A Lesson Learned on International Women's Day

Shailu Satish, Cofounder and COO, DispatchTrack

Last year on International Women's Day, I had an epiphany.

I was talking to some young women, engineers on my team, and expecting to encourage them, but instead they inspired me. 

These young women came from families with limited means, and they had to defy social norms in order to pursue their dreams. They worked incredibly hard. They excelled academically and won merit scholarships, which required high grades of course, but they also had to demonstrate diligence and commitment. 

Having overcome the hurdles to get an education, they still had to convince their families to support their ambitions. 

They were from rural villages, and for the families to feel secure about them moving to Hyderabad — which is roughly the size of New York — they needed to be reassured that their daughters would be studious and hold on to the values they were raised with. They promised to resist the temptations of the big city. 

And they did. 

They told me how proud they were of what they accomplished, and more importantly, they told me how grateful they were for their families to break from traditions to support their dreams. 

Now they are role models in their communities, supporting families with young women in pursuing their own dreams. 

What I learned is this: Gratitude leads to a sense of duty, a commitment to pay it forward. When this feeling is strong, it becomes a powerful force that helps us out of our comfort zone, to overcome fear and complacency. It compels us to act. 

So this International Women's Day, let's be grateful for all the progress that has been made so far and for all the role models that have been in our lives. And let's also remember that there is so much more work still to be done. 

As a mother of two girls, I feel this responsibility deeply.

Let's pledge to find every opportunity to uplift and empower those around us, both women and men, to take meaningful steps towards equality. Whether it is encouraging someone to speak up or supporting a bold decision or mentoring the next generation, it's these actions big and small that have ripple effects. Let's make it a habit to actively seek our opportunities to build a more equitable world, not just today, but every day. 

Happy International Women's Day.