Celebrating International Women’s Day | Aspire: Women’s Leadership Programme

March 8 marks International Women’s Day—a time to celebrate the achievements and contributions of wāhine while acknowledging that true equality is still a work in progress.

This year’s theme, Accelerate Action, is a call to move faster and push harder toward achieving full equality. It’s about challenging barriers, advocating for change, and creating a world where everyone—regardless of gender—has the same rights, opportunities, and freedoms.

We asked our Aspire: Women’s Leadership Development Programme facilitators—Karen Waitt, Melanie Beirne and Trish Lui—to share what they wish they could tell their younger self, and why International Women’s Day is important to them.

What does IWD mean for you?

“It means women coming together and supporting each other, quality connections and feeling safe to be vulnerable.

I am so fortunate to work on 3 different women only leadership programmes (2 through Victoria University), and am constantly blown away by the power of women coming together, connecting with each other and being each other’s biggest cheer leader. It’s the most magical space where amazing things can happen. I’m also often surprised by how many women undervalue themselves and say they lack confidence despite being superstars. That’s why I love the work I do in helping women to feel more confident, find their voice and back themselves more consistently.

I recently had the privilege of joining 11 other women travelling solo through Vietnam & Cambodia. From the moment we met we bonded and I got to enjoy that wonderful experience of women encouraging each other, laughing and crying together and being completely vulnerable with each other. We met as strangers and left each other lifelong friends. It was so good for the soul and I felt completely topped up.

Women are truly awesome! I love the work I do and will continue to strive to help them bring out that awesomeness and truly own their superpowers.

Happy International Women’s Day!”

—Karen Waitt

What advice would you give your younger self?

“I would tell my younger self to remember all those strong, brave wāhine who have come before us and whose shoulders we stand on.

I recently went to the He Tohu exhibition at the National Library and for the first time in my life saw the Women’s Suffrage Petition signed in 1893. It was so moving to see the handwritten names and addresses of these amazing, courageous women. There were so many that the scroll with all the names on stretches out to 3 rugby fields! What a legacy!

They, and all the other amazing wāhine who have come before us, whether they signed the petition or not, have fought hard for us. We must carry on their mahi and draw on their courage to continue to step into our power, advocate for each other, and take our space in Aotearoa and the world. And then it is upon us to pass this legacy on to our daughters, mokopuna and younger generations. Ake, ake, ake!”

—Trish Lui

What advice would you give your younger self?

—Melanie Beirne

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