By Business & Finance 
To mark International Women’s Day 2026, senior executive women share their thoughts on the Give to Gain principle. Jane McDaid is the founder and Head of Creative Innovation of THINKHOUSE. She reflects on leadership, gender equality, and the principle of giving.
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?
This is a great and important theme. As a B Corp Certified marketing agency, we believe that the triple bottom line is key – profit, people, planet. This, in a sense, sums up the idea of ‘give to gain’ but uses our business and client relationships to have a systematic and measurable way of ‘giving to gain’ – no talking the talk, just walking the walk when it comes to social justice, diversity & inclusion and climate action.
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 am always so grateful to the young people who teach me how to look at the world differently and help me see around corners. I relish their insights – as they keep me abreast of the changes afoot, both culturally and creatively, as well as technologically. The voices of young people often go unheard, particularly in business, so I see it as our duty to represent them.
Through The Youth Lab, we help our clients and our industry understand what it’s like to be young today. What I’ve learned, over decades, is that by listening to the next generation, with great intent, brands, businesses and leaders become much more effective, progressive and impactful.
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 see a huge, positive change in business and across my industry – female leadership is better understood than ever before, and we’re reaching balances that are better than ever before, too. I recently attended a masterclass by Isabelle Solal, Assistant Professor from ESSEC Business School, on the ‘threat of female leadership’, which I found really interesting.
Women in the EU are more likely to have a degree (38% vs. 49%), and women CEO’s on the Fortune 500 have steadily increased over the decades (now at 11%). Meanwhile, the employment rate of men has steadily declined (ref ESSEC), and right now the percentage of men who feel discriminated against is growing.
Solal summed up her findings by explaining that “Resistance to female leadership stems from a psychological perception of threat, exacerbated by organizational conditions that could materialise that threat.” Solal advises organisations to decrease resistance to female leadership by “alleviating concerns that there will be a “cultural shift” by emphasising constant, shared values as a more immediate solution to reduced perceived threat.”
In today’s economic climate, how can businesses ensure that gender equality remains a strategic priority rather than a secondary consideration?
Measure what matters, and link that to performance reviews of company leaders. It’s not complicated. There’s plenty of data to demonstrate how gender balance improves company performance.
What is one practical commitment you believe every business leader should make in 2026 to truly embody the principle of Give to Gain?
I don’t think business leaders should only ‘give to gain’, I think ‘give to give’ is actually very important when it comes to true leadership. A spirit of generosity is often what drives success for companies and individuals in business. If we’re always on the lookout for how our investment (in people, clients, etc.) will benefit us in the end, we might not live up to our own potential, and we might risk losing out on the serendipitous things that can happen when you just do the right thing.
Read more on International Women’s Day:
“This economic climate is exactly why equality must stay strategic” – Elaine Purcell, CMO at AIB
