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.
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.”