
Celebrating the B4 community on International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day (IWD) is this Saturday and over the next few days we’ll be celebrating some of the incredible women who are part of our growing B4 community. We’ll be hearing about them and what makes them so special from those they work with and also hearing why Members like Helen Fallon, Managing Director of Global CTS, are such strong supporters of women in business.
“We champion strong women and support them in all areas of business. As women, all of us in the business juggle many responsibilities beyond our careers, and it’s vital to recognise, uplift, and empower those from all backgrounds. True success comes not just from personal achievements but from helping others thrive.” Commented Helen.
“Even small gestures—a kind word, mentorship, or engagement on social media—can make a difference. Inspired by resilient female leaders, we are proud to create opportunities and foster ambition. When women rise, we all rise.”
Helen founded her recruitment agency to champion strong women and build an inclusive, thriving workplace and is a shining light of all that is good in the B4 community.
But first let’s find out more about IWD and its aims.
Learn about International Women’s Day (IWD)
International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on March 8, honours the achievements of women across all aspects of life – social, economic, cultural, and political – while also advocating for gender equality.
What is IWD?
IWD is a specific day dedicated to the advancement of women worldwide.
Marked by millions of people on March 8, IWD celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.
IWD provides an important platform to engage with communities, reflect on progress, and commit to positive action. Participation in IWD ensures progress toward equality remains on the global agenda and positive action prevails.
IWD has a long and powerful history of collective action, with many groups, countries, and bodies having actively contributed to its evolution. Today, IWD is a highly visible worldwide occurrence with significant mainstream awareness, marked by groups worldwide in a wide variety of ways.
What are the aims of IWD?
IWD can mean different things to various groups, yet the overarching aims of IWD are to:
- Celebrate women’s achievements through recognizing and appreciating the contributions of women in various fields, highlighting their influence and successes throughout history and in the present day.
- Raise awareness of gender inequality through shining a light on persistent issues like the gender pay gap, lack of representation in leadership roles, gender-based violence, and unequal access to education and opportunities.
- Mobilize action for equality through encouraging individuals, communities, and organizations to take steps toward creating a more inclusive and equitable world for women.
- Donate and fundraise for women-focused charities, and elevate the visibility of their work.
- Foster solidarity among people of all genders in support of women’s rights and gender parity worldwide.
What’s IWD’s timeline, and how did it all start?
IWD has occurred for well over a century, with the very first IWD held in 1911.
Learn about IWD’s timeline from its historic socialist roots, through to current mainstream awareness and participation. Access the IWD timeline from 1776 – 2025 here.
Who can participate in IWD?
Today, IWD belongs to all groups everywhere.
IWD is not country, group, or organization specific – but rather a collective movement with many parts.
IWD continues to thrive well over a hundred years since its establishment, due to the significant, varied, and valued efforts of everyone today collectively.
What colours symbolize International Women’s Day?
Purple, green, and white are the colours of women’s suffrage and are widely adopted for IWD. Their use originated from the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the UK, founded in 1903.
Purple signifies justice and dignity, and being loyal to the cause.
Green symbolizes hope.
White represents purity, albeit a controversial concept. Yet, the wearing of white is a symbol of sisterhood and solidarity, respecting and representing the progress made by those who have fought for women’s suffrage.
Content take from the IWD website. See more here: www.internationalwomensday.com
More in People

Helping Ordinary People do Extraordinary Things
B4 Members Hall Personal Training have recently renewed their B4 Membership. Executive Director, Becky Hall, explains more about Hall’s role in the lives of their clients and why renewing with B4 was a simple decision.

The Importance of Challenging Conversations in the Workplace
In March the People Ecosystem was lucky enough to be joined by Sally Naunton, CEO of The Bray Group. Having worked with Sally to help unpick some work challenges, I know she has a brilliant blend of being caring whilst expecting high performance and not shying away from the space that’s about tricky conversations. I spend a lot of time helping clients in this space which is why I wanted to get stuck into the subject of feedback, particularly when it feels uncomfortable and is about poor performance.

Stephen Clarke: Leading the Way at the ATOM Festival of Science...
Stephen Clarke, our Principal at Cherwell College Oxford, is not only a distinguished leader and former British diplomat, but also a passionate advocate for science and education. As the Chairman of ATOM Festival of Science & Technology, Stephen plays a pivotal role in bringing world-class scientific discussions and innovations to the heart of Abingdon. Stephen’s leadership ensures that the festival remains dynamic, inclusive, and engaging for people of all ages.
From this author

Careys Construction Campus at Oxford North’s inaugural student cohort celebrates their...
The first students to take part in the pilot Careys Construction Campus at Oxford North, the free three-week training course for people aged 17 years and over, have graduated with flying colours.

B4 Reviews – with Ruth Hawkins
Richard has recently asked me to find and lead a small team of reviewers from the B4 community, so over the next few weeks I will be looking to build that team and also looking for venues, events and activities from within the B4 network and beyond to write some reviews!

Get Support Announced as B4’s Official IT Partner
We are delighted to announce that Oxfordshire’s leading IT Services provider, Get Support, have become B4’s Official IT Partner.