The theme for International Women’s Day 2025 is “Accelerate Action,” a powerful call to push forward in the fight for a gender-equal world free from bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. At GCM, we are proud to be part of this movement, continuously working to create an environment where women can thrive and feel empowered at every stage of their careers.
Connection Uplifts Progress
Representation is an important aspect of our commitment – women make up 75% of our team – but real change is about action, not numbers. We’re proud to work alongside leaders and colleagues in our Women Optimizing Women (WOW) employee resource group to strengthen support for the well-being, education, and professional growth of women in our office and beyond.
The WOW group organizes quarterly events and over the past few years, the GCM team has taken part in everything from OB-GYN health talks, professional networking events, high-energy spin classes, meditation sessions, and creating gift hampers for the local women’s shelter – all activities designed to create a space for the women at our company to connect, grow, and feel supported in their professional and personal lives.
Thriving Beyond Expectations
Despite years of progress, many women continue to experience bias, outdated stereotypes, and discrimination. We asked some of the women of GCM to share their experiences with sexist comments made towards them throughout their careers.
- “Oh, she can’t attend the meeting next week – too busy looking after their children.” Jessica Dontas, Vice President
- “Can you fetch my coffee in the morning?” (said in the evening after I had just presented the financials earlier that day!) – Jennifer Reid, Chief Operating Officer
- “Who is taking care of the baby?” – Charlene Tilbanie, Vice President
- “Why do you need to explore your career options? You’re just a girl – you’ll get married and have kids soon.”- Carmela Sta. Ana, Assistant Vice President
- “You’ll probably feel comfortable turning to face the wall to pump eventually.” – Jessica Dontas, Vice President
Unfortunately, these types of comments are not uncommon for women in the workplace. But at GCM, we strive to challenge these notions and take action to empower our employees. Here’s what the women on our team shared about how GCM has taken action to help with their careers.
- Creating a dedicated ‘Mothering Room’ for breastfeeding mothers
- Providing leadership opportunities including participation in industry committees to build professional networks
- Investing in career development through mentorship programs and leadership training
- Implementing a team-based client service approach to support work-life balance
- Encouraging direct client interaction to help employees gain confidence, grow professionally and build relationships
Dedicated to Accelerating Action
At GCM, we believe that real progress happens through action – by listening, learning, and implementing meaningful changes. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we remain committed to creating an environment where all women feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed. Let’s continue to Accelerate Action – because when women rise, we all do.