International Women’s Day is fast approaching, with this year’s theme being ‘Give and Gain’. But what does this really mean, and what significance does the occasion truly hold?
I sat down with Safia Canbakis, Assistant Account Manager at JLA, to discuss what IWD is all about, and explore how JLA can help make your IWD event stand out.
Why is International Women’s Day important?
International Women’s Day is not just about celebrating the achievements of women, but is also about visibility – amplifying women’s voices, stories and expertise in areas where they’ve been historically underrepresented.
From a business perspective, this day offers the opportunity to put the values they hold into practice. Stating a stance on equality is very different to demonstrating it – as a dedicated time period, IWD encourages and even compels organisations to translate their position into real, tangible actions, by creating platforms for women to lead conversations and influence change.
On a wider level, IWD’s lens can also extend to the topic of male allyship, intersectionality, and beyond. The occasion is not just about supporting and uplifting women, but also shining a light on how women’s rights affect us all.
Are there any female speakers you’ve been inspired by whilst working at JLA?
Definitely! It’s difficult to choose, as we work with so many brilliant female speakers across many different walks of life – from comedians (Katherine Ryan) and Formula 1 leaders (such as Bernie Collins) to entrepreneurs (Dr. Anne-Marie Imafidon) and politicians (Nicola Sturgeon). Whether you’re looking for a keynote speaker or a more intimate discussion format, we represent a real spectrum of talent.
One person I’d highlight in particular is English fashion designer Anya Hindmarch. I saw her at a Q&A-based women’s networking event, where she spoke about balancing her time as the head of a global brand, an environmental advocate, and a mother of five. Her life has so many moving parts, and is far from one-dimensional, but she’s been incredibly successful both professionally and personally. The talk illuminated the way that women don’t need to choose a single path and stick to that alone – you can succeed at work, and you can also build a family. She really demonstrates that women don’t have to limit themselves – they can do it all.
My next pick would be Harriet Harman, a Member of the House of Lords and a compelling leadership speaker. A big part of Harriet’s talk revolves around the societal perception that women are never truly in their ‘prime’. If you’re classed as a ‘good mother’, you’re seen as not being driven. Simultaneously, if you’re a successful business woman, you’re seen as having abandoned your maternal purpose. Alternatively, successful men are straightforwardly seen as successful. This is all the more poignant in light of Harriet’s own work in politics, a male-dominated field. More generally, she brings important insights into leadership, policy, and systematic change, grounded in decades of real-world experience.
Finally, I want to shine a light on the incredible Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller, Former Head of MI5 & Former Chair of the Wellcome Trust. Eliza has a firmness of principle which powerfully transcends expectations of women. She is unapologetically strong-willed. At the same time – and linking to Anya and Harriet – her family plays an important role in her life. Eliza also advocates powerfully for open, frank and critical conversation – something which, more broadly, lies at the heart of forwarding gender equality.
Why are speaking engagements an important part of International Women’s Day?
As I mentioned earlier, International Women’s Day is about amplifying women’s voices – however, there are so many resonant stories to be told. Speaking engagements offer the exact platform to showcase a variety of perspectives. On a broader level, it also acts as an excuse to bring together a room full of people, and make them listen.
A ‘speaking engagement’ doesn’t need to mean one thing. Whether it refers to a keynote at a conference, or a laid-back fireside chat between two people, a discussion about women in business or a reflection on their day-to-day experience, a series of anecdotes or an overview of insights – the term encompasses all of these things, which JLA can help support across the board.
The term does not need to be ring-fenced – it can take many different forms. In the case of IWD, this could be a women’s networking event, or as mentioned earlier, an event targeted specifically to male allies. This diversity opens the door to really tailor your IWD event to your business, and your audience – whether there are hundreds of people in the room, or twenty.
How do you think companies should celebrate IWD?
I think IWD events work best on an interactive level – whether that’s having an element of networking, or a workshop-style session. The powerful stuff happens when communities talk to each other, sharing opinions and inviting productive debate towards identifying a real solution. This maps well onto a general trend we’ve noticed as a speaker-bureau – interactivity is gaining traction as a format, with more clients asking for fireside chats, workshops, and more.
As I mentioned earlier, I think IWD events should have inclusivity at their heart. It would be great to see more events spotlighting how men can better support women in the workplace, for example – I often hear men saying they’re not sure how to do this, so I feel this could be genuinely useful.
This year’s IWD theme is ‘Give To Gain’. What does this mean to you, and what does it mean for JLA?
For me personally, ‘Give To Gain’ is a theme focused on selflessness – specifically, giving other women support for their gain.
It’s not easy to be a woman. We’ve had to deal with so much across history, and there are still parts of the world where women are losing and going without their rights. Awareness is such a critical thing as a result. This theme doesn’t need to be about what we gain from IWD – we need to prioritise not being selfish.
It doesn’t matter if these issues are happening across the world. When we give our attention to those who are overshadowed – facilitate real, impactful conversations and dialogue – and speak about them as much as possible, it does make a difference.
This ties in with this theme’s significance from a JLA perspective – particularly the piece around giving people a voice. JLA’s work reinforces the importance of creating platforms for diverse female stories, giving women the opportunity to both be heard, and listened to, in sharing insights and experience. Whether you’re seeking a conference speaker for a large-scale event or an expert for a smaller gathering, we can connect you with voices that matter.
A speaking engagement is a mutual exchange, in that everyone benefits, or ‘gains’ – the speaker sharing their perspective, the audience gaining insights, and the business applying takeaways to their operations moving forward. The more we invest in women’s voices, the more we gain.
Discover how we brought this to life at our Speakers Breakfast: Looking Ahead to International Women’s Day 2025 – explore the highlights below for inspiration for your own event.
If you would like more information on these or any other speakers, or would like to discuss you own International Women’s Day event more generally, please contact your JLA Agent or call 020 7907 2800.