Hello, readers! Nice to e-meet you all. My name is Kristina Stidham, and I’m the digital content director for Women Leading Travel & Hospitality and its sister brands, Women in Retail Leadership Circle and Total Retail. My role spans all things digital, including video and podcast production across the three brands, as well as ensuring our live virtual events run smoothly.

I’ve been lucky enough to already get to know a few of the incredible women leaders in our community through our video spotlights, and last week “went live” with even more female executives during our first Virtual Exchange event. I’m excited to continue to find creative ways to bring the Women Leading Travel & Hospitality community together in a virtual environment (and hopefully in person sometime soon!).

Speaking of bringing women together, during March we celebrate both Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day! Every year, Women’s History Month celebrates the contributions women have made to the United States, including recognizing the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history. International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place every March 8, and is an annual day of awareness building and celebration dedicated to accelerating the progress of women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements globally. IWD also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality throughout workplaces globally.

According to the IWD website, this year’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge, meaning we can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women’s achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.

Therefore, we hope you spend some time reflecting this month on all the women who have inspired you, supported you, and lifted you up in your personal and professional lives. I know my inspiration comes from working every day with so many of the fabulous, driven leaders in our Women Leading Travel & Hospitality community! Follow Women Leading Travel & Hospitality on LinkedIn and Instagram for more inspirational content celebrating women this month (and every month).