International Women’s Day: We need ‘active’ listening

Zanele Sokatsha, centre, lead research for the GRIT project. — © AFP

Saturday, March 8 2025, sees the global celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD). This event acts as a timely reminder that many issues still impact women’s equality and progress, not least representation and wage equality.

Organizers say it is important to take action and acknowledge the incredible contributions of women across industries while pushing for real change. This year’s theme is “Accelerate Action for Women’s Equality” and this emphasizes the need to do more than just include women’s voices.

Instead, it is about making sure they’re heard loud and clear, especially in tech and AI, where equal representation still has a long way to go.

Phyllis Rhodes, Director of Sales and Business Development at Parallel Works, has advanced her career in the financial services and technology sectors, both still primarily male-dominated.

Rhodes has shared her thoughts about this very timely and important topic with Digital Journal: “International Women’s Day is more than just a celebration—it’s a call to action and a day to recognize the achievements of women across industries while also addressing the systemic barriers that still stand in the way of true equality.”

She adds, looking at he 2025 event: “This year’s theme, Accelerate Action for Women’s Equality, highlights the urgency of ensuring that women’s voices are not just included but actively amplified in spaces where decisions are made, particularly in technology and artificial intelligence (AI).”

On the topic of artificial intelligence, this technology is shaping the future at an unprecedented pace. Consequently, it is important, as well as beneficial for society, that the voices that train these models are representative of the diverse world we live in.

If AI systems are developed predominantly using content or voices that are homogenous or largely representative of the most dominant figures in a room, they risk reinforcing existing biases rather than breaking them down. Artificial intelligence will mirror the biases that are present in our society and that manifest in AI training data.

Furthermore, without a diversity of perspectives, these biases become amplified within AI models, perpetuating inequality instead of fostering inclusivity. To truly harness the power of AI for good, Rhodes explains that “we must prioritize a broad range of voices, ensuring that women, along with other underrepresented groups, are actively involved in the training and development of these systems.”

To achieve this, Rhodes recommends: “A diversity of perspectives is not just a checkbox—it’s the foundation of innovation. The more viewpoints we bring to the table, the more dynamic and effective our solutions become. A team rich in varied experiences and views can generate more creative ideas, challenge ingrained biases, and ultimately lead to better, more informed, and more equitable technology.”

This means: “When we cultivate an environment that values different lived experiences, we open the door to progress that benefits everyone, not just a select few.”

Beyond AI, accelerating women’s equality means creating space for more women to be heard, valued, and respected in every industry.

By this, Rhodes means: “Lifting up younger women—amplifying their ideas, crediting their contributions, and mentoring them—ensures a stronger, more inclusive future. Too often, valuable insights go unnoticed simply because the voices behind them are quieter or less assertive in male-dominated spaces. Recognizing when someone may feel intimidated and making an effort to draw them into discussions is a simple but powerful way to promote equality.”

In terms of what success looks like, Rhodes defines this as: “True progress requires active listening, intentional amplification, and a commitment to inclusivity at every level. By ensuring that AI, workplaces, and leadership structures reflect the diversity of the world we live in, we take tangible steps toward gender equality. The future of innovation depends on it.”