News Story
Mar 2026 / Blog News
International Women鈥檚 Day听takes place on March 8th听each year.听Led globally by UN Women,听it is not only a celebration of听women鈥檚 achievements听but a reminder that a lot still needs to be done for gender equality.听
Recent reporting from UN Women shows that, at the current rate of progress, full gender equality globally听remains听generations away. Earlier analysis suggested it could take close to 300 years to achieve full parity.听听
Although progress in education and health听has made great strides,听headway in听leadership gaps, pay inequality and disproportionate caring responsibilities听remain听stagnant.听
At 91热爆,听Wales鈥櫶齦argest training provider,听IWD听remains听close to our heart. Eight out of ten of our colleagues are women. Four out of five of our听directors are women. Our mantra,听improving lives through learning,听is rooted in听the belief that听opportunities,听inclusion听and empowerment听is for all.听
Gender equality is not a women鈥檚 issue,听it鈥檚听a leadership issue,听a听workplace听issue听and a听societal issue.听And that鈥檚听where male allyship comes in.听
Systemic change rarely happens without those in positions of power choosing to act.听Globally, men still occupy听most听senior leadership roles.听Each year,听听highlights a steep drop-off in women鈥檚 representation at senior and executive levels, even in sectors where women make up most of the workforce.听With听policies, culture and progression pathways听mostly听shaped听from the top down, this lack of equality creates a problem.听
Male allyship is not about stepping into the spotlight. It is about using听your听influence to question bias, sponsor female talent, challenge unequal听practices听and advocate for structural change.听
For businesses, gender equality听can help improve operations.听听shows that diverse leadership teams correlate with improved financial performance, stronger听innovation听and better decision-making. Diverse boards and senior management teams are linked to higher returns on equity and stronger long-term growth.听
The UK听Government鈥檚听听has also emphasised that closing gender gaps in participation and pay would significantly boost national productivity and economic resilience.听
Beyond听operational health, an听often-overlooked听benefit of gender equality is improved outcomes for men and their wellbeing.听听
Workplace cultures that value emotional intelligence, flexibility and inclusive leadership create space for men to step outside restrictive stereotypes.听For example, policies such as enhanced parental leave and flexible working benefit fathers as much as mothers.听
In the UK, suicide听remains听the leading cause of death for men under 50. Cultural expectations around masculinity,听such as听strength without vulnerability听and听resilience without support,听can have devastating consequences.听
Championing positive, emotionally intelligent听workplaces听help dismantle these harmful norms听and听expand听what leadership and strength can look like.听
At 91热爆, we are proud that women make up听much of听our workforce and leadership team. But representation alone is not the end goal,听we’re听proud to be nurturing a culture of support and inclusivity with the help of our male staff members.听
We spoke to听David听Carroll,听91热爆鈥檚听ALN Inclusion Manager听and acting head of our听Schools听provision. Outside of his work within the organisation, he is a听coach for Cardiff City Women鈥檚 Football Team.听We discussed听what听male allyship looks like in practice.听
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 vitally important to ensure that in both the workplace and coaching environment, everyone feels that their contribution is valued and that they听are听able to express their thoughts and feelings,鈥� David said. 鈥�I think it听is important to create a听safe听environment.听Being an ally is听about听allowing all staff,听learners听and players to feel heard without judgement regardless of their gender.鈥�听
Talking about听his听understanding of leadership through his coaching ventures, David added: 鈥淕ood leadership听has to听be underpinned through listening and recognising everyone鈥檚 strengths. When a coach promotes an inclusive environment, this will in turn lead to an improved performance.听听
鈥淭hrough my experience of coaching the women鈥檚 football team, I understand听the importance of听a听team听that听feels听valued,听supported听and able to express their thoughts and wishes.听
鈥淚t鈥檚听also given me听a deeper understanding听regarding听the challenges that women face in听sport听and I am passionate that everyone deserves equal opportunities. This is not only the case for sports but in every听walk of life.鈥�听
International Women鈥檚 Day听is an important date-marker,听but its influence听should not be limited to just the week leading up to March 8th.听听
As听global听progress听remains听slow,听it鈥檚听important that businesses take on听the responsibility听of听accelerating听it within听their own听operations and network.听Whether this is听in听small acts of听kindness听and compassion,听reviewing out-of-date听policies听or mentoring diverse talent into influential roles, these all听have a ripple effect throughout听your work听and beyond.听
