Commemorating International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month

International Women’s Day was Sunday, March 8 marking the 112th anniversary of a global moment dedicated to recognizing the achievements, contributions, and progress of women around the world.

While the day itself has passed, the reflection continues. March is also Women’s History Month, a time to recognize the experiences, leadership, and everyday impact of women across our communities and workplaces.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, offers a meaningful lens for that reflection. Progress rarely happens in isolation. It grows through the ways people support one another, through encouragement, advocacy, honesty, and the willingness to create space for others to thrive.

Across the Association, many of the stories shared through our Employee Spotlights illustrate how this idea plays out in real life. They remind us that progress does not always come through large public moments. Often, it begins with everyday decisions, personal growth, and the relationships we build with one another.

Women across the Association

Looking back through our Employee Spotlight archives, we found inspiring stories from women across the Association who have shared personal reflections on growth, balance, courage, and community.

While their journeys are unique, several themes surface repeatedly. Progress is not always about pushing harder or moving faster. Sometimes, it begins much closer to home.

Giving to Yourself

Often, the first step in giving is giving something back to ourselves.

After spending her days problem solving and supporting others, Jo Reynolds, Director – Talent & Culture, once reflected in her January 2024 Team Member Spotlight on the need to step away from constant mental work and into something tactile that allowed her to use her hands instead of her head. What emerged from that shift was a reminder that giving yourself permission to slow down is essential. Fulfillment, as Jo has shared, is not measured by speed or efficiency, but by joy.

Similarly, in her August 2023 Team Member Spotlight, Robyn Barker, Experience Service Manager, spoke about how the value of industriousness shaped her approach to work and life. While that drive helped her achieve many goals, she eventually recognized the importance of balance. Acknowledging exhaustion and allowing herself to pause became an investment in sustainability and long-term resilience. Sometimes, the most powerful gain begins with self-awareness and the courage to recalibrate.

Stepping Into Growth

Giving to gain can also mean challenging ourselves and stepping into unfamiliar territory. Fiona Arnold, Associate Manager – Student Progression & Operations, shared how she decided to join a swim club despite having no experience in open water/sea swimming in her October 2023 Team Member Spotlight. She found an environment built on encouragement rather than comparison. What she gained was a shared momentum and outward growth that required stepping into discomfort.

Building Community

As individual choices accumulate, they begin to shape something larger - community.

Tatty Chavez, Learning Designer, featured in the March 2025 Inside the Association update for Glassdoor, has spoken about intentionally creating spaces where women can come together, share experiences, and uplift one another. Her advice reflects a simple but enduring truth: every season of life calls for connection.

For Menaka Chokalingam, Senior Manager – Order to Cash, that connection shows up through being present. In reflecting on her personal life in herMarch 2025 Team Member Spotlight, Menaka spoke about how caring for her dogs gives her a sense of belonging and reinforces the value of unconditional love.

Advocacy and Empathy

Advocacy often begins with recognizing the differences between our own experiences and those of others. Iram Ishtiaq, Senior Commercial Manager – Global Business Development, reflected on the challenges faced by the refugee mothers she encountered while volunteering in her September 2024 Conversations That Matter Spotlight. She spoke to the reality that many are forced to leave everything behind and to the awareness that her own experience as a mother was quite different. Giving empathy, time, and action in response to that gap is a recognition that shared support strengthens entire communities.

What “Give to Gain” Means for All of Us

The reflections shared by colleagues across the Association bring this year’s theme to life. They show how progress often begins with small but meaningful choices, giving ourselves permission to rest, stepping outside our comfort zones, supporting others, or creating spaces where people feel seen and valued.

While International Women’s Day highlights the experiences and contributions of women, the message behind Give to Gain is one that applies to everyone.

Each of us contributes to the culture around us through the ways we listen, support, encourage, and advocate for one another. When we invest in those around us, whether through mentorship, empathy, collaboration, or simply making space for someone’s voice to be heard, the benefits ripple outward.

Stronger workplaces and communities are built through these everyday actions.

As we continue through Women’s History Month, this is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we contribute to an environment where people feel supported to grow, where diverse experiences are valued, and where progress is something, we build together.

Sometimes the most meaningful way to give is to simply listen, encourage, advocate, or to create space for others to thrive. And when we do, we often gain far more than we expected.