On International Women’s Day, we often celebrate achievements, titles, and milestones. But this year’s theme, Give to Gain, invites a more meaningful reflection: what happens when someone chooses to give?

For me, this is not just a theme, it is deeply personal.

A few years ago, I was returning to work after my maternity break. I was ready - experienced, capable, and motivated. But the word ‘Gap’ spoke louder than my skills. Interviews were re-scheduled the moment it came up. Some doors quietly closed. Others opened, but only with compromises - on growth, on pay, on possibility. It was discouraging.

And then came one call.

A woman leader at dentsu chose to focus on my potential, not my pause. She chose trust over hesitation. That one ‘Yes’ did not just offer me a role - it restored my confidence. It changed my trajectory.

That is the power of giving.

Since then, I’ve been fortunate to work with mentors who did more than support my transition, they created momentum. They gave me visibility in important rooms. They shared credit generously. They advocated for me when I wasn’t present. They made space not just for participation, but for ownership.

I have learned that growth is rarely self-made. It is enabled. It happens when someone gives you time in a crowded calendar, a seat at the table, or the confidence to lead. Giving doesn’t reduce success,  it expands it.

When we give trust, we build leaders.
When we give opportunity, we unlock potential.
When we give belief, we create lasting confidence.

Workplaces don’t transform through policies alone. They transform through people, through leaders who choose inclusion in everyday decisions. That is why I mentor. Why I advocate. Why I say ‘Yes’ when I see potential. Because someone once did that for me.

This Women’s Day, let’s go beyond celebration. When one woman rises, it’s success. When many rise together, it’s progress. And progress begins with a single decision to give.

(Kala Bhagavalsingh, Associate Vice President ‑ Account Management, Carat India)