International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8th, is a global celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements.
Recognized in 1911, International Women’s Day (IWD) received participation from over a million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. This landmark event demanded women’s rights to work, vote, receive education and hold public office.
Today, International Women’s Day serves as a call to action for us all to accelerate gender equality and address ongoing challenges faced by women worldwide. Every year, a specific theme is adopted to highlight issues of importance and encourage collective action and individual commitment towards a gender-equal world. The theme for 2025 is Accelerate Action.
How We Celebrate
At Schneider Downs, we kick off our International Women’s Day celebration with a coffee toast, donuts and a brief presentation from members of our P.O.W.E.R. (Programming and Outreach for Women Employees on the Rise) Committee and firm leadership. This year, we are asking employees to take a photo with our International Women’s Day backdrop and answer these questions, “How do you define confidence? Who in your life demonstrates confidence?” Additionally, we’ve asked employees to share something they’ve accomplished that they are proud of, which they can post on LinkedIn and our intranet.
As a firm, we are committed to hiring, retaining, developing and inspiring women to reach their highest potential. The P.O.W.E.R. Committee holds various events throughout the year, including celebrating International Women’s Day and engaging in conversation on an annual theme. The theme selected by the Committee for 2025 is confidence and builds off our 2024 theme of authenticity. Embracing your true self and demonstrating your core values through actions go hand in hand with having confidence in yourself and navigating and demonstrating those beliefs in a world with many outside influences. We’ve had open and honest conversations around these difficult topics that we believe help accelerate action.
Accelerate Action
International Women’s Day is not just a celebration, but a platform for all of us to advocate for change—challenging norms and striving for a more inclusive and equitable world. I encourage you to think about how you can accelerate action in both your personal and professional lives by positively impacting just one individual. And, in closing, I’m sharing a quote often attributed to Michelle Obama: “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”
About Schneider Downs Women’s Initiatives
At Schneider Downs, we are proud to champion two key women’s initiatives: SD Focus on Women and the P.O.W.E.R. (Programming and Outreach for Women Employees on the Rise) Committee.
SD Focus on Women is dedicated to creating an environment that empowers and supports women to excel in their careers. We recognize the importance of fostering a workplace where women can thrive and reach their highest potential.
The P.O.W.E.R. Committee is a dynamic group of employees from all levels and departments, including both internal and client-facing roles. Formed in 2022, the P.O.W.E.R committee develops impactful programming and outreach opportunities for our women employees.
