It’s a beautiful irony: The more we give, the more we get.
That’s why “Give to Gain” is the theme of International Women’s Day this March 8, 2026.
It takes a lot to sustain momentum towards advancing women’s leadership in areas
where we’ve been underrepresented historically. To that end, we all need help, which
can take many forms: Encouragement, education, creativity, time, resources, and more.
Some might be more “wealthy” in a particular realm while others are rich in another. But
each of us has gifts to share—and when we share those gifts, we get back. Every
contribution moves us forward.
This year, International Women’s Day commemorates 115 years of collective action,
advocacy, and progress on behalf of women. The tradition of International Women’s Day
began in 1917 as World War I was drawing to a close. Female workers in Russia went
on strike that winter to protest food rationing and the costs of the war. Their strike spread
throughout the city of Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg) until the streets filled with
90,000 workers. These demonstrations marked the start of the 1917 Russian revolution
that eventually led to overthrow of the tsarist Russia … and changed the world.
In 1977, the UN officially proclaimed March 8 as International Women’s Day. In 1987,
Congress designated March as Women’s History Month. Together, these celebrations
invite us to remember the privilege it is to be female, the impact of women everywhere,
and the path forward inviting us to keep contributing to the world in ways that make it
better.
Whatever gifts you have to share in helping women everywhere go for and realize their
potential, give freely this year. The one who gains the most could be you.