International Men’s Day: Honest reflections from our team

Each year on 19 November, International Men’s Day shines a light on men’s mental health, well-being and aims to raise awareness around gender equality. 

With this year’s theme, “celebrating men and boys”, we spoke to some of the men in our team about their journeys, proudest moments, and advice they’d give their younger selves.

How it all started 

No two journeys are the same. The men in our team each took different routes into their careers – some planned, some unexpected, but all driven by a shared passion. 

Here’s how the five men we spoke to found their way: 

• “Honestly, I fell into it from school. I found I really liked cloud technologies and have grown with the company ever since.” 

• “I got into my role by always giving my best and being recognised.” 

• “My love of computing gave me the confidence to enter sales.” 

• “An interest in technology motivated me, and I had a hunger to see how far I could go.” 

• “Through a willingness to accept a challenge.”

What we’re proud of 

Despite taking different paths, since coming into their roles, the men in our team have overcome challenges, prioritised their development, and helped our business thrive.  

We asked them about their proudest professional achievements: 

• “Alongside relevant qualifications from Microsoft, I’d say selling globally with our mapping vendors makes me the most proud. Having the ability to sell across the globe and learning so much about different places around the world from clients is amazing.” 

• “Having my picture projected on a building in Times Square.” 

• “Showing up every day and believing I can improve on what I’ve done before.” 

• “Being able to speak in public. I’m not able to do as well as others I’ve seen, but I’m starting to get comfortable with presenting to large groups.” 

• “Being the sole person in my role in 2009 and growing this out into a successful team (with the help of those around me).”

Why it’s hard to open up about mental health 

Mental health is a recurring theme for International Men’s Day – and for good reason. Many men still find it difficult to talk about how they’re feeling. We wanted to understand why this might be, so we asked our team to share their thoughts: 

• “We often struggle to open up about mental health due to societal expectations around masculinity and fear of being perceived as weak. Lots of us also lack safe spaces or supportive relationships where vulnerability feels accepted.” 

• ”Because to run a farm or factory, or to be in a war, you need to be compliant. This was important for our species to survive. That’s now changing, but there are more damaging things to our mental health, so now it’s really important.” 

• “The teaching that ‘boys don’t cry’, lad culture, alpha male culture, ideas that spread through time and suppress our ability to be vulnerable and open about our emotional lives.” 

• “We’re seen as having to be strong. We’re expected to act like a sponge and simply absorb what is going on around us. There is also an expectation that men's lives are somehow easy in comparison, when in fact everyone man, women and children all struggle in different ways. It’s sharing that struggle that helps everyone get through it.” 

• “Historically there’s been a stigma around it, and I believe that some may perceive it as a weakness. I also think that some men just don't recognise it in themselves or in others.” 

If you’re struggling with your mental health, you don’t need to do it in silence. There are various organisations set up to support men in their time of need. In our business, we recommend ANDYSMANCLUB, a suicide prevention charity offering free peer-to-peer support groups across the UK, and online.

Messages to our younger selves 

On International Men’s Day, it’s a great time to pause, reflect, and offer some guidance for younger generations of men just starting out their careers. We asked our team for messages or words of encouragement they’d give to their younger self, to help to guide others at the beginning their journey: 

• “It’s your first time on this planet, just like everyone else, so give yourself a break.” 

• “Prioritise yourself, you are good enough – play football for longer and don’t get married before 29.” 

• “Keep going!” 

• “Lower positions are not insults, they are places to learn and get comfortable so that when you’re in higher, more stressful positions, you have a good foundation. So don’t be so keen to race ahead.” 

• “Speak up.” 

While differing routes brought our team together, they share in more than just impressive achievements. They share something many men experience – a pressure to remain silent about mental health. 

This International Men’s Day, we’re encouraging honest conversations. Whether it’s a chat with a friend or a moment of reflection, speaking up is a sign of strength, not weakness. 

Thank you to our team who shared their stories. Without open dialogue, there’s no progress. So today, take a moment to reflect on your journey, your proudest achievements, and consider what you’d say to your younger self.