Celebrating International Women’s Day: Progress, Purpose and the Power of Representation

International Women’s Day always makes me pause and take stock. It’s a chance to cheer on the progress we’ve made, to thank the women shaping our workplaces and communities, and to be honest about the work that still needs to be done.

As the Managing Partner at Moore and Tibbits, I’m proud to say that over 64% of senior positions in our firm are held by women. In a field where leadership has long been mostly male, that number is both worth celebrating—and a real responsibility. It shows off the talent and skill of our team, but it’s also proof that when you build a culture where women are supported and encouraged, everyone benefits.

Still, our story isn’t the full story. Across the legal profession, women are underrepresented in leadership. According to the Law Gazette, only 20% of law firm leaders are women (Read the full article HERE). That’s surprising, especially when you look at how many women are now entering law schools and junior roles.

So why the disconnect? If so many women are coming into law, why aren’t they rising into leadership at the same pace? What’s holding them back? And what can we do, as leaders, to make sure that skill and drive—not gender—decide. 

Representation matters. Who’s at the top shapes everything about a workplace—who gets hired, who stays, who moves up, and what kind of culture you build.  Its not about who’s been here the longest.  
When leadership teams reflect the diversity of the people who work there, decision-making gets better. You get more perspectives, more empathy, and ultimately, better business results.

The legal field has changed a lot in recent years. Things like flexible working and parental leave are now mainstream topics. But change is about more than just policies and certainly at Moore & Tibbits we didn’t get to where we are because of any specific policy. True progress means shifting the culture, so that leadership doesn’t have to look like it always has.

International Women’s Day is about showing what’s possible. That women leading should be the norm, not the exception. Even if our firm has a lot of women, the big picture still needs fixing—only 20% of leadership roles go to women. That’s not just a women’s problem, it’s a business problem. Every bit of progress comes from women backing each other and refusing to settle. I’m proud of the women at Moore and Tibbits, but pride alone isn’t enough. We have to keep pushing. That 20% stat shouldn’t discourage women today, it should inspire them!

Today, I’m celebrating how far we’ve come—and reminding everyone that the more our leaders look like the world around us, the stronger we all are.