This year’s International Women’s Day theme is Accelerate Action, highlighting the urgent need to accelerate gender equality. While progress has been made, the World Economic Forum projects that true gender parity won’t be reached until 2158—a timeline we cannot accept.
This theme calls for bold, immediate action to dismantle the systemic barriers and biases holding women back. In this spirit, our team has shared their personal perspectives on the significance of International Women’s Day and the challenges that still stand in the way of equality today:
- Barani Sasikaran, Senior CSM Demand UK:
“International Women’s Day marks a significant celebration of women’s achievements, highlighting how far we’ve come in making women’s voices heard, empowering them, and advocating for equal rights alongside their counterparts.
While there has been notable progress in gender equality, the journey is far from over. Women still face countless barriers and constantly have to prove their capabilities in many areas of life. A striking example is the alarming 37% increase in pregnant women being laid off in the UK, simply because they are perceived as costly during pregnancy or maternity leave. Why should women be forced to choose between a) career or b) family? Why is bringing new life into the world – the very generation that will contribute to businesses, society, and the economy – seen as a burden rather than a vital contribution?
The Nordic parental leave system is a powerful example of how state-supported parental policies can create a happier, more balanced society. Imagine if your own mother had to think twice before having you – how different would the world be? No woman should feel that giving birth threatens her career growth, financial security, or personal development.
It’s time to challenge these norms and create a future where women can have both – a thriving career and a family – without compromise.”
- Luisa Celestini, Administration Manager:
“Being a woman is so fascinating! It is an adventure that requires such courage, a challenge that never ends.’ I wish I didn’t have to feel like a feminist, but I am firmly convinced that equal opportunities, in the world of work and in everyday life, are fundamental and that we still need to fight for these to come true.”
- Elli Papadaki, SVP Global Supply Sales:
“In terms of what this day represents to me personally, the fact that IWD is even marked as an occasion is testament enough to the imbalanced and unjust treatment that women have had and sadly still do in many parts of the world across society. And whilst gender inequality is certainly not yet eradicated, I prefer to look at this day as an opportunity to celebrate the qualities that women the world over bring, whether it’s in the home, professional or other environments as the world would no doubt be a less balanced, kind and empathetic place without them in it.”
- Jessica Chiodo, HR Manager:
“I’d add that IWD is also an opportunity to celebrate the power we (as women) have in breaking cultural barriers in every field, being inspirational for other women and lead the change in our daily life.”
- Virginia Ciabatti, Customer Success Manager Supply:
“The mere fact that IWD still exists means that we have yet to achieve equality in anything – political positions, salaries, rights, or parenting.
Just consider that even today, many women are still asked during job interviews whether they plan to become mothers, implying that their potential absence from work would be a burden or cost to the company. Women are also frequently asked if they are married, in a relationship, questions that aim to determine whether a woman of childbearing age might have a child while employed.
The same goes for salaries: statistics show that the wage gap between men and women holding the same position is still vast, with no real justification. Similarly, men continue to be favored in leadership positions over women, based on the assumption that women might dedicate more time to family than to work.
A step forward toward true equality could be to hold fathers equally responsible by granting them the same parental leave as mothers. This way, the cost to a company when hiring a man or a woman who plans to become a parent would be exactly the same.”
- Daniela Anastasio, Product Manager:
“I totally agree with Virginia. As Oscar Wilde said: ‘Give women adequate opportunities and they will be capable of anything’… we are no less than anyone.”
- Lucrezia Visdomini, Customer Success Manager:
“The fact that IWD still exists is because, even today, we continue to hear clichés. One that always strikes me is: Women can’t work together as a team.
This statement is so deeply ingrained in society’s unconscious that people fail to recognize its weight, to the point that it keeps resurfacing in workplaces and everyday conversations. Patriarchy wants women to be divided because, together, they can gain rights.
So, I want to thank all the women before us who stood together and fought, and the women of today, with whom I also have the pleasure of working—because teaming up with them is truly wonderful.”
- Denisia Torrelli, Product Manager:
“I think that IWD is a celebration of the strength, resilience, and brilliance that women bring to every facet of life. It is a day to honour not just the achievements of women but also the power they have inside. As the quote beautifully puts it, ‘Feminism isn’t about making women strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.’ (G.D. Anderson)
Let’s honour the strength that women have always had. Let’s change the narrative.
Let’s team up all together because together we can make the difference!”
By embracing the experiences shared by our team, we can collectively contribute to a more inclusive and equitable future. If there’s one thing we urge you to do this International Women’s Day, it’s talk to your team, hear their voices and take action.
