By Business & Finance 
To mark International Women’s Day 2026, senior executive women share their thoughts on the Give to Gain principle. Adele Keane is the Co-Founder of Imvizar, an immersive XR studio. The company creates experiences for clients, including Salesforce, Irish Rail and Grant Thornton. It also enables others to build location-based AR experiences through its no-code platform, Lureo.
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?
Give to Gain, for me, speaks to the idea that when you support those around you, at every level, everybody reaps the benefits. In a business context, that could look like sharing your experience or giving someone the confidence to speak up in important meetings.
I think small actions like these add up and make a real difference. Over time, when people feel supported, they’re more likely to grow, offer fresh perspectives and ultimately, build a more collaborative and stronger team.
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?
The support that made the biggest impact in my career was the times that I was trusted with bigger responsibilities and exposed to important decision-making processes at higher levels. Getting the chance to take on these challenges early on, make mistakes and ultimately learn from them, accelerated my growth and helped me to develop the confidence you need as a leader.
At Imvizar, I try to pay that forward by creating these types of opportunities for others, giving them meaningful responsibilities, involving them in big decisions and making sure they have the space to learn and grow in their own careers.
Where do you believe organisations are still falling short in advancing women into senior decision-making roles, and what tangible actions would you prioritise?
I think where many organisations still fall short is in how they identify and support future leaders. Senior roles are often filled through existing connections or outdated perceptions of what leadership looks like, which can mean talented people – particularly women – are overlooked.
At Imvizar, something I prioritise is being more deliberate about progression. That means leaders actively championing women, ensuring candidate pools for senior roles are diverse, and giving people opportunities to lead at their own level so they can build the confidence and experience needed for more senior positions.
In today’s economic climate, how can businesses ensure that gender equality remains a strategic priority rather than a secondary consideration?
To keep gender equality at the forefront of business strategy, I believe it means actively recognising people’s strengths and achievements, giving them the confidence they need to step into leadership. It’s not enough to have women in the room; they need to feel that their contributions are not only seen but valued.
By celebrating successes – big or small – and providing support, businesses can create a culture where everyone feels empowered to take on bigger challenges. When people feel recognised and trusted, equality becomes not just a box-ticking exercise, but integral to how the business thrives.
What is one practical commitment you believe every business leader should make in 2026 to truly embody the principle of Give to Gain?
I believe that true leadership means mentoring and supporting your team in ways that make them realise their potential. When people feel seen, valued and encouraged, they gain the confidence to take on greater responsibilities and develop their leadership skills.
By focusing on lifting others, leaders create a workspace where everyone feels empowered, motivated and capable of contributing their best.
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
