March Forward: A Call to Action for All Women and Girls

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate under the theme?“March Forward for All Women and Girls.”?It is a call to move beyond recognition and into action—to advance, uplift, and break barriers for every woman, every girl, everywhere.

As the founder and CEO of?Women Rising, I’ve spent my career advocating for women’s leadership, empowerment, and equity in the workplace. I’ve witnessed a lot over the past decade working with more hundreds of organisations in countries around the world. And while we've made undeniable progress, we are still far from where we need to be.

Women now hold more leadership positions than ever before. We've seen shifts in workplace policies that prioritise flexibility, parental leave, and wellbeing. The conversation around gender equality is louder and more urgent than it has ever been.

And yet.

Women continue to earn less than men for the same work. They remain underrepresented in executive leadership, on boards, and in decision-making roles. The burden of caregiving still disproportionately falls on women, impacting their career growth and financial security. Workplace cultures, while evolving, often still penalise women for being ambitious, assertive, or simply taking up space. And globally, we face the risk of rollbacks in our workplace practices that threatens the progress that we have made.

So, what must we do?

The Road Ahead: A Call to Action

Progress is not inevitable—it's the result of deliberate, sustained effort. To truly?march forward, we must move beyond celebrating achievements and take tangible action to drive change. It’s time to build on the very foundation of every women’s movement that has come before us. It’s important, and it’s urgent. Now is the time for a new rising. And here are just a few actions that we must take:

1. Redefine Success for Women in the Workplace

Success shouldn’t require women to fit into outdated models of leadership that were never designed for them. We need to?embrace new definitions of leadership—ones that value collaboration over competition, authenticity over conformity, and purpose over performative success.

Let’s create workplaces where women don’t feel pressured to work like they don’t have children or lives outside of work. Where success includes wellbeing, fulfillment, and financial security—without trade-offs.

2. Commit to Pay Equity and Career Advancement

It is unacceptable that in 2025, women still earn significantly less than men. Closing the gender pay gap must be a priority, not an afterthought. Companies must: Conduct?regular pay audits?to ensure equal compensation for equal work. Build?transparent promotion pathways?that remove bias and elevate women into leadership. Address the?“motherhood penalty”?by?normalising career progression?after parental leave.

3. Engage Male Allies to Drive Change

Gender equality is not a women’s issue—it's a societal and economic imperative. We need?men actively championing women?in the workplace, using their influence to challenge bias and advocate for systemic change.

This means:

• Sponsoring and mentoring women, not just advising them.
• Calling out gender bias in meetings, promotions, and decision-making.
• Challenging?outdated workplace norms?that favour one way of leading and succeeding.

True?male allyship?is not about standing on the sidelines in support—it's about walking beside women and actively opening doors.

4. Build Workplaces That Work for Women

The future of work must be designed with women in mind. This means embedding?flexibility, inclusivity, and psychological safety?into workplace cultures.

• Flexibility is not a privilege—it's a necessity. Women shouldn't have to choose between career success and family responsibilities.
• Psychological safety must be a given. Women need workplaces where they can speak up, take risks, and lead without fear of bias or backlash.
• Representation matters.?Companies that prioritise gender-diverse leadership make better decisions, drive stronger financial performance, and create more inclusive cultures.

We All Have a Role to Play

International Women’s Day on March 8 is not just about reflection—it’s about action. Each of us has the power to create change in the spaces we occupy.

• If you are a leader, advocate for policies that support women’s advancement.
• If you are a colleague, amplify the voices of women in your workplace.
• If you are a male ally, make sure you are truly advocating for women in all places and spaces.

And to every woman reading this:?Keep going.?Keep taking up space, using your voice, and demanding what you deserve. Your presence, leadership, and ambition matter.

Marching Forward, Together

As we mark International Women’s Day 2025 on March, let’s remember: progress is not linear, and equality is not inevitable. But together, we can accelerate change.

Let’s not just celebrate women this week—let’s commit to creating a world where every woman and girl has the opportunity to thrive, lead, and succeed—every single day.

The future is ours to shape. Let’s march forward.

Tangible actions you can take today:

1. Share the?Women Rising book?with everyone in your organisation.
2. Enrol your teams in the?Women Rising?and?Male Allies?programs.?Take tested action for change trusted by hundreds of organisations around the world.