It’s International Women’s Day on March 8th, 2026, and organisations worldwide are preparing to celebrate women’s achievements and take meaningful action towards gender equity.

This year’s theme is #GiveToGain, which highlights the power of generosity, collaboration, and sustained investment in women’s success. When organisations actively give opportunity, support, and leadership pathways to women, they gain stronger performance, greater innovation, and long-term business resilience.

To help you get started, we at WCorp have put together a quick guide showcasing how you can take part in IWD this year and demonstrate your commitment to action beyond celebration.

Take a look and get involved!

Community Events

• London: A collaborative International Women’s Day charity lunch bringing together leading female chefs and creatives to raise funds for women and children’s charities 
• London: A series of art exhibitions and music showcases spotlighting women artists and performers across the capital.  
• Edinburgh: International Women’s Day marches and solidarity events taking place in Edinburgh to advocate for women’s rights and community action. 

Global & University-Led Events:

• University of York is hosting International Women’s Week, featuring panels on migrant women’s stories, academic leadership, and equality in higher education. 
• Australian National University is running public lectures, First Nations women leadership discussions, and wellbeing events to mark IWD 2026. 
• Connected by Leadership is hosting a global virtual leadership panel bringing together women leaders from multiple continents to share actionable strategies for advancing women worldwide.

WCorp-Certified Organisations in Action 0

Our certified women-friendly workplaces continue to demonstrate that action drives impact. Here’s how!

• Fortro Ltd - One of WCorp’s first certified companies, Fortro continues to lead from the front. Founder Aileen Boyle will be speaking at the Women Thrive Summit 2026 on 18 March, sharing strategic insight on redesigning commercial architecture so revenue generation becomes deliberate, scalable and aligned with women’s leadership capability. The summit focuses on helping women build businesses that match their market opportunity through structural change, not surface-level fixes.
• C & C Search - Proudly female-led and WCorp certified, C & C Search is marking International Women’s Day by reinforcing its commitment to measurable standards in leadership, pay transparency and progression. Their team continues to champion women’s careers in finance and professional services through transparent pay conversations, active leadership sponsorship, and policies built around modern working lives. 
• The WCorp Ambassadors - Change does not only happen at board level. Our Ambassadors are driving impact from within their organisations and industries. Jennifer Harrison, Ambassador for Northern England, describes the programme as a platform to turn passion into tangible action across sectors. Deborah Gammell, Ambassador for Scotland, used her role to engage directly with Scotland’s First Minister on the importance of WCorp certification across Scottish businesses.

If certification is not right for your organisation yet, becoming a WCorp Ambassador is a powerful way to lead change, influence decision-makers, and build measurable impact from wherever you are. 

Sustaining Progress Beyond IWD

WCorp’s certification program helps organisations:

• Boost profitability - increase your chances of above-average profitability by 25% with high gender diversity on your executive team.
• Elevate your existing DEI initiatives with cutting-edge globally practices that set you apart from competitors.
• Attract top talent: outperform competitors financially by up to 66% with strong female representation on your board.
• Catalyse expansion, productivity, and innovation: Increase innovation revenue by 15% with at least 30% female leaders.
• Change modern history: gender equality is a $12 trillion economic opportunity. Pioneer a global shift towards inclusive, equitable, and prosperous workplaces.

“Certification was simple and easy. You gave us the roadmap. Anybody in business knows that we are all under increasing amounts of pressure all the time, so having that experience and working with you was supremely positive for me.”

Lucy Chamberlain, C and C Search

How to Get Certified

Certification is a straightforward, simple process, with an immeasurable impact on your business, your employees, and global gender equity. Here’s what to expect:

1. Pre-Certification Assessment

A 90-minute evaluation with our experts.

2. Comprehensive Evaluation

Score 80% or higher to certify; if not, receive a tailored improvement plan.

3. Actionable Support

Implement recommendations, track KPIs, and reapply when ready.

Certification is valid for two years, with a streamlined renewal process.

As we celebrate IWD 2026, we encourage all organisations to reflect on their progress and commit to further action. Whether you’re a one-person startup or a global corporation, every single step towards gender equity contributes to stronger business performance and broader economic growth. Let’s #GiveToGain together.

To take concrete, sustainable steps towards gender equity in your business, visit the link below!