International Women’s Day is a poignant reminder of the strength, resilience, and invaluable contributions of women across the globe.  

We spoke with Charlotte Swami, and asked her what International Women’s Day means to her, and here’s what she had to say: 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you as a female leader at Care Fertility?  

Strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them. As a midwife, executive director of Care Fertility, global advisor, honorary lecturer, wife and mother of three young children, I am reminded each day of the importance the critical role that women play in society and our homes. I am blessed by so many colleagues who exemplify this and strive to support our patients through their fertility journey with compassion; our nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals are the most incredible team of individuals.   

I have supported women through my career as service users, but I am also passionate about mentoring students and team members to raise them in their career to achieve their maximum potential, and to develop our future leaders. I have the most exceptional team of nursing and clinical professional leaders at each clinic, who I am honoured to work with. To my own daughter’s I teach them daily on the importance of having their own future professional career, and the autonomy and independence that comes with this. 

What sets Care Fertility apart from other fertility clinics?  

Our team of midwives, nurses, counsellors, and allied health professionals set us apart. They play a crucial role in delivering our patient pathways, both in clinics and in our central donation team. We're invested in our teams, developing career frameworks to support our experts in their professional journey, providing them with constant learning opportunities to grow in their roles. 

How do you ensure inclusivity and personalised care for each patient at Care Fertility?  

We are a team that reflects the society that we serve, and we are passionate about providing holistic and personalised care to our service users. Family is important for everyone, and we work hard to ensure that we support our clients at every step of that emotional journey to maximise their chance of success.  

What was moment where you felt you had made a positive impact?  

On a personal level I had provided preconceptual advice to a family friend, last year including referral to a colleague, and out of the blue this morning I received a 12-week scan image. That was truly magical, and reminded me what an amazing field we are involved in. Having personal experience of infertility, I appreciate the rollercoaster of emotions that individuals go through on this journey, and when we witness life changing success, it is just incredible.  

On a professional level, when I see our community of nurse leaders collaborating to provide the best patient experience on a weekly basis and supporting one another to grow the skills and knowledge within our team.  As well as hearing individual team member’s success from our training courses, I love to see people succeeding. 

How does Care Fertility create a welcoming and supportive environment for new patients, especially those navigating fertility for the first time?  

Our team have a deep understanding of what our clients have trusted us to support them with, and how emotional a journey that can be. Our many years of combined experience, and expertise focus on ensuring that we listen to patient feedback to ensure that our service continually evolves to provide the best care possible. 

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we are reminded of our commitment to inclusivity, personalised care, and unwavering support for every individual embarking on the journey of fertility. Through collective effort, empathy, and a shared vision, we continue to pave the way for a future where women not only thrive but also uplift one another. Together, let us honour the journey, celebrate the successes, and champion the resilience of women everywhere, today and every day.