International Women's Day, recognized on 8 March by the United Nations, is a powerful opportunity to celebrate women's achievements worldwide and advocate for their rights and safety. Women's History Month—observed in March in the US, UK, and Australia and October in Canada—continues this mission by honoring the courage and sacrifices of women throughout history while shining a light on the progress still needed.
Every day of the year, Catalyst publishes research and insights to create workplaces that work for women. It’s always a good time to highlight your organization’s gender inclusion initiatives. But these commemorative holidays are the perfect opportunity to continue building community among all employees and paving a path forward that is fair for everyone.
Let's celebrate, reflect, and take action for a better future—together.
Women have made enormous strides in the last century like winning the right to vote, gaining greater financial independence, and contributing to science and other fields that have improved the lives of millions. As critical as all these advances have been, there is still much work ahead to improve the status of women after millennia of uneven power dynamics.
Among OECD countries, the overall gender wage gap as of 2021.
(Source: OECD, 2023).
The amount of executive positions women occupy globally.
(Source: McKinsey, 2024)
The percent of women of color in C-suite positions.
(Source: McKinsey, 2024)
Nearly 50% of employees feel excluded at work—negatively impacting productivity, innovation, and retention. Recognizing IWD and WHM shows your employees, customers, and future talent that your organization values gender inclusion. Catalyst provides companies with the research and resources they need to be leaders fearlessly celebrating women’s contributions—boosting engagement and belonging, key drivers of business success.
For IWD 2025, Catalyst organized a series of events and activities fine-tuned to the needs of our Supporters. These resources empowered them to drive meaningful change within their organizations.
There are a record-breaking number of women Fortune 500 CEOs, but conversations about workplace culture continue to be shaped by debates over leadership styles and gender dynamics. Some people call to re-embrace “masculine energy” rather than take a more inclusive approach. In this podcast episode of Breaking with Tradition, Catalyst sits down with Emma Hinchliffe, reporter for Fortune’s Most Powerful Women daily newsletter, to discuss the current landscape for women at work.