International Women’s Day 2026 is being celebrated today under the theme “Give To Gain,” emphasizing support, collaboration, and gender equality. Since this is a tech blog, I reached out to a pair of women in tech to get their views on this important day.
Margaret Hoagland, VP, Global Sales & Marketing, SIOS Technology
“On International Women’s Day, we honor the courage of women like Anita Hill, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Malala Yousafzai—whose bravery and sacrifice reshaped the future for women everywhere. Their leadership expanded rights, opportunity, and voice. But progress is not permanent. Without our continued vigilance and action, the gains they fought for can be eroded. Let us honor their legacy not only with words, but with sustained action to protect and advance equality for the next generation.”
Betsy Doughty, Vice President of Partner Marketing, Hammerspace
Gender equality advances when we choose to build it – deliberately, consistently, and together. Throughout my career, whether leading employee resource groups, running WILD (Women Inspiring Leadership Development), mentoring women at CU Leeds, or learning from mentors myself, I’ve seen that progress doesn’t happen by accident; it happens through intentional connection. The theme Give to Gain reflects what I’ve experienced firsthand: when we give time, advocacy, and opportunity, we gain perspective, growth, and stronger communities in return. What I’ve experienced firsthand is that when we give time, advocacy, and opportunity, we gain perspective, growth, and stronger communities in return. Nowhere is that more evident than in mentorship and networking, and particularly women learning from other women.
Mentorship changed everything for me. Early in my career, mentors recognized my potential before I could articulate it myself. They listened, advocated, and created opportunities that altered my trajectory. They showed me that great mentors don’t hold talent in place – they help it move forward. Over time, I stepped into mentoring roles of my own, offering guidance, opening doors, and supporting women at pivotal moments in their careers. What surprised me most was how much I gained in return: clarity, self-reflection, fresh perspective, and the privilege of watching confident, capable leaders emerge. You don’t need to be at the peak of your career to mentor; you simply need to share what you’ve learned so far.
Networking plays a similarly powerful role. For women, especially, access to networks builds visibility, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Creating intentional spaces for connection fosters shared language around growth and leadership, turning individual success into collective momentum. For me, Give to Gain is not an abstract idea—it’s a lived experience. Every time we choose to lift one another as we climb, we strengthen not just individual careers, but the foundation for lasting gender equality.
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Today Is International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day 2026 is being celebrated today under the theme “Give To Gain,” emphasizing support, collaboration, and gender equality. Since this is a tech blog, I reached out to a pair of women in tech to get their views on this important day.
Margaret Hoagland, VP, Global Sales & Marketing, SIOS Technology
“On International Women’s Day, we honor the courage of women like Anita Hill, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Malala Yousafzai—whose bravery and sacrifice reshaped the future for women everywhere. Their leadership expanded rights, opportunity, and voice. But progress is not permanent. Without our continued vigilance and action, the gains they fought for can be eroded. Let us honor their legacy not only with words, but with sustained action to protect and advance equality for the next generation.”
Betsy Doughty, Vice President of Partner Marketing, Hammerspace
Gender equality advances when we choose to build it – deliberately, consistently, and together. Throughout my career, whether leading employee resource groups, running WILD (Women Inspiring Leadership Development), mentoring women at CU Leeds, or learning from mentors myself, I’ve seen that progress doesn’t happen by accident; it happens through intentional connection. The theme Give to Gain reflects what I’ve experienced firsthand: when we give time, advocacy, and opportunity, we gain perspective, growth, and stronger communities in return. What I’ve experienced firsthand is that when we give time, advocacy, and opportunity, we gain perspective, growth, and stronger communities in return. Nowhere is that more evident than in mentorship and networking, and particularly women learning from other women.
Mentorship changed everything for me. Early in my career, mentors recognized my potential before I could articulate it myself. They listened, advocated, and created opportunities that altered my trajectory. They showed me that great mentors don’t hold talent in place – they help it move forward. Over time, I stepped into mentoring roles of my own, offering guidance, opening doors, and supporting women at pivotal moments in their careers. What surprised me most was how much I gained in return: clarity, self-reflection, fresh perspective, and the privilege of watching confident, capable leaders emerge. You don’t need to be at the peak of your career to mentor; you simply need to share what you’ve learned so far.
Networking plays a similarly powerful role. For women, especially, access to networks builds visibility, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Creating intentional spaces for connection fosters shared language around growth and leadership, turning individual success into collective momentum. For me, Give to Gain is not an abstract idea—it’s a lived experience. Every time we choose to lift one another as we climb, we strengthen not just individual careers, but the foundation for lasting gender equality.
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This entry was posted on March 8, 2026 at 8:55 am and is filed under Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.