Celebrating International Women’s Day: Reflection, Community and Lifting Each Other Up

This week, I had the pleasure of joining fellow Success Community member Kristen Huey to celebrate International Women’s Day with her trusted circle of clients and colleagues.

What an inspiring, and genuinely fun, group of women. Kristen, thank you for your generosity in bringing everyone together.

The event was hosted at the CCIWA International Women’s Day celebration, where keynote speaker Dr Anne O'Neil shared her deeply personal story of loss and triumph through trauma.

Her honesty created a powerful space for reflection, not only on our own life journeys, but also on the reality that many people, particularly women, face profound challenges within their domestic lives.

Stories like Anne’s remind us how resilience, compassion and support can change lives. Through her work with Angel Hands, she continues to provide practical support and hope for families navigating extremely difficult circumstances.

Moments like these remind us of the importance of compassion, awareness and community. They also highlight how powerful it can be when we actively lift each other up, not only in our professional lives but in the broader human experience.

International Women’s Day is also a global moment to reflect on both progress and the work still to be done. The international theme, recognised by the United Nations, encourages us to continue advocating for equality, dignity and opportunity for women everywhere.

In a world where conflict, instability and inequality continue to affect many communities, these conversations feel especially important. They remind us that while progress has been made, the need for empathy, advocacy and collective support remains strong.

International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate women, their achievements, leadership and resilience, and also to acknowledge and appreciate those who may not identify as women but who stand beside us, championing equality and supporting women’s advancement.

Events like this one are a powerful reminder that community matters.

When we gather, listen, reflect and support one another, we strengthen not only our own lives and businesses but the communities around us.