International Women’s Day is both a celebration and a call to action. It is a moment to recognize progress, and to ask a practical question: what can we do next to make our workplace more equitable and inclusive, every day?

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Give To Gain” — a reminder that when we give support, visibility, and opportunity, we help create the conditions where more women can thrive, and everyone benefits.

At SmartNews, we marked IWD internally through two events in the U.S. and Japan. These were designed not as one-time celebrations, but as opportunities to connect, reflect, and turn learning into action.

SmartNews is a global company, and our work depends on strong collaboration across cultures, languages, and backgrounds. That is why DEIB is not optional for us. It is a foundation for trust, psychological safety, and better teamwork.

We think culture is built through everyday behavior and systems, not only statements. That includes how we communicate, how we run meetings, how we develop talent, and how we support colleagues across different life stages and circumstances.

To recognize International Women’s Day, we held two internal events:

• One at our Palo Alto (PA) office

• One in Japan 

While each office has its own context, both events share the same intent:

• Create space for connection and learning

• Make inclusion feel actionable and real

• Strengthen allyship across roles and teams

In Palo Alto, colleagues marked International Women’s Day with a simple team outing: a walk from the office to downtown Palo Alto and a visit to Molly Tea. It created time and space for meaningful conversation and ERG community-building in the flow of a normal workday.

What we discussed

• Theme 1: Breaking Silos through Casual Connection

• What came up: The value of "walk and talk" sessions to exchange random ideas with teams we don't usually work with.

• Why it mattered: It proved that stepping outside the office walls fosters cross-functional collaboration and fresh thinking.

• Theme 2: The Necessity of Balanced Perspectives

• What came up: How "balanced energy"—both masculine and feminine—is essential for organizational growth and learning.

• Why it mattered: An environment that lacks diverse viewpoints loses the opportunity to innovate through fundamentally different perspectives.

• Theme 3: Inclusion as a Sustainable Ritual

• What came up: A proposal to turn these community walks into a monthly habit for a "short refresh."

• Why it mattered: Moving from one-time events to consistent rituals builds a stronger, more resilient office culture.

A moment we want to remember

"When our employment demographics reflect equality, we inherently improve as an organization. Women are not just capable, but are equals—and our growth depends on embracing these distinct perspectives."

Give To Gain tie-in

• What we “gave” in this moment: Time, active listening, and the vulnerability to share ideas outside of formal meetings. We gave time outside the four walls of the office to build trust beyond business.

• What we “gained”: A renewed sense of energy, cross-team clarity, and a reminder that our colleagues are our greatest support system. We also gained a higher sense of psychological safety, which is vital for higher innovation and problem solving.

Event overview: “Give to Gain” roundtable

In Japan, we held a roundtable discussion featuring women leaders from different departments across the company. Speakers shared some of the career obstacles they’ve faced and how they were able to overcome these challenges. In line with the “Give to Gain” theme of this year’s International Women’s Day, as a “gift” to participants, they also discussed how they would like to support others facing similar challenges. 

The discussion included:

• Moments when speakers felt they had faced challenges due to their gender

• Specific ways they planned their careers or work styles in order to overcome these challenges

• How situations differed across companies or countries

• Times when the support of others helped them move forward

Participants also mentioned ways in which SmartNews has supported them in their careers, including the flexible work environment and the supportive culture.

How we will carry it forward:

One key takeaway from the roundtable was that open conversation and mutual support are essential for building an inclusive workplace where everyone can reach their full potential regardless of their background or attributes. We hope to carry this forward by continuing to create space for discussion and by connecting the insights from these events to ongoing DEIB initiatives and workplace improvements.

International Women’s Day is one moment in a longer journey. At SmartNews, we want DEIB to be strengthened from within—through our culture, our systems, and our everyday choices—so that more people can do great work with dignity and belonging.

The spirit of Give To Gain resonates with that approach. When we choose to give support and create more equitable opportunities, the impact compounds over time—inside SmartNews and beyond.

With colleagues across offices and functions, we will keep learning, evolving, and turning insights into action—true to For the Common Good.

We’re grateful to everyone who participated, shared, listened, and helped make these conversations possible. We look forward to continuing the work—together.

Written by = Inside SmartNews Editorial Department (Yamautsuri)