International Women’s Day: Empowering Women, Celebrating Impact with Team BIC

 

As we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the ways Team BIC continues to drive progress for gender equality. Through leadership programs, open conversations, and global initiatives, we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all voices are heard, valued, and uplifted. 

 

Elevating Female Voices at BIC 

To spark meaningful conversations on gender equality and leadership, we hosted panel discussions featuring BIC’s female leaders sharing their experiences, insights, and advice: 

Paloma Lengema, General Manager - East Africa, and Holly Baum, Director of Sales, discussed their career journeys and the importance of elevating female leadership. Watch the discussion here. 

Laura Hyland, VP Digital & Commercial Strategy, and Olga Vayena, Managing Director BIC Violex - VP Qualtec, discussed their career journeys, the power of mentorship, and how to embrace leadership opportunities. Watch the conversation here. 

Jeany Mui, Director, Marketing BU/Region, Tanicka Decembre, Director, Strategic Planning Office, and Katie Wargo, Brand Manager, joined a panel discussion on fostering inclusion, overcoming challenges, and championing diversity in the workplace. Watch the panel here. 

Gary Horsfield, Chief Supply Chain Officer, and Kelly Rolader, VP, Global Revenue Growth & Development, sat down with organizational psychologist Jane Sassienie to explore ways we can foster inclusivity in STEM fields. Watch the conversation here. 

 

Developing Female Talent: BIC’s Leadership Development Programs 

We continue to provide educational opportunities to team members on topics related to building diverse and inclusive teams:    

  • Continued our inclusive leader workshops   
  • Women’s Leadership Development and Signature Series programs 
  • 360° Fair Play workshops in partnership with WRK 360 

 

The BIC Corporate Foundation: Continuing Impact Within Local Communities    

  • Girls Write Now, a creative writing mentorship program, focused on empowering young female writers.    
  • Terre des Hommes Italy to promote gender equality and entrepreneurship with 12–17-year-old-students    
  • The 4C collection developed in partnership with French-based NGO Rev’Elles is back and available to customers! Check it out here: https://fr.bic.com/fr    

 

Break the Ceiling, Touch the Sky: Lessons in Inclusive Leadership 

In recent years, BIC team members had the opportunity to attend Break the Ceiling, Touch the Sky®, a global leadership event focused on diversity, inclusion, and empowerment. As a proud sponsor, BIC continues to support important conversations on: 

  • Building high-performing global teams 
  • The impact of AI on leadership & diversity 
  • Prioritizing emotional & mental well-being 

Hear from team members who participated and their key takeaways here. 

 

Career Conversations: Spotlight on Success 

Through our Career Conversations series, we highlight the inspiring journeys of BIC team members. Denise Sobczak, Director of Enterprise Risk Management, shared her perspective on leadership, career growth, and making an impact at BIC. Watch the episode here, and stay tuned for more episodes this month! 

 

Global Activations: Engaging Our Teams 

Beyond leadership panels and career insights, we’re accelerating action around the world to engage and educate our teams: 

  • Paris – Team members participated in an interactive theater experience, exploring gender equality through storytelling and education. 
  • North America – Colleagues gathered for discussions and shared resources to promote and foster an inclusive workplace.

Women Empowerment at BIC (WEB), one of six employee-led resource groups, sponsored local poster galleries featuring women who have made an impact throughout history. WEB also partnered with Rocketbook using their new reusable sticky notes to fill office spaces with uplifting messages from team members, empowering women's potential in and out of the workplace. 

  • Brazil – In partnership with Blade Excellence, the team launched a Women's Day videocast to celebrate age diversity and knowledge-sharing. Moderated by Sarah Aline, the discussion will highlight the unique contributions of women across generations. 

 

As we celebrate International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we’re reminded of our commitment to empowering women and celebrating their impact—not just today, but every day. 

Explore opportunities to grow, lead, and make an impact with Team BIC here.