The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Give to Gain, the idea being that the act of giving can mean everyone gains.
“When people, organisations, and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase,” says IWD. “Giving is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication. When women thrive, we all rise.”
Across the technology sector it can be hard to see beyond this traditionally male dominated space. However, Alex Rumble, CMO and AI Ambassador at strategic technology partner HTEC thinks the key is in allowing people to express themselves: “Giving starts with slowing down enough to actually hear people,” she says. “In tech, where the pace is relentless, listening is undervalued. From that foundation, you can help women clarify their strengths, connect their work to wider goals, and lead with confidence rather than second-guessing.”
We must act now to prevent setbacks and ensure gender equality progresses.”
Rumble is however clear that individual action is not enough. “Organisations need to give real access, not good intentions,” she says. “Sponsorship over mentorship, because sponsorship combines advocacy with influence and opens doors that mentorship alone cannot. Transparent career pathways, flexible working, and genuine leadership development. These remove the barriers that persist even when capability is not in question.”
“We need more women in tech, and leaders must lead by example to address gender imbalances,” asserts Simone Mink, Product Operations Lead at application development platform, Mendix: “While the EU Pay Transparency Directive is a step in the right direction, I’m deeply concerned about the anti-DEI movement in the US. We must act now to prevent setbacks and ensure gender equality progresses. Therefore, it’s crucial to hold our companies and governments accountable for advancing and safeguarding gender equality.”
Grace Ensell, Sales Manager at data storage company Western Digital UK explains equality isn’t about diminishing the achievements of any gender but about creating an equitable environment where everyone has the same opportunities and responsibilities in their careers and personal lives. “This is not to ignore the still existing challenges faced by women in the technology industry, especially those balancing professional success with motherhood,” she notes.
Ensell speaks from personal experience in balancing her job and family. “I am fortunate to have a fantastic network,” she says. “They say it takes a village to raise a child, and I have found that village with my teammates, my friends and family and my partner. This support has allowed me to combine both worlds and get the best out of both.
Allyship operates at the level of daily interaction, not annual declarations.”
“On this International Women’s Day, I want to accelerate action by acknowledging and celebrating our networks around us,” she adds. “We still have a long way to go to achieve full gender equality, but I want to encourage everyone to take part in it.”
There are undoubtedly some steps forward being made in achieving equity, but as Alex Rumble points out the work in hand cannot limited to just one day: “Allyship operates at the level of daily interaction, not annual declarations,” she concludes.
