This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with me. If we are serious about progress, then all of us - men and women alike - must actively mentor and support women throughout their careers. Not simply because it is fair, but because it makes all of us better.

Despite the strides made, it can still be hard for women to be taken seriously in roles traditionally dominated by men. I have worked in private equity and across many and varied sectors of industry and commerce and seen first-hand how funding has often disproportionately flowed to businesses without women founders. The imbalance was stark. It was not a question of talent; it was a question of access, networks, and pattern recognition — investors backing what looked familiar to them.

That sameness is precisely the problem. When leadership teams share similar educational backgrounds, career paths and ways of thinking, originality suffers. In difficult times especially, diverse perspectives are far more likely to generate creative, resilient solutions. Diversity is not a box-ticking exercise; it is a commercial advantage.

Mentoring is one of the most powerful ways we can shift this. Early in a career is when confidence, visibility and sponsorship matter most. Too many talented young women lack informal networks, hesitate to put themselves forward, or internalise doubt. A good mentor can open doors, advocate in rooms they are not yet in, and normalise the inevitable challenges. Those early interventions can dramatically alter long-term trajectories.

We see similar patterns across sectors. In hospitality and indeed in wholesale markets, for example, many women work as chefs, waitresses or front-of-house staff, yet far fewer own the businesses. The same is true in many other industries. Ownership and leadership still lag way behind participation.

When we give our time, insight and encouragement, we do not diminish ourselves; we multiply impact. Mentored women become mentors. Organisations strengthen their leadership pipelines. Cultures evolve. We also incidentally learn more ourselves, reverse mentoring also happens when you give your time and energy.

Give to Gain is not simply a slogan. It is a strategy for better businesses, stronger industries and a more confident generation of women ready not just to participate, but to lead.

Wanda Goldwag OBE | Chair | Covent Garden Market Authority