A Day to Honor the Women Who Move Us Forward

International Women's Day 115 year celebration. Purple background, with purple and green balloons. Gold 115 balloon numbers

International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8th is a moment to honor the women whose leadership, creativity, and resilience continue to shape our communities and our future. It also challenges us to reflect on the work still ahead as we strive toward true gender equity.

The 2026 campaign theme, Give To Gain, encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. When we give support, visibility, and opportunities to women and girls, we gain stronger teams, more innovative ideas, and a more connected community. As the International Women’s Day organization emphasizes, giving “is not a subtraction, it’s intentional multiplication,” reminding us that when women thrive, we all rise.

How you can support the 2026 “Give to Gain” Campaign

The International Women’s Day website outlines many meaningful ways to participate and show support. Here are a few to get you started:

  • Celebrate women’s achievements and amplify their voices.
  • Call out stereotypes, challenge discrimination, and question bias whenever you encounter them.
  • Share your knowledge, mentoring, and encouragement to support others’ growth.
  • Create visibility for organizations serving women and girls, from local groups to global initiatives.

Each action reflects the Give to Gain philosophy: when we invest in equity, the entire community benefits.

Additional Ways to Learn and Engage

To further support your learning and reflection around IWD, consider one of the following opportunities available through the Washington State Employee Assistance Program.

March 17 Live Seminar:
Empowering Women at Work

Hosted by Washington State’s EAP, this live session focuses on strengthening inclusion, supporting women’s advancement, and understanding the dynamics that help women thrive in the workplace.

Seminar Replay:
Celebrate. Act. Transform: Fostering Gender Inclusive Workplaces

An accessible, self-paced session building awareness, practicing allyship, and creating environments where women can participate fully and authentically.

Access the live seminar and replay listed above by visiting the Online Seminars section of WSU’s EAP website and entering the Work/Life code: WSU.

This International Women’s Day, let’s choose to give. Our support, our advocacy, our voices, so we all gain a more equitable future.

Content Credit: Carey Musburger, Sr. Assistant, HRS Learning and Organizational Development

Illustration of two people, one at a desk, the other on a computer screen talking to each other.

Contact & Quick Links

Have a question about info in this post?

  • Visit the HRS Service Teams page and login with your WSU credentials to find the HR Consultant that supports your area.
  • For general HR related questions, email HRS at hrs@wsu.edu.

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