International Women's Day 2019 | What Top Organizations Are Doing to Celebrate

With International Women’s Day fast approaching on March 8, we asked several of the organizations that we work with about their plans to recognize this important day. Read on for an inside look at some of the exciting initiatives that are underway at The Walt Disney Company, Oracle, and FedEx Ground, among others.

The Walt Disney Company

For the first time ever, Captain Marvel is a woman. The Walt Disney Company is recognizing International Women’s Day with the release of the newest addition to the Marvel universe: Captain Marvel, starring Brie Larson. The film is already proving to be a hit, with enough advance tickets sold to outpace recent hits like Wonder Woman, Aquaman, and Deadpool. But Disney’s commitment to strong women in leadership extends beyond the big screen. On March 8, the company will host a day of celebration, education, and inspiration for 1,500 cast members at Walt Disney World Orlando. The day will kick off with an introduction by Catherine Powell, president of Disney Parks, Western Region, followed by a fireside chat featuring Linkage’s own Susan MacKenty Brady, author of Mastering Your Inner Critic and 7 Other High Hurdles to Advancement. This conversation will be broadcast to all Disney Parks sites globally and will be accompanied by breakout sessions and networking lunches.

Oracle

Oracle is an official sponsor of International Women’s Day and is hosting several events throughout the world to recognize the day. In Canada, for example, the company is hosting an employee and customer event to engage both populations in an important dialogue about the advancement of women leaders.

U.S. Bank

U.S. Bank is kicking off a major women’s advancement strategy with nine in-person events featuring the CEO and women leaders at the organization.

FedEx Ground

FedEx Ground is extending the celebration with an entire month of programming in recognition of Women’s History Month. The company is making use of three of its employee networks: Women Leading Change, Black Professionals Network, and Men Leading Inclusion–to offer multiple sessions of related programming, as well as a panel discussion, which will be available online for employees in the field. In addition, the organization will be hosting a Society of Women Engineers event. FedEx Ground will also be showcasing exceptional women leaders, including Shannon Arnold, managing director of compensation and benefits, in employee communications.

Medtronic

A focus on intersectionality is an important facet of Medtronic’s recognition of International Women’s Day. As part of a comprehensive engagement strategy, the organization is hosting two live panel events that will reach employees on both the West and East Coasts. These live panels will include members from all regions and groups, including the Hispanic Latin Network, Muslim&Friends, Asian Impact, African Decent Network, and Men Advocating for Change, and will address the experiences of diverse women in a diverse workforce. The company is also opening its internal nominations for Champions of Progress on March 8. This designation is awarded to women who have promoted the advancement of women in leadership either inside or outside of Medtronic.

Hyster-Yale

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #BalanceforBetter, a concept that Hyster-Yale Group has taken to heart. In addition to international communications showcasing the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, the company will be hosting a relaxation-themed event in support of #BalanceforBetter, which puts a spotlight on the need for gender balance and balance in our work and life. Hyster-Yale is also focused on sparking inspiration–the company is encouraging its employees to wear purple in recognition of International Women’s Day and will even be passing out treats wrapped in purple packaging.

LPL Financial

LPL Financial is making use of one of its most valuable resources–female employees who have participated in leadership development programs tailored to the unique needs of women. Women leaders who attended Linkage’s Women in Leadership Institute^™ in 2018 are leading sessions on the value of feedback, networking, and mentoring. This initiative will influence more than 1,000 women at LPL Financial, and every female employee will be encouraged to amplify the reach of the campaign by seeking feedback, networking, and mentoring. The head of human capital will introduce the initiative with a blog post and giveaway to spark interest.

Dentsply Sirona

A major aspect of International Women’s Day is the recognition of the individual contributions of women, which is exactly what Dentsply Sirona plans to focus on. Throughout the week of March 4, the organization will be featuring interviews and profiles of women leaders from across Dentsply Sirona on the company’s intranet site and social media pages. By telling the stories of these women, Dentsply Sirona aims to highlight their achievements while sharing insights into how other women leaders can make an impact.

When we recognize the accomplishments of women leaders, we create and nurture a culture of inclusion and empowerment – which is why it is so exciting to see the incredible work being done by top companies like these.

So, now it’s your turn. We want to know: What is your organization doing to recognize International Women’s Day? Share your plans with us.