Each year, International Women’s Day brings people across the world together to celebrate the achievements of women and to accelerate gender equality. The 2026 theme, “Give to Gain,” highlights a powerful idea: when we invest in others through time, knowledge, opportunity, and advocacy we all benefit.
In preparation for this year’s celebration, we spoke with two of our Account Managers about what “Give to Gain” means to them and how we can all play a role in building a more inclusive future.
Abbie Potter, Senior Client Relationship Manager
1. What does this year’s International Women’s Day theme “Give to Gain” mean to you?
“Knowledge is power” is a phrase we’re all too familiar with, yet its true meaning isn’t about possession, it’s about contribution. When you share what you know and empower those around you, knowledge multiplies. In life, you often get back what you put in. When you show up authentically, believe in others, and generously share your insight, that energy has a way of returning to you.
For example, if I take the time to explain a process that genuinely makes a client’s day-to-day life easier, I’m not just completing a task because “that’s how it’s always been done”, I’m adding value. That client may then recommend me to a friend running a successful recruitment business because I went above and beyond. By sharing knowledge, you create opportunity, strengthen relationships and grow as a person. The same applies to how we treat Women, if you uplift Women in business and give them equal opportunities, you reap the rewards in what they can bring to the table that others potentially cannot.
2. Who has been a key mentor or sponsor in your life, and what did they ‘give’ to you?
A key female mentor in my life will always be my Grandma, she’s unapologetically herself, she never does what she doesn’t want to do, always kind and caring, always there when I need a friend or a listening ear, never judges and always gives the best advice, which normally is including a few F bombs
3. How can individuals or organisations give in ways to support women more?
Equality is key, no one should be favoured based on their gender, equal pay, equal treatment. Woman are often shamed for being emotional or for showing compassion, we’ve all heard the phrases in our lifetime “is it your time of the month?” “stop being so sensitive” “don’t take it personal” perhaps we should stop seeing these things as a negative and instead as a positive skill in understanding clients wants and needs.
4. What advice would you give to women starting their careers, or to colleagues wanting to create a more inclusive workplace?
Set a goal and stick to it, you can achieve whatever you put your mind to regardless of your gender. Be bold, be loud, just because one person may say your too much, never means you should be less. Build other women up and remember someone else’s light isn’t the absence of your own!
Leah Evans, Internal Client Relationship Manager
1. What does this year’s International Women’s Day theme “Give to Gain” mean to you?
Give to gain strongly resonates with the idea that there is ‘no I in team’. It means showing up for each other, women supporting women, men supporting women and women supporting men. Sharing knowledge, amplifying voices and advocating for change together as opposed to individually creates the equality opportunities that benefit everyone in the workplace. Equality is a team effort!
2. Who has been a key mentor or sponsor in your life, and what did they ‘give’ to you?
A key mentor in my life has to be my Grandma (AKA Meemaw). She never fails to give her time and support to you whenever you need it, she’s ready to put her hectic life on pause whenever you need her to, nothing is too much of an ask. She puts everyone before her and makes it look so easy and effortless. She is a role model through and through. Just don’t vent to her after she’s had a glass of wine!
3. How can individuals or organisations give in ways to support women more?
Equality is the biggest factor, no one should be treated different due to gender. Women aren’t defined by emotion. Everyone has their good and bad days, so when a woman has a bad day don’t reduce it to being that time of the month! Being able to convey your emotions and regulate your systems is a strength in a work place so don’t discourage women from being emotional!!
4. What advice would you give to women starting their careers, or to colleagues wanting to create a more inclusive workplace?
Be unapologetically yourself. Believe in yourself to the very end and most of all be confident in what you do. It sounds cliché but you have the ability to achieve anything in your life that you want once you have got your mind to it. It’s not out of reach or unrealistic if somebody else already has it!
Giving today for a stronger tomorrow
This International Women’s Day, “Give to Gain” reminds us that progress doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we mentor, advocate, educate, and uplift. Whether it’s sharing knowledge, championing a colleague or creating space for diverse voices at the table, every action contributes to lasting change.
When we give opportunity, equality, and support, we don’t lose anything we gain stronger teams, better ideas, and a more inclusive future for everyone.
Related article: Focused umbrella employee wins at the Women in Tech Awards
Anjali Nagaraj, a Site Reliability Engineering contractor, was awarded ‘Best Mentor’ at the Women in Tech Employer Awards 2025! We’re proud to shine a spotlight on her accomplishment and took the opportunity to ask her a few questions about the motivation behind her success, hoping her story will inspire other women in tech across the contractor community.
Focused umbrella employee wins at the Women in Tech Awards >