International Women's Day: Give to Gain (in Business)

One year ago, International Women's Day (IWD) was removed from Google calendars. I was shocked. My school agendas since the first grade included mentions of International Women's Day on March 8.

In 2025, Black History Month and IWD were deliberately being reduced to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) related concepts by he who must not be named.

Corporate IWD social media plans received an unprecedented, and unnecessary, amount of scrutiny and debate from C-suites across sectors and industries.

I was mortified and disheartened to witness how quickly organizations dropped DEI programs and debated whether to show basic human decency towards employees.

Leaders fell in line with implementing return to office mandates even though research proved that hybrid programs are more productive. They left professional women behind (especially women of the global majority, women with disabilities, LGBTQ+ women, and mothers) for the sake of "playing it safe" in the face of potential financial uncertainty.

International Women's Day is not a buzzword

International Women's Day was implemented 115 years ago, while "DEI" rose to mainstream prominence in the early 2000's, as organizations shifted from the term "affirmative action" toward broader frameworks that addressed culture, representation, and systemic barriers.

DEI is sadly becoming a buzzword stripped of meaning due to corporate overuse (with a lack of follow through), and because of business leaders pandering to the powers that be in the face of economic instability.

Today, International Women's Day is intersectional. It celebrates, welcomes, and includes all who identify as women, no matter what other labels they hold in society.

International Women's Day was DEI before there was DEI.

International Women's Day will continue to mean something well after the next cycle of corporate HR jargon and programming.

Give women the space to lead

This year, the official IWD theme is Give to Gain. This is a reminder that it's our time to lead.

But we cannot do this alone, we need doors to open for ALL women.

It's time to give women, and non-binary folk, the opportunities to contribute their immense talent, energy, and potential, while also granting them the respect, trust, and autonomy that they need and deserve in order to thrive.

And, yes, this means letting go of outdated and unrealistic expectations, and making room for success and best results on their own terms.

This will require the flexibility to allow people to have healthy minds, bodies, families, and communities.

Gain a better world

Women stick together; we understand the power of sharing resources and caring for the greater good of the collective. We can make this world a better place for everyone, together.

Women will continue to work and live by what we know to be true: a rising tide lifts all boats.