We’re giving to gain this International Women’s Day

This International Women’s Day, we’re exploring the theme “Give to Gain” – a reminder that generosity, whether through time, empathy, knowledge, or advocacy, creates a ripple effect that empowers everyone. At Grey Matter, the women across our teams have shared personal stories about how giving and receiving support has shaped their confidence, their careers, and their everyday working lives. In this blog, they reflect on the moments that mattered, the small gestures that made a difference, and the resources that continue to inspire them. 

To get started, we asked our team to tell us about a time someone "gave" to them and what impact it had on them.  

“I can’t think of a specific scenario right now, but I often find the most valuable thing is someone giving you time to talk and to feel heard. Whether that’s about frustrations you’re experiencing, a specific situation you’re working through, or to act as a sounding board for an idea.” - Alanna Bestwick, Head of Marketing 

“I have been blessed throughout my life by very giving people be it their time, good advice or even just giving me a chance to fail and learn in a safe environment. One person who did this for me was a former manager who believed in my potential even when I was unsure and pushed me to achieve more and grow my confidence.” - Carolyn Nash, Account Support 

“To be fair, I'm quite lucky to work at a company where I can ask anyone - male or female - for help and advice, and they're always happy to help. Whether it's a small thing like help with an Excel formula or larger things like advice on how to deal with a situation or ideas for a campaign. I appreciate the helpful nature of the staff in my workplace.” - Leanne, Vendor Marketing Manager 

“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have so many colleagues invest their time, support, and advice in helping me reach my goals. I recently stepped into a new role at work, and I’ve been learning from the moment I stepped through the door. I’m beyond grateful for the patience, encouragement, and grace everyone has shown.” - Gail Lundgren, Account Manager 

“When I think about people 'giving' to me at work, it’s not one standout moment or a big piece of advice I can quote back. It’s the smaller, everyday interactions that you probably wouldn’t remember later, but they matter at the time. There’s one colleague I go to when everything feels like too much. They’re brilliant at slowing things down, putting everything into some kind of order, and reminding me that it is manageable. There’s another person I go to for something completely different. They don’t try to fix anything. They’ll just listen and say, ‘I hear you’. And then there’s someone else who gives in a more protective way. If I’m not being supported, or something doesn’t feel right, they’ll speak up.” - Nicole Hepburn, Sales Operations Manager 

Next up, we asked about a time that they "gave" to someone else. 

“I won’t share a specific example but I will share what I’ve learnt from my own experiences of 'gaining' - they’ve taught me that giving doesn’t have to be loud or visible. They’ve also shaped how I show up for others. I try to be that person where I can, whether that means listening, helping untangle the chaos, or standing alongside someone when they need support.” - Nicole  

“I love supporting people where I can, so just being there as a shoulder to cry on or as a sounding board, giving my advice where it is wanted, work-wise, helping people with a judgement-free attitude, just making sure people don’t think they're peeing you off haha!” - Martha 

“I encouraged a friend who was anxious about doing something, to try it – even for a little bit, as you don't necessarily know you won't like it or find it hard until you try it. She did it and really enjoyed it in the end and thanked me for the support. I felt proud of her for going out of her comfort zone.” - Leanne 

“Before leaving my former position, I created extensive training documents and step‑by‑step instructions for a wide range of scenarios – even the obscure ones that didn’t come up often. This preparation allowed my replacement to step confidently into the role and hit the ground running. He’s thriving in the position, and because of the thorough documentation, he hasn’t needed to come back to me with many questions. It’s been a win for both of us and reinforces the value of good knowledge‑sharing and transition planning.” - Gail 

“I’m mindful of the fact that the way we show up – everything from our body language to our spoken language – impacts the people around us. Every situation warrants a different approach, and I always find it’s best to establish that at the start by asking ‘do you need solutions right now or just need someone to listen?’ I try to be a grounding presence in the way that I show up for my friends and my colleagues.” - Alanna 

We each have an opportunity to “give” in smalls ways every day. So, we asked our team to share one small "give" that makes a big difference in their day-to-day working life. 

“Being able to freely ask questions no matter how "silly" it might be - no such thing as a stupid question!" - Martha 

“Kindness - from being polite with pleases and thank yous, to grabbing someone a drink who is busy, or being understanding of someone's needs.” - Leanne 

“Listening to people's ideas - this is so important even if it goes nowhere, you never know who might have the next bright idea!” - Carolyn 

“I’m naturally introverted and in my career have often struggled to feel visible or heard when there are louder personalities. Now I use this as a lens to view the meetings I sit in. Is someone’s body language telling me that they have something to say, but they’re not speaking up because they don’t feel they have room to share? I’ll invite them to speak.” - Alanna  

“Sometimes the simplest gestures make the greatest impact. Showing empathy and compassion can truly change someone’s day – and often in ways we may never fully realise. Even something as small as offering a smile or a hug can bring comfort, connection, and a sense of support when someone needs it most.” - Gail 

“One small 'give' that has made a huge difference for me is being consciously aware of everyone’s experience in the room, and choosing warmth wherever you can.

I am pragmatic in nature, so showing warmth in the traditional sense requires concise effort from me. What I've learnt is that warmth doesn't just come from smiling or nodding along. It’s about being attentive and intentional. It’s the quiet awareness of how your presence affects others, and the small adjustments you make to help people feel included. That might be leaning back so the person next to you can see the screen, pausing to invite someone into the conversation, or choosing not to interrupt when someone's thought is still forming.” - Nicole 

Not everyone finds it easy to think about or name the instances where they’ve given to others, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they haven’t. Of course, there can also be invisible barriers that hold people back from giving (or asking). Our team talk about why that is and how we can reduce it.  

“People may be being cold or unapproachable, and certainly people feeling like what they are asking for is stupid, I try and ask all the questions where I can because I am comfortable talking, but I know a lot of folks aren't!” - Martha 

“Fear of looking dumb when asking for help. It takes confidence and practice to get more into the habit of asking questions when you need help. You don't know what you don't know. And it's better to ask to find out than remain stuck.” - Leanne 

“Imposter syndrome often limits people from feeling like they can ask questions without the fear of being perceived as stupid- but the truth is there really are no stupid questions!” - Carolyn 

“Many people worry that reaching out for help will make them look weak, unprepared, or like they’re “burdening” others. Let's crush that barrier! When we openly share our own experiences – times we needed help, times we appreciated someone stepping in – we show others that support is part of healthy teamwork and human connection.” - Gail 

“I think that imposter syndrome shows up in much quieter ways than we expect, often disguised as politeness. I see people hold back from asking for mentorship because they don’t want to take up someone’s time. And just as often, people hesitate to offer support because they think, ‘Who am I to be giving advice?’ or ‘I’m not senior enough for that.’ I’ve certainly felt both of those things myself! The reality is, most of us aren’t looking for a perfect expert, we’re just looking for someone who’s been there before, even if it was only a year ago. You don’t need all the answers to be helpful.”  - Nicole 

Lastly, in the spirit of "give to gain", here are some of our team’s favourite resources that they would recommend to others. 

“Fearne Cotton's Happy Place is a great podcast that covers mental health. I also recommend joining community groups on social media. For instance, I'm part of local groups, zumba and PCOS groups - all of which provide support, resources, and tips for their specialist area. And an open forum to share questions and ideas.” - Leanne  

“This is hard to narrow down to a shortlist! I would recommend listening to and reading anything from Maisie Hill, she’s an expert coach and women’s health specialist. Her work has really helped me to coach myself and others and to better connect with my experience of womanhood. Next is, Joeli Brearley, she is the founder of Pregnant Then Screwed and is a huge advocate for women’s rights. She also talks about navigating being a boy mum in the modern world and has built a beautiful community of female mentors.” - Alanna 

“I love reading, so naturally, a book I recommend would probably be Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo, it follows the stories of 12 different Women, a fantastic read that portrays different struggles and shows how womanhood is a spectrum." - Martha 

“I recommend learning something completely outside your cultural frame of reference it reminds us that we are all different but the same - in terms of language pick up Duolingo or PingoAI its fun and is a great mindfulness moment for me.” - Carolyn 

“Get a copy of The 5-Minute Journal. It guides you to spend just a few minutes each day focusing on gratitude, kindness, and intention. What I love about it is that it encourages you to give.” - Gail 

“Vanessa Van Edwards has been a huge influence on how I think about communication and connection in the workplace (and beyond!). She’s a behavioural researcher and people-skills expert, and I first discovered her through The Diary of a CEO podcast. From there, I quickly devoured everything she’s created!

Her book Cues is one I come back to regularly, but what I love most is how accessible her work is. Whether it’s her podcast, YouTube videos, TED Talk, newsletter, or shorter content, she offers practical, memorable advice.” - Nicole 

Closing thoughts for this International Women's Day

As we reflect on this year's theme of "Give to Gain" theme, we’re reminded that every act of generosity – no matter how small – can become a moment that shapes someone’s confidence, courage or sense of belonging. When we lift each other up, we create space for growth. When we listen, we create space for healing. And when we show up with empathy and intention, we build a culture where everyone feels they can thrive.

This International Women’s Day, let’s keep giving in the ways that matter – the quiet moments, the everyday gestures and the intentional acts that lift others up. Because when we give, we all gain.