30pm, Mar 10. Online event access through Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams (web or app) is required to access this webinar. Registration will close on Monday, March 9, at 11am. Registration is required and a weblink / URL will be provided for successful registrants to access the webinar through Microsoft Teams on Monday afternoon (For more information please check here).
**Tickets are limited and preference will be given to AmCham China members and employees of AmCham China member companies.
Photos: courtesy of Enoch Li and Su Cheng Harris-Simpson
