Watch: An Axios event celebrating International Women's Day

On Wednesday, March 8, Axios politics reporter Sophia Cai, communications strategist and writer Eleanor Hawkins, and economics reporter Courtenay Brown led conversations at an International Women’s Day event focused on the progress made and next steps to achieving greater gender equality. Guests included Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), PBS NewsHour co-anchor Amna Nawaz, and German Ambassador to the United States Emily Haber. A View from the Top sponsored segment featured Bank of America chief human resources officer Sheri B. Bronstein.

Sen. Mazie K. Hirono shared what has changed and what has stayed the same when it comes to women’s equity in politics.

• On women’s representation in politics: “Well, the numbers certainly have changed. However, I think that we still have what I would call gender oppression and racial oppression in our country, especially after the Dobb’s decision. How can you not describe the situation as gender oppression when women and girls in our country have fewer rights than they did 50 years ago?”

Amna Nawaz discussed how being a mother and woman informs her work as a journalist.

• On how her identity informs the questions she seeks answers to as a reporter: “I think when I show up at work, I’m there with my full self. I am. And that’s not to say that it influences how I report, but it absolutely informs how I do my job, because I think the issues that matter to me and the people that I know and the questions that I have are questions that millions of other people out there have.”

Amb. Emily Haber discussed the collective responsibility of working against the discrimination of women.

• On society’s role in reducing gender discrimination: “Working against discrimination of women or of other groups is not women’s business, it’s the business of society at large. It’s the business of each and every one of us.”

In the View from the Top segment, Sheri B. Bronstein highlighted the importance of women’s leadership in business today.

• “We are half the world…we’re customers, we’re voters, we’re employees, we’re making purchasing decisions, we’re parents, we’re clients and investors. And we’ve got to make sure that we are really bringing the power of half of our population.”

Go deeper: In honor of International Women’s Day, we asked our readers and viewers to share what “embracing equity” means to them. Below are some of the responses we received:

• “Being intentional about doing the hard work to level the playing field.”
• “Giving full equal rights in pay, position, opportunity, and control (including their own body) to women and LGBTQ+ peoples.”
• “Having a seat and voice at the table.”

Thank you Bank of America for sponsoring this event.