As part of Gate One’s celebration of International Women’s Day and this year’s global theme, #GiveToGain, we invited some of our team around the world to explore what #GiveToGain means to them.
This year’s theme reinforces a simple truth. Empowering women creates benefits that extend across our business and beyond. The idea that “when we give, we gain” sits at the heart of the campaign and reminds us that meaningful change starts with everyday actions like mentorship, advocacy and sharing expertise.
The campaign also makes it clear that gender equality needs active commitment. It asks all of us to participate, to stay open and to work together. When we amplify others’ voices, challenge bias, celebrate achievements and share what we know, we help build a more inclusive culture and a more empowered workplace.
Prattayee Dutta
Consultant
”When gender equity is fostered, we gain the freedom of expression and the freedom to own our strengths without having to mask them under what is traditionally appreciated in a masculine-economics dominated world. This benefits not only women, but also men and other genders who struggle to be themselves due to what is considered acceptable in the corporate environment created generations ago to represent what a man should be.
One thing I try to give is the voice of advocacy. Whether it is ensuring policies are implemented and known, such as the Menstrual Leave policy in my state, or speaking up when someone says something that diminishes a particular gender’s struggles. I believe it is on us to be assertive and ensure we respect gender parity in our day-to-day conversations so that, over time, equity becomes a natural part of our workplace culture and practice.
”International Women’s Day always makes me think about the women who’ve quietly and profoundly shaped who I am as a leader. The ones who saw potential before I did. Who told me to speak up, take the seat, back myself and who showed me that strength and kindness can (and should!) coexist.
This year’s theme really resonates with me and progress has never been abstract. It’s been a manager who trusted me with something stretching. A sponsor who opened a door. A female leader who made leadership feel human, not performative.
As CMO at Gate One, and as a senior woman leading exceptional teams of women, I carry those lessons with me every day. I’m deeply aware that how we lead - the space we create, the voices we amplify, the belief we give - can change the trajectory of someone else’s career.
I’m grateful to the women who went before me and were generous with their time and support. And I’m committed to paying that forward; creating environments where women can show up as themselves, grow with confidence and lead in their own way.
Kate Martin
Chief Marketing Officer
Anthony Gaffney
Partner
”As a father of two girls, it frustrates me that in 2026, we still need to advocate so strongly for gender equity. It should be the norm, not the aspiration. If anything, recent developments suggest the need for advocacy is as important as ever. The reality is that boardrooms and organisations perform better when diversity thrives - diversity of thought, perspective and background, whether race, ethnicity… or gender. As men, we’re often unaware of many of the obstacles women face in corporate life, but ignorance isn’t an excuse. We need to talk more openly about these challenges and address them when we see them. I feel we still don’t do this enough. For me, this starts with curiosity - asking, listening and seeking to understand, even when it feels uncomfortable. Critically, we then need to act, whether through advocacy or allyship.
Without question, my wife Eavan shapes how I think about gender equity. Eavan has built a successful career across consulting and banking, the latter a particularly male-dominated sector. Through her experiences, I’ve become far more aware of the behaviours, biases and challenges women can face at work - many of which men do not. That awareness and discussing these experiences with Eavan has shaped how I try to lead and the environment I want to help create at Gate One.
I’m constantly in awe of how she balances the demands of a full-time career while raising our three young kiddies. She navigates pressures that don’t even come into my mind. I’ve also seen first-hand the challenges that she has had to face with maternity leave - both stepping away from work and returning (3 times), and the resilience and support that requires. Those experiences, and the conversations we’ve had about them, have made me far more conscious of the importance of supporting the many talented women at Gate One who are managing their own versions of these same family and career juggles every single day.
On a personal level, my wife and daughters are a constant reminder to me of why gender equity matters. The world my daughters grow into should be one where opportunity is shaped by talent, ambition and fairness - not by gender. I hope we are making progress, but we still have a long way to go to make that hope a reality.
”As we approach International Women’s Day on 8th March, I’ve been reflecting on the work we’ve been doing within Gate One through our Gender Equity Employee Resource Group, and am equally aware that there’s much more still to do.
Over the past year, we’ve been creating space for honest conversations and looking at the structural barriers women still face, including focusing on self advocacy for women - a theme that resonated strongly across our teams. Throughout March, we’ll continue spotlighting gender equity and celebrating International Women’s Day with events, talks and shared stories across our global team, designed to keep the conversation going and to involve even more of our colleagues in shaping what progress looks like.
Bethany Langan
Manager
Andy O’Neill
Partner
”Actively supporting gender equity is a social responsibility, moral imperative and a business priority for us. For organisations like ours, demonstrating our support for gender equity is demanded and expected of us by our clients, our team and our partners. It is central to our identity and reputation, and something that needs to be active.
On a personal level, I try to use my role to provide opportunities for my female colleagues at different stages of their careers. This can be ownership of key relationships, opportunities to lead significant work, or platforms to have their voices heard and ideas shared more easily. I don’t always succeed, but I recognise that I hold a role that can make a difference in supporting better gender equity for my female colleagues.
At Gate One we’re passionate about creating a culture and space for open discussion and learning with the overall objective of ensuring Gate One is an inclusive place to work.
