A Bristol entrepreneur who has spent her career tackling workplace inequalities has been awarded an honorary degree by the University of the West of England (UWE).
Dr Zara Nanu founded Gapsquare - a tech firm that helps organisations identify and close the gender pay gap - in 2016. Using data analytics and machine learning to provide insights into pay disparities, the firm enables businesses to develop strategies to make working environments fairer. The company was acquired by a London-based business in 2021 for an undisclosed sum.
Dr Nanu, who completed a PhD at UWE, has received an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from the university in recognition of her commitment to addressing inequalities in the workplace.
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After Gapsquare’s acquisition, Dr Nanu founded WorkVue, which addresses broader workplace inequalities, empowering workers with data about pay, skills and labour market intelligence.
She said: “It is a tremendous honour for me to have received this degree. It inspires me and strengthens my commitment to creating a fair and equal future of work.”
In addition to her entrepreneurial ventures, Dr Nanu is a member of the Harvard Women’s Leadership Board at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Sarah Grabham, deputy head of the College of Business and Law at UWE Bristol, added: “Zara is a tireless advocate and a pioneering entrepreneur championing women in business, particularly in the South West. Her ability to bring together technology, policy and social activism to create long-term and sustainable change in today’s workplace will no doubt act as a source of inspiration for our students.”