On the final hours of International Women's Day, I am proud to be a woman.

Truly, I am. As a child, I was a tomboy, playing football and sneaking my brother's diecast toy cars...

As a teenager, I hung out with boys, drinking beer and smoking cigarettes in secret....

Then I entered one of the most male-dominated industries, IT...

It has been a long journey to get where I am today and to embrace my feminine side. I've learned how to dress up, wear makeup, and even wear high heels. But I've also learned that I don't need to compete with men in any aspect of my life, including my career path. In the past, I often rejected help from men because I didn't want them to see me as weak. But we are not weak. Women are strong. We endure menstrual pain, childbirth, and often carry the weight of the entire family on our shoulders. We possess unique qualities and skills that men could never have, and on top of that, we are much more empathic.

It took me many years to realize that being a woman is a fantastic thing. We can do whatever we want without trying to fit in or worrying about the judgment of others. We can accept help from both women and men and be ourselves. Today, on International Women's Day, I am prouder than ever to be a woman. I am independent and strong, but also delicate and understanding when I need to be. I am proud to be in the IT field, proud to lead my own small startup in the fem-tech industry, and proud to support other women and their health in Hashiona .

Nothing elevates me more than seeing other women succeed in their chosen field. So today, I would like to express my support and gratitude to all the women who inspire me. We should support each other and stick together. I am filled with a deep desire to witness your success and to see more women occupying leadership positions such as C-level positions and board of director positions. My heart yearns to witness more female startup founders, investors, and small business owners. Thank you for all the help, inspiration, and motivation I receive from you, ladies.

However, I am optimistic that we are moving in the right direction. The world is evolving, and we have a crucial role to play in this transformation. But we cannot achieve this transformation alone. We need the support of men, and we are immensely grateful for their support. Together, we can create a world where gender is not a barrier to success and where everyone has the opportunity to thrive regardless of their gender.

By saying this, I am also grateful for all the men who have supported and continue to support me every single day: my co-founders, investors, partners, and mentors. Thank you for helping me make my dreams come true.

Ps.1. The attached pictures hold special value for me. They were taken in July 2022 when I was attending a Women's World Health Conference at the Hilton Hotel. On the first day, I had a speech scheduled for 6 PM. An hour before the pitch, an accident occurred. A guy accidentally ran into me and spilled his entire cup of coffee on my brand-new white dress. I was devastated. I knew I wouldn't have enough time to return to my hotel and change. All my confidence evaporated, and then I heard, "I will help you." The words came from Brittany Barreto, Ph.D. o, a fantastic health-tech expert and fem-tech ambassador. "I have a room in this hotel, and I'm going to give you a new dress to change." And she did! She saved my speech and confidence, proving at the Women's Health Conference that sister power truly exists!

Ps2. Oh and please remember that women's health is crucial for the health and well-being of the entire family.?

Paulina Wardega Dorota Rymaszewska Paulina Walkowiak Kamila St?pniowska Jolanta Baran Sara Koslinska Maja Schaefer Naily Makangu ?? Olga Golab Paula Seretny Martyna Marcol Hanna K?onowska Magdalena Irmińska Miriam Mikicki Magdalena Granicka Katarzyna Laskowska Martyna Kawiak Katarzyna Marchocka Diana Koziarska Natalia Mituniewicz Ró?a Dziedzic Milena Zakrzewska Mareike (Mary) Popp Madeline U. Ewelina Wo?oszyn Bettina Zawlocka Beata Badzyńska Izabela Bany Dominika Dalba and many others I can not mention here!

#womenhealth #femtech #internationalwomenday