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This International Women’s Day, focus on the work that still needs to be done

Published: 12 March 2026

This International Women’s Day, Desautels researcher, Janani Ramesh is urging us to see the big picture—by focusing a little less directly on success stories of individual women. “Initiatives that celebrate how far women have come or single out women’s resilience do the opposite of what’s intended,” Ramesh told HR Reporter.

They locate the problem in women, rather than in organizational policies, practices and processes.” Instead, Ramesh recommends highlighting a concrete issue from a company’s Employee Voice survey, and explaining the steps taken to address it.

“What obstacles did you face? What work remains to be done?” Ramesh says. “Acknowledge your pitfalls and limitations. That’s what true transparency, accountability, and employee voice looks like. Women employees will appreciate this more than any symbolic initiative.”

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