International Women’s Day: Why #GiveToGain Means More Than a Cupcake
Each year, International Women’s Day arrives with good intentions.
There are morning teas.
Corporate hashtags.
Panel discussions.
And yes, sometimes cupcakes.
And while celebration certainly has its place, I have always believed International Women’s Day should represent something deeper.
This year’s theme, #GiveToGain, resonates with me for one simple reason:
Progress does not happen through symbolism.
It happens through contribution.
And contribution requires courage.
The Real Meaning of #GiveToGain
At first glance, the phrase sounds simple, almost transactional.
Give something. Gain something.
But meaningful leadership is rarely transactional.
To me, #GiveToGain represents a mindset shift.
We do not gain equality, influence, or leadership presence by waiting.
We gain it by stepping forward: often before we feel fully ready.
We gain it by mentoring the next woman in line.
By speaking up in rooms where silence might feel safer.
By advocating for structural change, not just personal advancement.
The gain is not only individual progression.
It is collective elevation.
And that requires intentional giving.
Why This Matters Personally
I work with ambitious, capable women every day.
Brilliant strategists.
Strong operators.
Natural leaders.
And yet many of them still hesitate.
They hesitate to ask for the promotion.
To negotiate the salary.
To articulate their ambition out loud.
To take up space in senior conversations.
Not because they lack talent.
But because somewhere along the way they internalised the message that competence should be enough, and visibility is optional.
It is not.
Giving, in this context, means giving yourself permission to lead fully.
To own your capability without apology.
To model confidence for those watching.
To mentor others instead of competing quietly.
When women give visibility, advocacy, and sponsorship to one another, we all gain influence.
It’s Not a Cupcake Day
I say this with respect and as someone who also enjoys cupcakes.
Celebration has value.
But if International Women’s Day becomes confined to symbolic gestures, we risk diluting its real purpose.
Cupcakes are sweet, structural change is strategic.
And strategy is what moves careers.
If we truly embrace #GiveToGain, organisations must ask themselves:
- Are we sponsoring women into decision-making roles?
- Are we challenging unconscious bias in promotion pathways?
- Are we rewarding strategic influence, not just operational excellence?
- Are we equipping women with executive presence, not just technical skills?
These are not social questions.
They are leadership questions.
The Give That Builds Legacy
Early in my career, I benefited from leaders who gave more than advice.
They gave:
- Honest feedback
- Access to rooms I had not yet earned
- Strategic visibility
- Belief before my own self-belief had fully formed
That kind of giving compounds over time.
Today, I see it as part of my responsibility to do the same.
When I coach women into senior leadership and work with male leaders to actively advocate for women, I am not simply helping individuals progress.
Hopefully, I am influencing the cultures of the organisations they lead.
Because leadership is contagious, confidence is contagious, standards are contagious.
And when those things spread, the gain becomes exponential.
Giving Is Not Self-Sacrifice
There is a misconception that giving means depleting.
It does not.
Strategic giving builds authority.
When you mentor, you sharpen your thinking.
When you advocate, you strengthen your influence.
When you sponsor talent, you expand your leadership credibility.
#GiveToGain is not about martyrdom.
It is about investing in ecosystems, knowing that the strength of the collective ultimately strengthens the individual.
In executive environments, this becomes especially powerful.
The leaders who give recognition, opportunity, and sponsorship are often the very ones who gain loyalty, trust, and long-term impact.
What I Am Committing To
For me, this year’s International Women’s Day is not just a reflection on how far we have come.
It is a reminder of the responsibility we carry.
I am committing to:
• Continuing to mentor women stepping into executive roles
• Speaking candidly about leadership blind spots
• Challenging outdated narratives around “likability” and leadership
• Equipping women with strategic tools, not just encouragement
Because empowerment without strategy is incomplete.
And strategy without confidence is ineffective.
We need both.
The Bigger Picture
The future of leadership particularly in an AI-driven, rapidly shifting world will reward adaptability, strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and influence.
Women bring these strengths in abundance.
But strength must be visible to be valued.
If #GiveToGain means anything, it means this:
Give your voice.
Give your ambition.
Give your sponsorship.
Give your expertise.
And gain progress…not just for yourself, but for the generation watching you.
That is worth far more than a cupcake.
Shirley Sutton
Executive Career Coach | NLP Practitioner
Helping ambitious professionals accelerate with clarity, confidence, and strategic influence.