By Sarah Nicastro, Creator and Editor in Chief, Future of Field Service

We’ve honored International Women’s Day 2026 with some wonderful contributions this week, including an article on Monday in which the community weighed in. A collective of women representing a variety of roles, industries, geographies, ages, and backgrounds shared their perspective on what they find most frustrating, what they find most inspiring, what they’ve seen contribute to true progress toward gender equity, and how they’ve been best supported in their careers.

On Wednesday’s episode of UNSCRIPTED, I welcomed Hannah Knowles with a ‘Love Note’ to women around the world. Hannah is the co-author of recently released book Love Notes and a keynote speaker at Art of Brilliance. Our thoughtful conversation touched on topics including self-care, leadership, vulnerability, and the power of small consistent habits (that women and men alike can appreciate).

And today, in a rare Friday article, I have a fun grand finale to offer. I asked the women who contributed to Monday’s article this question, “if you had free reign to choose next year’s International Women’s Day theme, what would it be?” For reference, IWD selects a theme for each year – this year’s theme was Give to Gain.

Women Leaders Speak Out

Before we get to the responses, I’d like to once again thank the women who took the time to contribute to our content this week:

• Candi Robison, VP, EAM Strategy & Innovation, IFS Ultimo
• Dawn Ellery, Independent HR & Benefits Consultant and Author
• Dawn Neitzel, Academy Director, Nutrition Plant Engineering, GEA Group
• Dot Mynahan, Sr. Director, Safety and Workforce Development, National Elevator Industry, Inc.
• Julia Hilton, former VP, North America Strategic Planning at Schneider Electric (currently seeking new opportunities)
• Linda Tucci, Sr. Global Director, Technical Solutions Center, QuidelOrtho
• Lyndsey Rojas, CMO, IFS Ultimo
• Megan Schlam, VP, US Services Execution, Schneider Electric
• Petra Tuitert, Marketing Director, Partner Programs, IFS
• Tanya Singhv, Chief Commercial Officer, Biotronics3D & Co-Founder, FemTech Healthcare Network
• Vee Baker, retired marketer; Student Mentor, University of Bath School of Management; and Poppy Appeal Organizer, Royal British Legion

IWD 2027: Fill in the Blank

The women shared some excellent ideas for next year’s theme, which you’ll see below. My personal suggestion would be “Consider Your Community.” I find community to be so powerful, and I think that theme could prompt reflection (and action) around multiple angles:

• Who does your community consist of? Is it diverse in a way that broadens your perspective and extends your ability to contribute to progress?
• How do you serve your communities? Professional, local, etc.
• Where could a stronger sense of community enable greater progress?
• How can the organization of communities such as ERGs be helpful in advancing women’s (among other) issues?

Here are the results of the collective brainstorm, answering the question, “If you had free reign to develop next year’s theme, what would it be?”

• Candi Robison: “Make Room, Don’t Just Cheer.” - Because real progress happens when we design teams, hiring, and promotions to create space for women to lead—especially women with different backgrounds, accents, ages, caregiving realities, and leadership styles. Allyship is nice; room is measurable.

• Dawn Ellery: “Make It Real.” - Because gender equality doesn’t live in posters—it lives in hiring decisions, pay practices, leadership behavior, and the everyday systems that determine who gets heard, who gets promoted, and who gets supported.

• Dawn Neitzel: “Belong To Succeed.” - Equality is not only about access or representation. It is about whether someone feels they truly belong in the environment — in the workshop, at the customer site, in technical discussions, and in leadership conversations. When people feel they belong, they contribute ideas, challenge assumptions, and innovate. In Field Service especially, belonging matters because these roles require independence, confidence, and decision-making in real environments. Inclusion creates belonging. Belonging creates performance.
• Dot Mynahan: “Elevating the Future: Women Building What’s Next.”

• Julia Hilton: “Echoes of Excellence: The Stories That Shape Us.”

Celebrate the power of storytelling by sharing success paths and honoring the mentors who unlocked what was possible. By spotlighting the "who" behind the "how," we foster a culture of support that empowers the next generation to lead.

• Linda Tucci: “Awareness to Action.”

The focus would be on moving beyond conversation to commitment—highlighting the everyday decisions, behaviors, and systems/processes that either reinforce inequality or dismantle it. The message would be - progress is everyone’s responsibility, and small, consistent actions result in lasting change.

• Lyndsey Rojas: “Look Closer.”

Because there is talent all around. It just needs a sponsor, a door to open, and someone to push them through those doors.

• Megan Schlam: “Our stories, Our strengths.”

• Tanya Singh: “Build To Lead.”

Because representation alone is not the endpoint. We must build organisations, systems, and investment pathways that embed equality into infrastructure, not leave it dependent on individual champions. Sustainable equality is institutional.

• Vee Baker: Something around “open access” would be my topic (facilitating access to role models)

• Petra Tuitert: “Progress in Practice.”

While “Give to Gain” is a powerful mindset, I would love to see a theme focused on the daily, operational steps that make equality a reality. Big ideas are important, but real change happens on the ground, in the everyday decisions we make.