I have always been an advocate for women and spoken for the last 10 years on International Women’s Day get togethers. This year I’m on holiday and reflecting from a distance about why this day still exists.

We have come far from the sad old days I experienced as a consultant visiting all male boards. Women are around.

In addition the majority of men reported by the IBM Institute for Business Value’s recent 2023 report thinks we have overall parity now.

So should IWD – don’t you just hate acronyms- be a celebration of success?

Well women on the IBM report didn’t think they had parity and that’s because women don’t. The authors summarise.  ‘Parity seems close but is getting further away’ and ‘Perception outpaces the pipeline’

There are fewer women in leadership pipelines post pandemic so it’s the middle we need to focus on now not the top where there are successes.  Today feels like BBC Question time where folk parade views but minds are never changed and no actions for forward movement emerge.

Could organisations big and small commit to equity metrics, quantify the benefits of having female leaders, commit to equal pay and publish, with diversity training for all?

I’m all for a celebration but let’s see some action.