The 8th of March is International Women’s Day, a day set aside every year to celebrate the cultural, political, and socio economic contributions of women to society. It’s a time for every team to celebrate their women and highlight the issues that affect them, including gender equality, women's empowerment, reproductive health, and education. There are many events to commemorate the month, from supporting the careers of women at the workplace to helping put a girl child through school. Here are ten activities for an exceptional virtual International Women’s Day celebration.

Take steps to support gender equality at work

Despite being the majority of the world’s population, women still do not enjoy equal rights with what men enjoy. Whether it’s in the tech industry or the corporate world, women still report cases of unequal treatment at job interviews, pay disparities and other forms of workplace discrimination. Teams can use International Women’s Day to review their policies towards gender equity. Some areas to explore include flexible work schedules, programs to help women move up the organizational ladder, providing female mentorship opportunities, and creating an inclusive environment for women at work. It doesn’t have to be something huge, but it should be a deliberate effort and a starting point for great things for women in your workplace.

Awards for talented women at work

Because of the gender gap at work, the contributions of women to organizations can sometimes be overlooked. Use this day to organize a virtual award for all the women in your team. From awards like the most exceptional team player, and woman of the year to the best female mentor and rising female rookie, there are innovative ways to recognize women’s contribution to your organization’s success.

Organize a virtual workshop for women

Host a workshop for women in your organization. The workshop should focus on a few topics that affect them at work. Examples of topics to tackle include women’s leadership, work-life balance for female employees, and achieving success at work.

Book a female speaker

Book a female thought leader or expert to come and have a conversation about topics that affect women at your company. This should focus on open discussions where your female employees are given the chance to ask questions and share their experiences. A one-on-one session with a female thought leader gives your female employees the opportunity to learn how to handle issues at work and stay confident doing so.

Gifts that highlight female-owned businesses

A great way to show your appreciation for your employees while honoring International Women’s Day is by getting gifts for your employees from female-owned employees. From office art, laptop cases, stickers, and books to t-shirts, coffee mugs, and online gift cards, there are many options with what to get as gifts for employees on International Women’s Day.

Host an International Women’s Day trivia game

Host a virtual International Women’s Day trivia event at work to test your team’s knowledge about the history of women and their contributions to society. It’s a great exercise to bring every team member together to commemorate the day while learning about women in science, economics, politics, and leadership.

Donate to a female-focused nonprofit

Set aside resources for donations to a female-focused nonprofit or philanthropic organization. It could be books, money, or giving access to an online resource. Your donations can go a long way to uplift orphaned girls in Africa, help women advance in STEM in Asia, or provide support to female cancer patients in America. Here are some charities and nonprofits you might want to consider donating to: CARE, UN Women, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Girls Who Code.

Organize a Women’s Day virtual party

Hosting a party creates exciting moments at work while helping celebrate your amazing female co-workers. Teams can dedicate one or two hours during work time to host a party. Examples of activities to do include scavenger hunts, trivia games, or virtual lunch hours.

Attend a virtual International Women’s Day festival or exhibition

UN Women and many other female-focused organizations will host online festivals and exhibitions. Companies should encourage or provide a stipend for their female employees to attend these events. Here are some virtual festivals worth attending: IWD22: Virtual Festival by the National Museum of Women in the Arts and other online events in areas such as fashion, Black Women, Indigenous Women, and awards organized by the International Women’s Day official organization.

Show support on social media

A lot of activities will happen on social media as part of the International Women’s Day celebration. The theme for 2022 is Break The Bias, which seeks to advocate for an equal, fair, diverse, inclusive, and bias-free world. Hashtags like #BreakTheBias, #IWD2022, and #InternationalWomensDay will fly around social media. Teams can use this day to follow these hashtags, share content, engage in meaningful discussions, and help advocate for a better world for women.