International Women’s Day

March 8th is International Women’s Day, and I’d like to celebrate.

First and foremost, I am a woman in business, leading a business of women. I have women working for me and with me. I help women (and men!) through some of the toughest times of their lives.

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since the early 1900s – a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others.

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights,” says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem, on the IWD website. Thus, International Women’s Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action – whatever that looks like globally at a local level.

This year, the International Women’s Day 2018 campaign theme is to #PressforProgress.

What would you like to see change? How can women lead the charge?

More importantly, what will YOU do to make a difference?

It’s high time we turn our attentions to gender equality, challenge stereotypes and bias, and create positive images of women. We must influence others with the belief and action that shows how important it is for women to have equal opportunities.

It’s time to celebrate the achievements of women.