My IWD Story: From a Payoff To a Purpose

On International Women’s Day, 2016, I coached my first client. She was a brilliant woman, stepping into her first leadership role and navigating the tricky transition from individual contributor to people manager. I remember the knot of anxiety in my stomach. I had less than a full day of formal coaching training under my belt, plus some hours reading handbooks and studying theory in the weeks prior. What right did I have to guide her?

Yet, as we spoke, the questions that came from me weren’t coming from those books. They flowed from a deeper, more visceral place: my own memory of taking up my first people leadership position at a domestic and sexual violence charity, eight years earlier. I understood her fear, her uncertainty, the weight of responsibility. I wasn't just applying a technique; joining the dots of my experience seamlessly connected with her journey.

The Systemic Barriers That Women Face

But the path to that moment, to being able to sit with her, was anything but linear. I had found myself with the time and the need to pursue this coaching training because I had been dismissed from a previous role. My departure was quiet, accompanied by a payoff and an agreement not to speak of it. For so many women, this systemic tool is not uncommon in the workplace, often used to sweep away the complexity of conflicts and to protect the institution at the expense of the individual.

That experience of being dismissed, of having my story quietly boxed away, became the crucible for my coaching practice. It taught me that true leadership isn't about protecting the status quo; it's about creating spaces where people can be seen, heard, and supported to navigate their own complex transitions. My first client wasn't just learning to be a leader; she was navigating the kind of transition I had come to know intimately - the fear, the uncertainty, the weight of stepping into something new.

Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls

Now, on this International Women's Day 2026, with the UN theme of “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, the connection has never been clearer. My journey wasn't just about a career change. It was about the slow, often painful work of reclaiming my voice after it had been silenced - and using it to help others do the same.

The campaign theme, “Give To Gain”, reminds me of what I gained. My fulfilling career, which includes helping professionals navigate their own meaningful career transitions, was born from a space of loss and resilience. What I gained - purpose, connection, a practice I love - came from being forced to let go of what no longer fit.

To the woman who trusted me that day in 2016: thank you. You helped me see that my experience, even the painful parts, was not a liability but my greatest asset.

On this International Women's Day, my message is for women. For those who've been silenced, sidelined, or suddenly let go. For those navigating transitions they didn't choose and those bravely choosing a new path. Your complexity is your power. Let's keep dismantling, keep advocating, and keep showing up for each other.

(And yes—these issues affect everyone. But today, I'm speaking to you.)

#IWD2026 #RightsJusticeAction #GiveToGain #WomenInLeadership #Mentorship #Coaching #PersonalJourney