Progress doesn’t happen by waiting. It happens by marching forward—one step, one story, one bold decision at a time.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate not just where we are, but where we’re going.
Women across industries are breaking barriers, challenging biases, and rewriting the rules—sometimes in big, headline-worthy ways, and sometimes in quiet, everyday moments that create lasting change.
But let’s be honest—moving forward isn’t always easy. We’ve all felt the resistance, the pushback, the unspoken (and sometimes spoken!) doubts. “Are you sure you’re ready?” “You only got that role because you’re a woman.” “We’ve always done it this way.”
And yet, we push forward.
This week, I’ve been sharing the stories of women who did just that. Women who saw gaps and filled them. Women who faced backlash and kept going. Women who stepped up, spoke up, and led, in their own way.
Start with Your Superpowers
Everyone is brilliant at something. The more you lean into your strengths, the bigger your impact. So, what are you naturally great at? What lights you up?
Take Angela. She channeled her passion for wellness into a Global Step Challenge at work. It wasn’t about gender, but it challenged gender norms. It put a woman in the spotlight, got leadership’s attention, and inspired others to step up too.
Every time a woman leads, we shift expectations. Lean into what you’re great at, and let it create opportunities you never expected.
Click here or the image below to hear how Angela turned her strengths into leadership (and enjoy an auditory snippet of the Gender Penalty book).
Bounce Back After a Blindside
Backlash isn’t always about what you did—it can hit simply because you benefit from change. When quotas or targets are introduced to level the playing field, resistance often follows. But here’s the truth: you don’t need to justify your success.
Take Ashlee. When she was promoted, a former peer dismissed her as “a diversity hire.” But after seeing her lead, he apologised—realizing she was, in fact, the best person for the job.
Click here or the image below to hear how Ashlee handled the resistance and owned her success.
Fill the Gap
Women have been marching forward for generations—challenging norms, breaking barriers, and creating what the world should have had all along. But progress doesn’t just happen. It takes women who see the gaps, and fill them.
Kristy Chong, founder of Modibodi, didn’t wait for the world to catch up. She saw a gap, felt the need, and created a solution—revolutionising an entire industry in the process. In 2022, her company sold for AU$140 million. Not bad for a what if… moment!
Click here or the image below to listen to Kristy’s story.
Marching Forward—Together
For every woman pushing past barriers—keep going. Your voice, your leadership, and your impact matter. When you take a step forward, you make it easier for the next woman to do the same.
For the men who want to be part of the change—you are needed, too. Breaking bias isn’t just a women’s issue; it’s a leadership issue. Support the women around you. Amplify their voices in meetings. Call out bias when you see it. Advocate for equity, not just in words, but in action.
Because real progress happens together.
