To mark International Women’s Day 2026, senior executive women share their thoughts on the Give to Gain principle. Elaine Deehan is Country Manager for Ireland at Monzo, leading the team delivering a new banking experience for Irish customers and businesses. At Monzo, she builds on her strong track record of launching and scaling financial services products in Ireland and across Europe.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is Give to Gain. In a business context, what does this mean to you as a leader?
For me, Give to Gain is the idea of empowering and investing in others – that can be through mentoring, training, or even just offering advice over a coffee. Finance is still a male-dominated industry, and I’m always looking for ways to clear the path for women aiming for those senior roles. I believe that by giving your time and trust to these women, you help them to grow and develop their own unique skillset. The payoff? You end up with a powerhouse team that’s ready to take the lead and create better opportunities for everyone.
Looking at your own career, what opportunities or support were most pivotal in accelerating your leadership journey, and how are you now paying that forward?
I was lucky enough to always work with people, both men and women, who offered me a hand up, and I really believe in not pulling up the ladder; leaving it there for other people and giving them that hand up when it’s needed.
Where do you believe organisations are still falling short in advancing women into senior decision-making roles, and what tangible actions would you prioritise?
Although we’ve come a long way in supporting women in leadership, there’s still a gap that persists when it comes to representation within senior decision-making levels. I think this often comes down to a lack of clear pathways into these roles, as well as a small number of role models. Something that I try to prioritise is ensuring that there are clear processes for progression, active mentorship and setting a positive example for others.
At Monzo, we have a strong female senior leadership team, and we strive to give women at every stage of their career the opportunity to lead key projects and contribute to important decisions, fostering diverse perspectives while ensuring they feel empowered, confident, and supported in these roles.
In today’s economic climate, how can businesses ensure that gender equality remains a strategic priority rather than a secondary consideration?
I think we need to see it from the top. Ensuring that boards are diverse to avoid groupthink and to set the tone that diversity of thought is a key value of the organisation.
What is one practical commitment you believe every business leader should make in 2026 to truly embody the principle of Give to Gain?
A practical commitment I believe every business leader should make in 2026 is to actively create opportunities for others to grow at their own pace. Leadership cannot only be defined by driving results, but also by empowering people around you to develop and succeed in their own ways.
By placing trust in people and giving them the chance to take on real responsibility, it enables them to develop their skills, build confidence and reach their full potential. Measure your success by how successful your people are at progressing into senior roles and monitoring for churn of women at certain levels. I think that your business gains stronger teams, better ideas and a more diverse and resilient pipeline of future leaders as a result.
Read more on International Women’s Day:
“Women in the EU are more likely to have a degree” – Jane McDaid, Founder of THINKHOUSE
“This economic climate is exactly why equality must stay strategic” – Elaine Purcell, CMO at AIB