I recently read The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, and it left me thinking about the quiet and courageous ways women have always fought for what matters – whether in times of war or in everyday life. The story follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, as they navigate impossible choices, risking everything for survival, love, and freedom. Inspired by real-life women of the French Resistance, their stories remind us of the often-overlooked contributions of women in history.

And yet, despite these stories, and the countless others we can pull from history books, IWD reminds us how far we must still go.

This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, is a call to push harder and move faster toward gender equality. Right now, progress is so slow that we won’t reach full gender parity until 2158—five generations from now. Let that sink in.

That means our daughters, granddaughters, and even great-granddaughters will still be fighting the same battles if we don’t step up.

Throughout history, women have resisted injustice in both bold and quiet ways. Some, like Isabelle in The Nightingale, take risks that make headlines. Others, like Vianne, fight in smaller but equally powerful ways – choosing survival, defying expectations, protecting what matters. The lesson in both is clear: whether through big actions or small, we all have a role to play in driving change.

If we want to accelerate action, we have to do more than just talk about equality. We need to challenge bias and inequality when we see it – in the workplace, in leadership, in everyday conversations; by supporting and uplifting other women in real ways – by mentoring, advocating and creating space for female voices; and, by pushing for systemic change that ensures equal opportunities for all through policy, representation and inclusive workplace cultures.

Every action – no matter how small – moves us closer to a future where women don’t have to keep proving their worth or fighting the same battles over and over.

It may seem strange to draw inspiration from a historical fiction, but history is full of brave and courageous actions that made change possible. Stories are often rooted in real truths, as is the case in The Nightingale, and they serve as powerful reminders of the people and actions that shaped the world we live in today. They allow us to remember, to honour, and to not forget the sacrifices and struggles that made progress possible.

If we look back to all the many brave women whose decisions to act allowed for change, we are reminded that their moments of bravery and resilience may once have seemed impossible – until they weren’t.

Progress has always been built on the determination of those who refused to accept the world as it was.

So whether you find inspiration in a book, in someone you know, in moments from the past, in a post on social media, or in a vision of the future you hope to create, let that fuel you.

Change doesn’t happen on its own. Take that inspiration and turn it into action. Because the time for change isn’t five generations from now. It’s today.

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“Maybe you don’t notice your progress because you’re always raising your bar.”

For many of us—especially women—the bar is always moving. We push forward, take on more, prove ourselves over and over again. The gas pedal is always down because slowing down feels like falling behind.

We’re told we need to be twice as good, work twice as hard, and never let up. And even when we do achieve something, we immediately focus on the next thing. We minimize our wins, telling ourselves, it’s just part of the job or anyone could have done this.

For me, going beyond expectations wasn’t just a habit; it felt necessary. While part of that is just who I am, the other part was fear. Fear that if I slowed down, I’d lose the momentum that kept me moving forward.

But here’s the thing: we don’t need to prove ourselves every single day to deserve our success.

Yes, we will always push ourselves to grow—but organizations need to push to do the same, to raise their bar too. On support. On work-life balance. On development. On opportunities. On all the things that make careers sustainable for women. When they do, they don’t just support women—they build stronger, more resilient workplaces for everyone. Because success shouldn’t come at the cost of burnout for anyone, and ambition shouldn’t mean sacrificing well-being.

Becoming a mom has made me think about this even more. It’s shifted how I see the system—not just as something to navigate, but as something that needs to change. We deserve workplaces that recognize our value without demanding we constantly prove it at the expense of our health, our families, or ourselves.

And let’s be honest—this burden isn’t the same for everyone. Women of colour, women with disabilities, and others facing systemic barriers often have to work even harder just to be seen. If we’re going to talk about raising the bar, we need to make sure it’s being raised for all women, in ways that acknowledge and address these deeper challenges. Because real progress isn’t just about individual success—it’s about changing the system altogether.

So with #InternationalWomensDay this Saturday, let’s keep pushing forward—but let’s also demand better.

For ourselves. For the women coming up behind us. And for a workplace that truly values balance, growth, and equity.

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