As a reminder of the powerful role of women, the world has celebrated International Women’s Day since 1909, when garment workers in New York City marched for better conditions and the right to vote.

More than a century later, 8 March remains a marker of both progress and unfinished work. It is not only a celebration of achievement but also a call to accelerate change in business and leadership.

Today, women lead 11 percent of Fortune 500 companies, according to the 2025 Fortune 500 report. Former PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi believes that number could reach 20–25 percent within the next decade.

At WOBI, we have heard from many of the most influential women leaders of our time. Their insights offer practical strategies for building organizations where talent truly has no gender.

Redefining leadership

When Ginni Rometty became IBM’s first female CEO, she expanded the definition of leadership.

“It isn’t that we just need more women leaders, but we need more leaders with traits traditionally associated with women,” she said.

Rometty identifies empathy, active listening and continuous learning as essential capabilities for navigating complexity. She reframes these not as soft skills but as critical leadership strengths.

Carly Fiorina, the first female CEO of a Fortune 50 company, argues that diversity is not simply about fairness – it is a business strategy. When everyone thinks alike, she warns, innovation stalls and decision-making suffers.

Fiorina maintains that strong leaders surround themselves with people who think differently. Historically underrepresented in senior roles, women bring perspectives that challenge assumptions and unlock new solutions.

Carla Harris, Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, adds that diversity must be paired with authenticity.

“No-one can be you better than you can,” Harris says, emphasizing that trust begins when leaders show up as themselves.

Harris explains that authenticity builds credibility and strengthens relationships. Organizations that embrace both diversity and authenticity are more innovative and resilient.

Reimagining success

Passion fuels resilience and purpose. But without balance, it becomes unsustainable.

Allyson Felix, the most decorated American track and field athlete in Olympic history, challenged Nike’s maternity policies at significant personal risk. Felix’s advocacy led to meaningful industry change and broader protections for female athletes.

Felix has spoken openly about balancing motherhood and elite performance. She stresses that supporting women through maternity policies and cultural change allows them to return without penalty or stigma.

“You can use your voice even if it shakes,” Felix says, encouraging women to speak up for equity.

Her message is clear – courage creates progress.

Spanish Olympic swimmer Ona Carbonell returned to elite competition just eleven months after giving birth. Carbonell has since become an advocate for institutional support for mothers in high-performance careers.

Carbonell’s message mirrors Felix’s – when organizations support women through life transitions, they do not lose talent, they strengthen it.

Nooyi brings this conversation into the corporate arena with candor.

“This is not a leaky pipeline, it’s a broken pipeline,” Nooyi said, arguing that change requires intervention, mentoring and sustained development.

Nooyi also highlights the impact of conscious and unconscious bias. When confidence is undermined, competence follows.

True progress requires both passion and balance. Leaders such as Felix, Carbonell and Nooyi demonstrate that the two are mutually reinforcing.

Prioritizing wellbeing

Sustainable leadership requires a holistic view of performance and wellbeing. Professional success and personal health fuel one another.

Digital transformation expert Charlene Li argues that lasting organizational change must align strategy with purpose and values. One of today’s most urgent alignments is between performance expectations and employee wellbeing.

Research supports this shift. Oxford University has found that happy employees are up to 13 percent more productive, while Gallup estimates low engagement costs the global economy US$8.9 trillion annually.

For many women, who continue to shoulder disproportionate caregiving responsibilities, wellbeing is foundational rather than optional.

Arianna Huffington, Founder of The Huffington Post and CEO of Thrive Global, has championed practical steps to reduce stress and improve performance. Huffington promotes sleep, nutrition, movement and community as pillars of sustainable success.

Small actions – from brief daily resets to walking meetings – can significantly improve mental and physical health. When organizations prioritize wellbeing, everyone benefits.

Leading with purpose

Investing in women’s leadership is not a zero-sum equation; it’s a multiplier. The leaders highlighted here – Rometty, Fiorina, Harris, Felix, Carbonell, Nooyi, Li and Huffington – demonstrate that inclusive leadership drives innovation and long-term growth.

Women’s leadership is central to the future of business. Fiorina will speak at the World Business Forum Sydney 2026 on 5–6 November. She often describes leadership’s highest calling as unlocking the potential of others.

On this International Women’s Day, celebrate progress while remaining clear-eyed about the work ahead. Commit to building organizations where talent has no gender and act on that commitment.