Give to gain

Shalome Mande, Marketing Deployment Consultant, Fidelity Life Assurance

Women’s Month offers us a meaningful moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the journeys we continue to shape as individuals, as professionals and as a collective force for change. This year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” invites us to look at growth through a different lens: one that recognizes that the value we create for others ultimately becomes the foundation of our own progress.

In my experience working within the insurance and financial services space, particularly engaging with everyday people in diverse communities, I have learned that impact begins with what we are willing to give. Sometimes it is knowledge, explaining concepts that may seem complex to someone encountering them for the first time. Sometimes it is time being present, listening, and understanding real needs. And sometimes, it is opportunity — opening doors for others to step forward and grow. In all these moments, I have come to realize that giving is not a loss; it is an investment that consistently yields growth, both personally and professionally.

As women, we occupy spaces that require us to be dynamic balancing ambition with empathy, strength with compassion, and resilience with vision. These qualities position us uniquely, not only to succeed but to uplift others along the way. The more we share, support, and collaborate, the more we create environments where progress is not limited to a few, but accessible to many.

This Women’s Month is not just about recognizing achievements; it is about embracing responsibility. A responsibility to contribute, to mentor, to encourage, and to lead with intention. Growth is no longer just about individual milestones it is about how many others we bring along on the journey.

The beauty of “Give to Gain” lies in its simplicity and truth: when we pour into others, we strengthen networks, build trust, and create lasting impact. In doing so, we also discover new strengths within ourselves confidence, leadership, and purpose that cannot be gained in isolation.

As we celebrate this month, let us commit to being intentional in what we give whether it is support, knowledge, kindness, or opportunity. Because in every act of giving, there is growth, and in every moment of growth, there is the power to transform lives including our own.

Happy International Women’s Month.