Emma Walmsley – photo by GSKThis week Britain took a huge leap towards greater gender equality on management boards. It was announced that Emma Walmsley is to become the most powerful woman in the FTSE 100 as CEO of GSK next year, making her Britain’s most powerful business woman.

In an interview featured in BBC Radio 4’s profile of Walmsley, she appeared quick to play down the gravity of this moment: “I’ve never primarily defined myself by my gender… I think of myself as a business person”. I balked at this. For some women defined by their gender, whether they like it or not, this privilege is not often afforded.

But despite my initial reservations at Walmsley’s comments, I was won over by Financial Times Associate Editor, Lucy Kellaway’s summing up of events:

It’s right that she should see it that way, gender has nothing to do with how she does her job. But for the rest of us of course it matters, if you have such a lopsided workforce that despite so many efforts by so many people, is changing so slowly, then when you see a woman landing a top job it would be very weird not to be extremely pleased”.

Very weird indeed!

I’m in the early years of my career in the City (a.k.a. “a man’s world”), and hearing this announcement mattered to me. It sent the message loud and clear that we have forewomen paving the way: we have another role model.

We are keenly aware in the Liberal Democrats that this it is not just a problem for business; it is a party political one too. Voting in 2016’s Spring Conference motion to introduce all women shortlists, I was delighted by the hard work put in by senior party figures in making this happen, and dismayed by those resisting the change.

We have our ups and downs – not least the lack of diversity in Westminster – but we do have some formidable women at the top, President Sal Brinton and MEP Catherine Bearder to name just two. Working for Bearder last year was the first and only time I have had a female boss, and a warm-hearted and fierce one at that!

Just look at Jo Swinson. As some members aired their concerns about my appointment as Prospective Parliamentary Candidate, citing my age of 23 as a perceived weakness, a member was quick to point out that Swinson first stood as a candidate at the age of 21, winning her seat at the age of 25. She has consistently campaigned for gender equality, and I am very excited for the publication of her book ‘Equal Power’ next year.

Increasing our representation has always been a motivation for me. In May this year I successfully defeated the Conservatives in a gain for the Liberal Democrats on Maidstone Borough Council. I was bursting with pride to be joined in the victory photos by my colleagues, a cohort of young women – four young women won council seats that day!

Speaking to an onlooker just before my vote was announced, the local resident told me beaming, that if her daughter could see a young woman of 23 defeat a retired man, she would surely be interested in politics for the first time!

It is moments like this that will have a lasting impact on my world-view and the issues I campaign on. Speaking now as the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for my home town, I hope to inspire others, just like that lady and her daughter, like my role models inspire me.

* Emily joined the Liberal Democrats in January 2015, inspired by the fierce campaign by the Liberal Democrats in Maidstone to defeat the incumbent Tory MP. She worked in Jasper Gerard’s campaign team for the General Election, and then became Catherine Bearder MEP’s Parliamentary Assistant, working for the ALDE Party on the early stages of the EU Referendum Campaign. In May 2016 she was elected to be a Councillor on Maidstone Borough Council, gaining the seat from the Conservatives by one vote! In September 2016 it was announced that Emily has been selected to be the Parliamentary Spokesperson (PPC) for Maidstone and The Weald in Kent.