IWD 2026: Give to Gain - The People Who Have Shaped My Career

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, “give to gain,” resonates with me because it reflects something I’ve seen throughout my career: progress happens when people and businesses invest in one another.

The individuals and organisations that have invested in and helped shape me have shown, time and again, that when we share our time, experience and perspectives, we all benefit. For me, the theme is a reminder that creating the conditions for better thinking and better collaboration ultimately drives better outcomes. This is a mindset that sits at the heart of how we work at Robiquity.

One of the most influential figures in my career has been a former boss of mine, someone who is now a key mentor and close friend. She set the bar for what purposeful, supportive, strong and often direct leadership looks like. At Robiquity, we are fortunate to have her joining our internal IWD celebrations this year as a guest speaker. A bit of a full circle moment for me!

I also grew up watching a successful working mum who never needed to justify her career choices. In our house, sharing the load was the norm. My dad did more school pickups, while my mum regularly travelled for work, and neither of those things were framed as remarkable. A childhood friend recently reminded me of this when she recalled coming to my house after school and being genuinely surprised that my dad cooked dinner for us. To me, that wasn’t abnormal, but to her, it stood out, so much so that she remembers it to this day. Thankfully things have progressed in 20 years, however that small moment made me realise how much my parents modelled equality without ever labelling it as such. My upbringing gave me a practical, lived understanding of balance and partnership.  

My closest female friends and my sisters, all spread across sectors ranging from technology to construction to the NHS, are another way “give to gain” strongly resonates with me. Although our industries differ, the challenges (and sometimes bad experiences) we face overlap. We compare experiences, offer advice and often help each other navigate (sometimes tricky) decisions, more often than not via the group chat. Our exchanges broaden how I think and make me view situations often from a completely different perspective. They lead me to ask better questions – all helping me be more effective and a better leader.

But “give to gain” isn’t just personal, or something that should be solely associated with International Women’s Day. It’s a principle that matters deeply in business, particularly in tech services. At Robiquity, we know that diversity of thought is essential to how we build and deliver solutions for our customers. Our customers come to us with complex challenges. To solve them well, we need teams that think differently, ask different questions and bring a mix of different lived experiences to the table. Diversity in gender, background, schooling and expertise isn’t a nice to have tick box, it’s a competitive advantage. It leads to more rounded solutions, more robust problem-solving and better outcomes for our clients. And statistically, to more profitable businesses.

And yet, progress isn’t guaranteed. The gender pay gap is currently projected to take thirty years to close - I hope to be retired by that point! In some sectors, representation is moving backwards (just look at the great resignation of women in politics globally). It can be disheartening. But that’s exactly why continuing to show up and give matters, no matter how small. Giving time to mentor others. Giving space to voices that aren’t always heard. Or providing support when road bumps appear.

This IWD, “give to gain” reminds me that progress doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we show up for each other consistently, with purpose and without waiting for permission. And when we do, everyone benefits.