International Women’s Day always reminds me of the extraordinary power women hold to strengthen communities and lift one another up. Over the years, I’ve come to believe that the source of that power is generosity, not the kind that drains us, but the kind that fills us with connection, purpose, and joy.
In my 2014 TEDx talk, I shared what science confirms: when we act generously, our brains release oxytocin, the hormone that helps us trust, bond, and feel safe. That small chemical shift reduces stress, increases empathy, and encourages us to keep giving. Generosity doesn’t just help someone else. It changes us from the inside out.
I’ve often said that people fall into two groups: those who see the world’s problems and know they can help solve them, and those who simply haven’t been invited yet. Generosity is that invitation.
Women understand this intuitively. We’ve been the quiet stewards of generosity for generations. But when women give collectively, the impact becomes visible and transformative. Through Impact100, I’ve watched women gain confidence, community, and a renewed sense of agency.
At a time when so many people feel disconnected or divided, generosity is one of the few forces strong enough to bring us back together. When we give, we step toward one another.
That’s why this year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, resonates so deeply with me. I’ve seen so often that when women give, we gain. Clarity, joy, purpose, and the confidence that we can shape the world around us. So today, I celebrate every woman who leads with generosity and invites others to do the same.
Because when women give, everyone gains.