Every March, we get a valuable opportunity to pause and reflect on both how far we've come and on what we're actively doing to keep moving forward. International Women's Day on March 8 and Women's History Month are not just dates on the calendar. They are an elected moment to recognise achievements, acknowledge where gaps remain, and recommit to building workplaces where everyone can thrive.
To celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History month, the volunteer-run Women at Amazon employee-led group is bringing colleagues together to mark the two meaningful occasions under the theme "Give to Gain" which captures something I've come to believe deeply over my 15 years at Amazon. The most resilient organisations are not built on individual achievement alone. They are built on generosity: the mentor who found the time, the leader who made talent visible, the colleague who opened a door before anyone thought to knock. Giving is not taking away. It is multiplying. When we invest in sharing knowledge, sponsoring emerging talent, and creating real pathways for advancement, we expand what's possible for everyone.
At Amazon, I have seen what happens when people with different experiences and viewpoints come together in decision-making: stronger teams, better products, and solutions that truly serve our customers. This is not something that happens by chance. It takes consistent, intentional effort at every level of the organisation.
Earlier this year, when I travelled to meet our teams in Munich, I sat down with women leaders for a fireside chat open to interested employees on what it means to lead with intention. Those conversations stay with me. I shared what I've learned about balancing short-term priorities with long-term vision, about never feeling truly ready but choosing to raise your hand anyway, and about protecting your energy as fiercely as possible to give our best version to our teams, our families, and ourselves.
I carry similar learning from our second Amazon European Stores Women Leaders Summit in Dublin: As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes our world, the leaders who will thrive are those who balance technological progress with empathy and authentic human connection. We also found strength in shared vulnerability, acknowledging "I don't know" or "I need support" created some of the deepest connections of the day. And when leaders support each other, the impact ripples across entire organisations, opening doors for emerging talent and dismantling invisible barriers.
Women's History Month challenges us to ask honest questions: Who are we making visible? Who are we investing in? And are we creating the conditions for the next generation of leaders to succeed?
It is a testament to what can be achieved when we choose to recognise, celebrate, and amplify the contributions of leaders across teams, borders, and fields. It is a reminder that progress is not self-sustaining. It requires deliberate effort: to tell the stories that have been overlooked and to honour the achievements that shaped our world.
This week I also participated at the Women at Amazon’s Fireside chat to celebrate and amplify the voices of our communities and customers we serve worldwide. The conversation reinforced something I deeply believe: bringing ourselves to work isn't enough, we need to bring our voices too. That means creating safe spaces where people feel heard and leaders genuinely listen, where we can have backbone, disagree and commit, and where diverse perspectives drive better innovation. I truly think more women in teams and leadership roles will inspires other women to follow a similar path. Paths that nurture curiosity in young people and embrace the reality that chaos can often be creativity in disguise.
Inspiring the next generation also took place this month at the inaugural Young Women's Conference Luxembourg, engaging with 420 young students through hands-on science experiments and career conversations. Members of Amazon Women in Engineering brought STEM to life with physics demonstrations, one-on-one conversations, career panels and direct access to experienced professionals who could share real insights into technology and science careers. These events reach young people at the cusp of choosing their careers, and they demonstrate how our talented employees can inspire the next generation of innovators.
International Women's Day and Women's History Month exist to expand our understanding of leadership, innovation, and resilience by making women's voices central to the narrative. Because when we broaden who gets recognised, we broaden what becomes possible for those who come next.
I encourage everyone who chooses to participate, regardless of role or seniority, to find one concrete way to give. Mentor someone. Advocate for a colleague. Share what you know. The return on that investment is rarely immediate, but it is always real.
