What International Women’s Day means to me

Every year, it happens.

You put on something slightly brighter than usual.
You head to a breakfast or a lunch.
There are round tables. Strong coffee.
Incredible women on stage telling powerful stories.

You feel inspired.
You clap.
You take a photo.
You write a thoughtful LinkedIn post.

And then you go back to your desk.

Emails. Meetings. Pace.

And I’ve been sitting with this question for a while now:

Is inspiration enough?

Please don’t misunderstand me. I value those events deeply. I’ve attended them. I’ve spoken at them. I’ve felt moved by the women on stage.

But every year, I leave wondering the same thing:

How do we make this sustainable?

How do we move from inspiration to transformation?

Because inspiration lasts an hour.
Transformation changes how you lead.

I’ve been volunteering with ALELD for almost five years now. Two years ago, I had an idea. Instead of just hosting another Women in Leadership event, what if we designed something that didn’t end when the applause stopped?

Because I didn’t want women to leave that space energised… only to slowly return to the same patterns. The same doubts. The same hesitation in meetings. The same internal whisper of “maybe I’m not ready”.

So we added something extra.

We created a structured mentorship program that sat alongside the event. I reached out to extraordinary women, experienced leaders, generous humans, and invited them to offer two mentoring sessions to participants.

Simple. Practical. Intentional.

The first edition of the program received a 95% overall satisfaction rating from mentors and mentees.

But beyond the number, the words mattered more.

One mentee shared, “I felt truly seen and supported, I’ve never had a mentor who believed in me this much.”

Another said, “My mentor helped me clarify my career direction. I’m walking away with a plan I’m genuinely excited about.”

Another reflected, “This program helped me find my voice and show up more confidently at work.”

That’s when you know something real is happening.

Because what followed wasn’t just positive feedback.

Women asked for promotions.
They negotiated differently.
They spoke earlier in meetings.
They applied for roles they had previously dismissed.

Last year, we expanded the program again in our second signature event. As I write this, we already have 22 expressions of interest and sessions are still underway.

Even from just four mentees so far, the depth of impact is clear.

One participant shared that it was an eye-opener, she had never had a mentor before and didn’t know what to expect.

Another described the experience as structured, deeply thoughtful, and highly personalised. She spoke about gaining clarity in her leadership journey, understanding her strengths more deeply, and learning to make more intentional decisions.

And that’s the point.

When women are supported with structure, reflection, and accountability, something shifts.

Not because someone gave a motivational speech.

But because someone helped them build capability.

That’s what International Women’s Day means to me.

Not a moment.

A catalyst.

A reminder that sustainable growth requires more than applause. It requires skill.

That belief is also the foundation of In Your Element leadership training.

In Your Element leadership training was designed to help leaders strengthen five core capabilities:

Not in theory. In practice.

Through structured modules, reflection exercises, and practical tools, women don’t just feel inspired, they build competence.

And this year, I want to extend that one step further.

For every woman who joins In Your Element, I’m GIFTING, yes GISTING, a complimentary one-on-one coaching session.

Why?

Because training creates awareness. Coaching creates integration.

In that session, we can:

·       Clarify your leadership direction.

·       Identify one capability that will create the biggest ripple effect for you.

·       Work through a real scenario you’re currently navigating, whether that’s asking for a promotion, leading a difficult conversation, or stepping into a bigger role.

·       Design practical next steps with accountability.

It becomes personal.

It becomes actionable.

If International Women’s Day is going to mean something beyond a post or a panel, let it be the moment you choose to invest in your own growth.

Let it be the year you build the skills that will not only elevate you, but allow you to elevate others.

If this resonates, I invite you to explore In Your Element and take advantage of the complimentary coaching session.

The only thing you need to do is to click In Your Element and purchase The Training option and we will contact you to organise your GIFT!

Because what happens after the event is what truly matters.

And the ripple effect starts with you.