International Women's Day: A Call to Action for Leaders Everywhere

Every year, March 8 marks International Women’s Day a time to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide and reflect on the progress made toward gender equality. But as I take stock of where we stand today, I can’t help but feel a deep sense of disappointment. I truly believed we had come further. I thought the strides we had taken would have propelled us beyond the barriers of pay disparity, unequal representation, and systemic biases that continue to persist. Yet, here we are, still fighting battles that should have been won long ago.

Let me be clear: we ALL need to do more.

The numbers speak for themselves. Women still earn, on average, 82 cents for every dollar earned by men and the gap is even wider for women of color. It is unacceptable that in 2025, we are still having the same conversation about equal pay for equal work. Women are not asking for favors; they are demanding fairness.

Then there’s representation. It’s not a talent issue. It’s an opportunity issue. Across industries, boardrooms, and leadership teams, the presence of women remains staggeringly low. The pipeline is not empty far from it. Qualified, capable women are everywhere, yet too often overlooked. They are passed over for promotions, dismissed in meetings, and underestimated despite proving their worth time and again.

Leaders Must Take an Active Approach

This isn’t just a “women’s issue.” This is a business issue. A leadership issue. A human issue. It’s time for leaders? especially male leaders to stop being silent bystanders. It’s time to speak up, to call out inequality when we see it, and to actively break the cycles that keep holding women back.

So today, I challenge my fellow men in leadership:

• Do more than acknowledge the problem be part of the solution.
• Ensure pay equity is not a slogan but a reality in your company. If you are in a position to make compensation decisions, demand pay transparency and correct disparities.
• Amplify the voices of women in the room. Don’t just invite them to the table listen, empower, and promote them.
• Be vocal. If you hear a dismissive remark, challenge it. If a woman is interrupted in a meeting, redirect the conversation back to her. If hiring and promotion decisions consistently favor men, ask why.

Progress Starts with Action

International Women’s Day should not be about platitudes, it should be about progress. That requires intentional, ongoing effort from all of us. If we claim to be leaders, then let’s lead, not just today, but every day.

The world doesn’t just need allies. It needs advocates and leaders who are willing to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful change. Will you be one of them?