Give to Gain: Thoughts on International Women’s Day

It’s International Women’s Day on 8 March - a global day that celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.

This year’s theme is Give to Gain, which encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration. It’s centred around the belief that when women thrive, we all rise.

At Freshwater, we are lucky to have a number of remarkable women among our ranks.

We wanted to use International Women’s Day as a chance to pause and reflect on the contribution that women have made in the workplace.

We asked our team one simple question:

“Tell us about one moment when a woman at work gave you something that helped you gain — what did she do and how did you benefit?”

Here are their responses:

Benedict Mosimi, Account Executive

When I was new in my role, one of my managers encouraged me to take the lead on part of our weekly team meeting. That small push helped me gain confidence and realise I could add value, even early on.

Sarah Whittle, HR and Operations Director

I have so many examples of “girl power women” so I have chosen a few:

• My first female boss gave me the opportunity and the courage to do a more senior role than I believed I could ever do.
• A female colleague showed strength in speaking out against unfair behaviour which empowered other female and male colleagues and helped me to gain further belief in doing the right thing.

A number of female colleagues and friends give me daily inspiration with their energy and drive to keep going in the face of adversity and challenges.

Omar Baggili, Content Manager

From my first interaction with my director as a new starter, when she gave me positive feedback on some client work, she instilled confidence and trust in me that has proved priceless.

Elinor Rees, Senior Account Manager

Since I joined Freshwater in 2025, the women I work with on a key client account have been generous with their time and advice, helping me gain confidence and settle into my role quickly. My director sets a strong example and provides clear, considered guidance, and my colleague has consistently had my back, whether that’s sense-checking ideas or checking coverage of my stories when I’ve been busy. Together, that support has made a real difference.

Martina Serafini, Senior Content Producer

When I joined the team with no previous experience, my director supported me and guided me through the fundamentals, helping me build both skills and confidence.

Emma Waterman, Marketing Manager

This International Women’s Day, I want to celebrate a woman whose leadership carried me through one of the hardest moments of my life.

In my 20s, whilst launching a major event at work, I lost my mum. Without hesitation, my manager stepped in. She took on my workload and made it her priority to give me all the time I needed to grieve.

When I returned to the office, she was waiting for me at the entrance. That simple act showed me what real leadership looks like: compassion, humanity, and unwavering support.

I’ll always be grateful for the way she looked after me when I needed it most, and I’m even more grateful that she ended up becoming one of my closest friends. Women like her make workplaces kinder, stronger, and better every single day.

Steve Davidson, Account Director

I never had a female boss until last summer. Since then, I’ve had a partner to work with. She’s taken the time to understand me as a person as well as a professional (as if you can separate the two). Being seen and heard has allowed me to develop in a safe and supportive space. I’m frequently challenged but also respected. It takes effort and commitment to put in the hard yards but when you’re lucky enough to find the right boss, everyone wins.

Shannon Hunt, Event Manager

My line manager has supported my growth and development endlessly in the events team. She secretly nominated me for a rising star award that I was shortlisted for. This led me to go on and apply for further awards to boost my development and confidence in the industry.

Carolyn Pugsley, Director

In my career, I’m lucky to have encountered many strong and inspirational women who lift others up. It’s impossible to mention them all but I’d like to give a special shout out to my first boss, who has now become a close friend. She has always shared her knowledge, time and expertise generously and continues to do amazing work supporting and empowering women across the globe through her charity, A-Sisterhood.