International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month: Reflection, Progress and Growth

Women’s History Month: Honouring the Foundations

Women’s History Month allows us to zoom out – to remember that progress has never been accidental. It has been shaped by courage, persistence and collective effort.

Here are just a few milestones that have shaped the UK landscape over the last 100 years or so.

• 1918 – Constance Markievicz became the first woman elected to the UK Parliament (though she did not take her seat).
• 1919 – Nancy Astor became the first woman to sit in the House of Commons.
• 1928 – The Equal Franchise Act granted women equal voting rights with men.
• 1970 – The Equal Pay Act made it unlawful to pay women less than men for the same work.
• 1975 – The Sex Discrimination Act made discrimination on the basis of sex unlawful in employment, education and housing.
• 1979 – Margaret Thatcher became the UK’s first female Prime Minister.
• 2010 – The Equality Act consolidated anti-discrimination legislation into a single Act.
• 2018 – The UK marked 100 years since some women gained the right to vote.

Each step reflects structural progress. Each generation has built on the last. Which brings us to the present.

International Women’s Day: From Recognition to Intention

International Women’s Day began as a movement for voting rights and fair working conditions. Today, it remains a global celebration of achievement and a reminder of the progress made across generations.

For many women, it is also something quieter. A point in the year that offers permission to step back from the pace of work and life and take stock. Not because something is wrong. Not because progress has stalled. But because growth benefits from intention.

The conversation has evolved. It is no longer only about gaining entry to rooms or shattering glass ceilings – many women are already leading teams, shaping industries, influencing strategy and driving change.

The more relevant question now is: How do we sustain that momentum in a way that aligns with who we are and where we want to go next?

How do we:

• Strengthen influence without compromising authenticity
• Navigate complexity with confidence and credibility
• Make deliberate choices about progression and impact
• Balance ambition with wellbeing in a sustainable way

International Women’s Day highlights achievement. Women’s History Month provides context. Together, they offer perspective. And perspective creates space – not to fix, but to refine. Not to prove, but to progress with clarity.

Policy shapes opportunity. Reflection shapes direction.

Programmes like Springboard’s Work & Personal Development Programme for Women don’t assume a deficit. They recognise capability – and provide structured space, peer support and practical tools to turn experience into intentional next steps.

A Moment of Progress and Perspective

Recent research from LinkedIn Europe released ahead of International Women’s Day on 5th March 2026 adds an interesting dimension to this conversation.

Across 16 countries globally, women’s ambitions to lead remain high, but progress into senior leadership roles has slowed since 2023. The share of women among new leadership hires declined slightly last year to just under 33% globally, with the UK remaining broadly steady at around 37%.

At the same time, other trends are emerging.

More women are choosing to build their own ventures, with the number of women founders gradually increasing across several European markets, including the UK. Meanwhile, developments such as artificial intelligence are beginning to reshape how careers evolve, creating new opportunities while also introducing new challenges.

Taken together, the picture is nuanced.

There has been real progress over time, as the milestones of Women’s History Month remind us. Yet the pace and shape of that progress continues to evolve. Which makes the personal dimension of development more relevant than ever. Because while structural change moves gradually, individuals are continually navigating decisions about influence, direction and growth in the present.

Turning Perspective Into Personal Progress

This time of year presents a natural recalibration point. Not dramatically. Not reactively. But deliberately.

It can be an opportunity to:

• Acknowledge what you’ve achieved – and own it
• Revisit ambitions that still matter
• Strengthen areas that will unlock your next level of influence
• Realign energy with what you value most

Personal and professional growth rarely happens by default. It strengthens when time is set aside to think clearly and act intentionally. March provides that pause. What you do with it is where momentum begins.