Give To Gain: International Women’s Day 2026

When we give, we gain. This year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give To Gain,” highlights that support is not a limited resource. When we share knowledge, visibility, time, and opportunities, we create more of them, not less. This week, we asked our colleagues a simple question: what does “giving” look like in everyday work?

Why we support International Women’s Day

Like many technical industries, automotive has traditionally been male-dominated. While progress continues, there is still work to do to broaden participation, strengthen inclusion, and make opportunity more accessible.

International Women’s Day is a moment to reflect and recommit. We believe diversity strengthens the way we work and the solutions we build. Supporting gender equality also means supporting the conditions that help people succeed: fair opportunity, visible contributions, inclusive leadership, and a culture where different perspectives are valued.

How we brought Give To Gain to life this year

This year, we focused on “giving” in a practical way by inviting colleagues across the organization to respond to prompts about leadership, collaboration, learning, and communication. Their answers show what Give To Gain can look like in day-to-day work.

Curiosity stays useful when it becomes reusable

Sabine Seide shared how she stays curious and keeps her skills sharp when technology changes quickly. Staying curious is not only about exploring new tools. It is also about turning what we learn into something others can use. Her response highlighted experimenting with AI tools to speed up work, then turning outputs into structured formats like checklists, proposal outlines, or meeting agendas. The takeaway is less about the tool and more about the habit: curiosity becomes valuable when it creates clarity.

When plans fail, learning works best as a team sport

David Williams focused on what happens when things do not go as planned and how teams can learn from outcomes together. Instead of letting frustration build up quietly, he emphasized creating a safe, respectful space to reflect on what happened and agree on what changes next. Resilience is built through honest conversation and shared adjustment, not silent pressure.

Visibility is a leadership responsibility, not a nice-to-have

Annette Bardakjian and Anne Katrin König both addressed the same risk in modern work: great contributions can disappear, especially across time zones, back-to-back meetings, or busy message threads. The week reinforced a simple principle: it is on us to make good work visible.

That showed up in two complementary habits: Annette makes sure credit lands in the moment by circling back to overlooked ideas and naming the coworker who suggested them. Katrin spotlights teammates by naming them and the impact of their work, then makes recognition last by capturing it in retrospective notes and shared team or project updates.

Share what makes work easier

Tobias Roth shared advice he passes on to new starters, with a message that connects directly to sharing knowledge early: progress comes faster when we share what we have learned and speak up sooner rather than later. A recurring theme this week was that transparency and early conversations are often underestimated. When teams raise concerns early, issues are easier to solve and trust stays intact. The earlier we talk about something, the more options we have.

Protect focus and rest through clear communication

Christina Meier described how respecting each other’s time and energy starts with sharing relevant information on time, using clear wording, and leaving out details that are not needed. She also highlighted choosing the best way to reach someone depending on the situation, whether email, Teams, a quick call, or a short urgent message when appropriate. The point is not speed for its own sake. It is creating conditions where people can make progress without constant interruption and still have time to rest.

Pilar Poggio Duque added a connected leadership perspective: when things get complicated, simplify the path forward so teams can focus on what matters, while protecting kindness and support along the way.

What we can do next

Give To Gain is not only a theme for one day. It is a mindset we can practice through small, consistent choices: sharing what we learn, making work visible, giving credit accurately, speaking up early, and communicating with clarity and care.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their voice this week and helped turn the theme into practical habits.

If you want to be part of a team that values growth, inclusion, and collaboration, explore our open roles on our careers page.