We held an event in celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), which is observed on March 8, to celebrate women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.

The global theme for 2026 was “Give to Gain.”
“Sharing knowledge or experience with others is not a subtraction from oneself, but rather a multiplication that expands the potential of the team.”

This sentiment was reflected throughout the event, reported by Inclusion and Diversity Lead @Misaki.

Embodying the theme through the five senses

The venue featured mimosa arrangements signaling the arrival of spring, cookies with the message “Give to Gain,” and a spring-themed dessert buffet.

Care was also taken in the seating design, with sofas arranged in a circle to allow panelists and participants to see each other’s faces. This setup created a sense of unity that transcended roles, fostering an open, relaxed atmosphere for dialogue. These and other meticulous details helped create an interactive environment rather than a one-sided lecture.

Special talk: Circulating skills and experiences

The centerpiece of the event was a special talk session between two women leaders at Mercari: CHRO @Ai(mykw) and Engineering Director @Sneha. In this session, each leader spoke candidly about the conflicts they had faced in their careers and how they turned “Give” experiences (support and opportunities) they received from others into “Gain” opportunities (fuel for growth and connection).

On the topic “Support in Your Career,” both panelists shared stories of advice, opportunities, and encouragement from others that became turning points in their lives. They also shared experiences of receiving insights and support from team members and colleagues after becoming leaders that had expanded their perspectives.

The next topic was “Giving Back as a Leader.” Both women discussed the insights they had gained since becoming leaders, and how they now use their influence to benefit the organization. In particular, they shared specific actions they take to consciously give back and circulate their experiences—especially to the next generation of leaders, with a focus on women and minorities.

Authentic leadership and shared perspectives across roles 

The latter half of the event was a special roundtable session, where @Ai(mykw) and @Sneha split up and joined different tables for direct conversations with participants.

Participants raised a series of questions about their daily work and career concerns, leading to lively and spirited discussions.

@Ai(mykw)’s table engaged in deep discussions about building a career and ways of thinking more deeply about the future. One action @Ai(mykw) mentioned that stood out in particular was the habit of self-reflection—writing down one’s thoughts, both good and bad, in a notebook every day. The message that consistently practicing self-reflection builds a solid foundation for clear, unwavering thinking deeply resonated with many participants.

At @Sneha’s table, participants discussed leadership behaviors and how to approach major life events. As advice for giving feedback, @Sneha shared that the more difficult the message, the more important it is to practice in advance and to be mindful of emotional intelligence—managing one’s emotions. When it comes to balancing a career and having children, participants were reminded that “there is no such thing as a perfect career.” @Sneha spoke about the importance of having the courage to accept yourself when you can’t do everything perfectly and shifting your priorities at different times in your life, which was a great encouragement to the participants.

“It’s okay to be unpolished” message resonates with participants

In the post-event survey, the event received a high rating of 4.7 out of 5 points. One concept in particular—“breaking free from perfectionism”—seemed to encourage many participants.

Voices from participants (excerpt) 

I liked hearing about how women leaders on the front lines transform ‘Give’ experiences (support and opportunities) into ‘Gain’ opportunities (fuel for future growth). I really appreciated being able to hear firsthand perspectives.

Hearing that letting go of the belief that leaders must be perfect can broaden your perspective was encouraging. It’s okay not to be perfect, and it made me want to embrace being my authentic, unpolished self.

While it’s often hard to take time to reflect on what it truly means to ‘give’ when caught up in daily work, participating in this event gave me a chance to reconsider what kind of giving really has an impact on others. Hearing the experiences and mindsets of women leaders gave me valuable hints for what to do next.

Although I just joined the company, I was impressed by how sincerely people here engage with the important theme of leadership.

Conclusion: What will you “Give” starting today? 

At the end of the event, participants wrote messages to their future selves, declaring what they would “give” starting the next day and the future they hoped to achieve—so that a month later, they could look back and reflect on these commitments.

Mercari will continue working together with its members to create an environment where everyone can exchange experiences and perspectives and boldly take on new challenges.