TIA Team Tell-All: What International Women’s Day Means to Us

March is all about WOMEN! With International Women’s Day on March 8 and the entire month dubbed Women’s History Month, it’s a necessary time to recognize the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. And perhaps most importantly, continue the dialogue around the current challenges women continue to face and how we can rally together to combat them. 

In the name of girl power and all the incredible things this month represents, we wanted to shed some light on the amazing women of our #TIATeam!

This incredible, strong, and passionate group of women make up 70% of our team at The Influence Agency. They’re hardworking, they act with kindness and compassion in all that they do, and most importantly, they’re STRONG leaders. We are proud to support a unique, diverse, and inclusive team of women. 

In celebration of this month and everything it represents, we asked our #TIATeam women to answer the three below questions – to uplift their voices, understand who motivates them and shed light on what this month and International Women’s Day means to them. The responses were brilliant and empowering. Take a look at all the heartfelt and inspiring responses from the women of TIA!

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The Questions

• What do you love about being a woman?
• Who is a woman you are inspired by?
• What does IWD mean to you?

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The Answers

I love that I am part of a generation of women that are smart, powerful, and ambitious! I am inspired by my Grandma, who traveled to Canada from Jamaica at the age of 18 to attend university. She has always stressed the importance of individuality, hard work, and family, ideas that have narrated a lot of my own priorities. International women’s day, to me, is a time to reflect on all of the amazing women in my life and those that I draw inspiration from every day!

I love the strength of being a woman. Despite the challenges throughout history, women were able to fight for what they deserved. My mother inspires me; she raised my sister and me to be strong and self-sufficient. She provided me all the support I needed to reach my goals. International women’s day is a day to celebrate all the brilliant and awe-inspiring women throughout the world who have accomplished amazing things. By celebrating these women, we motivate young women growing up now to continue to dream big!

I’m really grateful to live in a time where we’re finally beginning to appreciate the diverse experiences, identities, and intersectionalities of all women. And most importantly, recognizing that all these experiences are valid. For me, my mother is my biggest role model. Growing up, she always encouraged me to dream big, never settle for less, and reminded me that if I worked hard, I was capable of being anything I wanted to be. I credit a lot to who I am and what I’ve done because of her unconditional support. For me, International Women’s Day is a day of dialogue and action — acknowledging women for their accomplishments and appreciating their diverse experiences while also figuring out ways to improve the quality of life for women globally.

One thing I love about being a woman is the ability to find strength in vulnerability, compassion, and shared hardships. I’m constantly inspired by my mother, who has selflessly dedicated her life to providing for her family. Growing up, she taught me the importance of independence, empathy, and perseverance, as these values were embedded in her everyday actions. For me, International Women’s Day serves as a reminder to celebrate the women who have inspired us and continue to do so!

What I love about being a woman is the strength, beauty, love, and support that we have for the world and each other. The fact that we have created so much history and that we aren’t afraid to back down when we deserve something. I am inspired by my Grandmother each and every day – she was the fiercest, most hard-working, and loving woman I knew and always put her family first. She never held a grudge and opened her heart to anyone. Plus, she was an amazing chef! To me, International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate all the incredible women out there, and in our past, that has paved the way for us today, and think about the strides we need to take moving forward.

Women have been told time and time again that we’re not capable of the same things men are able to do, that we need to smile more, that we’re too emotional, that our opinions don’t matter. That we don’t matter. We’ve overcome so much adversity over the years, and we continue to rise above these stereotypes and microaggressions and push these boundaries every day. It’s crazy to think in the last 100 years, women were granted the right to vote and receive an education, among other things.

I come from a long line of strong Black women. My mom, aunts, and grandmothers never finished school because they had to take care of the home instead of completing their education. They later left everything they ever knew behind and migrated to provide better lives for our family. I am the strong, powerful, and fierce Black woman I am today because of the sacrifices the women in my life made for me. International Women’s Day, to me, is celebrating the accomplishments of the women that fought for us and continuing their fight in pushing our gender forward and working together to smash these weak glass ceilings. Not just for one day, but every day.

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” – Michelle Obama.

The fact that we can be fierce while being gentle, ambitious while being fearless, powerful while being classy, a strong mom while being a sensitive daughter – the ease with which women take on multiple roles and fulfill all of them with equal passion is what makes me proud to be a woman! My mom has always been my biggest source of inspiration; she made me realize the importance of ambitions and gave me wings to fly. More importantly, she always emphasized how I did not need to follow the crowd and can build a path of my own. International Women’s Day, to me, is celebrating all the beautiful, powerful, strong, sensitive women in our life and out there!

Being a woman means being strong and fierce while being loving and nurturing.  My mother is the perfect example of that – a hardworking woman who carved out her own path and provided the best life for her family, which is what I hope to accomplish for my family throughout their lives. To me, International Women’s Day means women are coming together, supporting one another, and celebrating each other’s accomplishments!

I love that as a woman, I have the ability to find strength, determination, and courage even in the most difficult of times. I am the youngest of the three sisters, and growing up in an almost all-female household has really defined the woman I am. I am inspired by my grandmother, who, after the Holocaust, moved to Israel to start her life again. She was always so supportive of me and my sisters as both a coach and cheerleader in everything that we did. She made me believe that I was capable of anything I wanted and always inspired me to go beyond my comfort zone.  International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate and recognize the tremendous leaps and bounds women have made over time.

Being a woman is a power in itself! We’re fierce, nurturing, loving, independent, and unstoppable. Especially today, women are as strong as ever. The inequality and adversity faced throughout history have only made us stronger, closer, and more compassionate. The women in my family have been my biggest inspiration – my mom, step-mom, step-sister, and grandmother. Their love, determination, courage, strength, and confidence are the perfect ingredients to the recipe of what it means to be a woman. Every day is International Women’s Day – let’s continue to lift each other up and celebrate all of our wins.

International Women’s Day is a celebration of the resilience, courage, and power of generations before us and today’s women who continue to pave the way for future generations. This day celebrates those who redefine what it means to be a woman, who burst through the boundaries that old-world societies placed on us. People like my grandmother, who in 1940 Sri Lanka prioritized her career as a botanist before marriage. People like Jacinda Ardern, who (in the middle of a global pandemic) have visibly demonstrated to the world that women are born to lead! To me, International Women’s Day celebrates Maya Angelou’s words: “‘Cause I’m a woman, Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me.”

The strength, compassion, and perseverance that all women have to employ daily are pretty inspiring. I’m proud to be a woman because of our history – we were not handed power in our society, but we fought for it – and won. A woman who inspired me most growing up was my mother. She never completed any formal schooling but was able to start her own graphic design company from the ground up, showing me that if you work hard and are passionate about what you put into the world, anything is possible. International Women’s Day embodies exactly that – celebrating what we put into the world and what we continue to put into the world as a collective.

What I love most about being a woman is being part of a community of strong, beautiful individuals who unconditionally build each other up every day. Growing up, I was always inspired by my mother’s ability to do everything she set her mind to. From moving halfway across the world and starting over in a new country when my brother and I were born to the little things she did every day, I’m convinced there’s nothing she can’t do. To me, international women’s day is a time to celebrate how far we’ve come over the years and to acknowledge all of the incredible women who got us here.

What I love most about being a woman is the strength & perseverance each woman holds within her created by our shared feminine experiences. The things we go through together have helped us to be empathetic to other marginalized groups in a way unlike any other. The tremendous amount of sisterhood and support makes me truly grateful to be a woman. I have always been inspired by my mom and my sister, both of whom show nothing but strength and love and constantly challenge me to be a better version of myself.  To me, international women’s day celebrates the brave women of the past who fought for equality and the women of the future who will continue their legacy.

What do I love about being a woman? Everything. We have overcome so many obstacles as a gender, transforming the idea of modern femininity into anything we want it to be. For that, I wouldn’t trade the period cramps for anything. After all, anything you can do, we can do bleeding!

I am so proud of my gender and the community of womxn I have surrounded myself within life. However, if I had to choose, the woman I am most inspired by is my mother. I carry her life lessons with me every day and do my best to practice them in everything I do.

To me, International Women’s Day is a marker of how far we’ve come and a reminder of how much further we have to go. It’s a chance for all womxn to celebrate one another while simultaneously learning how to uplift those who may not have the same opportunities and privileges in life as you.

There has never been a better time to be a woman than now, and I love that I get to experience this movement of female empowerment. Being a woman comes with so many challenges that it automatically bonds you with other women and marginalized groups. I truly believe that women were kept in inferior roles because men knew that we were the superior sex, and if we weren’t in those roles, we would have taken over the world long ago. 

• Gitanjali Rao
• Jacinda Ardern
• Alyssa Carson
• Whitney Wolfe Herd

These are just some of a large list of women whose accomplishments make me proud to be a woman. My mother inspires me on a daily basis and has helped me become a strong and independent woman. International women’s day is a time to reflect on the adversity we have faced and celebrate all the women who have helped get us to where we are today. It is a day to celebrate the change that has happened and a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done.

International Women’s Day is an important annual celebration and acknowledgment of women past, present, and future who have accomplished incredibly remarkable achievements. For women across the world, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to support women in feeling seen and heard and spark conversations about gender equality.

Being a woman makes me feel powerful, the capability of being a mother, a sister, a wife, a mentor, a friend, and going about our day with cramps that feel like a million sharp knives but still being able to carry ourselves with grace. We have an unspoken bond with one another through our shared experiences. Understanding, encouraging, and supporting each other and giving each other a little boost of confidence when we need it the most. Believing “you can do it” even when you don’t. To me, International Women’s Day is a day to acknowledge the inequality women have faced, to celebrate the women who fought to break down the barriers, and to continue their fight to strive for equality.

Being a woman is about embracing the unique beauty that each and every one of us has. It’s about feeling strong, competent, and empowered. I look up to all the women in my life who have shown me how capable we are at achieving success and making a positive impact on the world. International Women’s Day is about celebrating everything that women have accomplished, the immense leadership they’ve shown, and recognizing their contributions to society.

It’s not necessarily what I love about being a woman but what I gain from being a woman, and that’s a community, knowledge, and ongoing empathy.  I’m constantly inspired by women who have and continue to make the most of what they have with strength and grace, those who continue to teach us all life lessons from their own, and those who aren’t afraid of doing things their way.  International Women’s Day is a great reminder of how far we’ve come socially, economically, culturally, and politically. It is a very important reminder of how far we still have to go to ensure every woman and girl across the globe gets an equal shot at life.

I love that as a woman; I can feel empowered and supported by the amazing women around me! I am inspired by all the women in my life (my mom, sister, and grandma) who embody strength and have taught me the importance of being independent and confident. International Women’s Day is a time to not only acknowledge all the powerful women around us but to celebrate them as we uplift one another.

They say women are complex creatures, and I love having that complexity to be whoever I want to be, stylish or old-fashioned, party animal or a homebody, or just be everything at the same time without having the need to explain.

I am inspired by my mother and my sister, who are unafraid to speak their minds and always put our family first.

International Women’s Day is a reminder to everyone around the world that women have the same rights, an irrevocable entitlement from the moment of birth.

The most beautiful love songs in the world are about, if not composed, by women. We inspire, create, and love each other and the people we value so deeply.  I love that I am surrounded by fierce women that inspire me every day, and the one that inspires me most is my mom. I have never, ever seen her break under pressure, and in my eyes, she is the perfect example of how giving, compassionate, loving, and intelligent we can be. She taught me that I shouldn’t be afraid to speak my mind and that I should always, always go for my dreams, no matter how silly or far-fetched they are! 

For me, IWD is a day to celebrate all of us, to see how far we’ve come, and a reminder that we should always empower each other!

I personally think that being a womxn has allowed me to evolve and grow emotionally, thanks in part to the kinds of close connections I’ve had. And though there have been many struggles for womxn in the past, a more conscious effort towards gender equality and gender sensitivity in this generation is something that makes me love being a womxn even more. 

My grandmother and mother are the women that inspire me the most. My grandmother, upon the death of my grandfather, took over his duties as the president of the university he founded. And my mother has the superpower of bringing out the best in me and keeping the family together through thick and thin. These women are so loving, fearless, and strong – and their lives inspire me greatly. 

International Womxn’s Day is the celebration of freedom that is within reach to many womxn across the globe to be who they want to be and to do what they love in a society that is progressing more and more by the day. 

Women deserve to be celebrated every day. On March 8th, IWD, it is a time to honour, reflect and grow. It is a reminder to break down stereotypes of what a woman is or “should be” and ask why that question even exists in the first place. Each individual woman is unique, beautiful, and important. I’m inspired by women who have and continue to speak up for our rights, values, and equality. There is still a lot of work to be done, but this day is truly one worth celebrating how far we have come.

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Let’s Continue the Conversation…

February is Black History Month; March is Women’s History Month, June is Pride month — the list goes on and on. While these thematic months are a great catalyst to spark meaningful conversations around the different achievements and challenges experienced by each group, the discussions shouldn’t stop there. Continue to amplify their stories throughout the year.

“I am SO proud of the team that we’ve built and continue to build at The Influence Agency, which is one of inclusivity and equality.  Our team is made up of incredible women that lead with passion, hard work, and kindness. This month, we celebrate you and thank you for all of your contributions in making The Influence Agency a place that I, as a woman, am so proud to call my home.” Stephanie Palasti – Founding Partner & Director of Client Success at The Influence Agency

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