Celebrating International Women’s Day

Summary

International Women’s Day is a day dedicated to honoring the achievements and resilience of women across the globe. We explored this year’s theme of “Accelerate Action” and the significance of this day in a special Q&A session with six inspiring Pure Storage female executives.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, a day dedicated to honoring the achievements and resilience of women across the globe, Pure Storage is proud to spotlight the extraordinary contributions of women within our organization. This year, under the theme “Accelerate Action,” we delve into the significance of International Women’s Day through a special Q&A session with six of our esteemed female executives. These inspiring leaders share their personal reflections on what International Women’s Day means to them, offering insights into their journeys, the challenges they’ve overcome, and their visions for a more inclusive and equitable future.

**The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is Accelerate Action. What does it mean to you and how does it resonate with your personal or professional journey?**

Niki Armstrong, Chief Administration and Legal Officer: “Accelerate Action” is about turning good intentions into real impact. We can talk about change all day long, but change won’t happen unless we actually build systems that make equity a natural part of everything we do, from hiring and promotions to decision-making and leadership development.

This theme really hits home for me. Throughout my career, I’ve fought for policies and practices that break down barriers and open doors for everyone. Equity and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords—they are critical and foundational. Whether it’s being deliberate in our hiring, ensuring every voice counts in leadership discussions, acting with integrity, or holding organizations accountable for their promises, accelerating action means creating a workplace where people are treated fairly and feel valued every day.

Lynn Lucas, Chief Marketing Officer: This resonates with me on multiple levels. I’m naturally wired as a “doer” (yes, a list maker!), and I believe that you can silence doubt (in your own mind, and in others) with action. This year’s theme also reminds me to consistently show up for women by being a proud, and vocal, supporter both privately and publicly.

Amy Rushall, Area VP, ANZ Sales: This year’s message resonates with me deeply. According to the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it would be 2158, or about five generations from now, before we see full gender parity. That won’t be in my lifetime. “Accelerate Action” is just that—a call to action to make a bigger difference now by creating momentum with urgency. I want more opportunities in the future for the young women that I meet and mentor and for young girls everywhere to be in a position where their gender will not be a barrier to their future success.

Krithika Bhat, Chief Information Officer: To me, this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Accelerate Action,” is a powerful reminder that each of us has a role to play in breaking down barriers and overcoming obstacles that women face. It’s about actively taking the steps to support each other—whether by sharing resources, offering guidance, or simply lifting others up. We need to be deliberate and fast in our efforts to help women succeed, because real change requires urgent action. In my own journey, I realized early on that I couldn’t wait for opportunities to come to me—I had to actively seek them out, speak up for myself, and take charge of my career.

Cecilia Luu, VP, Customer Experience Education and Enablement: This theme is a personal favorite and core to how I operate. It reminds me of a great quote: “Action creates motivation—not the other way around.” Growth and progress come through taking action. I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by remarkable women who lean into and harness their experience, expertise, and networks to empower themselves and others. Let’s embrace this and do the same to lift each other up!

Penny Bruce, VP, Global Corporate Communications: Never has the theme “Accelerate Action” felt more relevant than it does today. I’m in the business of staying close to the media, and the rhetoric against women that I’m regularly observing in the news and on social media signals that we have taken a huge step in the wrong direction. Accelerating action means we have to collaborate to work smarter and move faster to ensure respect and equality; we owe it to the current and future generation of women.

What advice would you give to women striving for leadership roles in high tech, and what actions can organizations take to create more inclusive environments?

Niki: For women aiming for leadership, own your expertise and make your presence known. The reality is, if you’re in the room, you’ve earned your spot—so don’t let imposter syndrome tell you otherwise. Find mentors and sponsors who can help you navigate challenges, and actively seek out stretch opportunities that push you to grow. Building a network that both supports and challenges you is key to getting ahead.

Organizations must also create an environment where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but valued. This means taking intentional steps to dismantle bias, fostering a culture of transparency, and ensuring there are real pathways for women to rise through the ranks. Companies should not just talk about inclusion—they must create systems that enable it.

Lynn: I think striving for a leadership role in tech is not a lot different than any other industry. Know your strengths, take risks, ask for opportunities, and don’t be afraid to go for it without knowing everything. Half the fun is learning along the way!

Amy: We all put our pants on the same way in the morning. Do your job and do it better than your peers. Raise your hand and let it be known what you want to do and find the people that will help to get you there. Take risks and be bold. It is not always a linear path to get to where you want to be. Engage in growth experiences that will help you develop the skills and relationships for when that moment reveals itself. Be persistent and gritty. Stay true to your authentic self and the journey to your dream role will reward you in many unexpected ways.

To organizations looking to help create a more inclusive environment for women, it takes action today to make progress for the future. Stating a goal of wanting to do better isn’t enough. We must hire, develop, and mentor women. We need to foster and invest in community and education programs to help develop future talent pools.

Krithika: To women striving for leadership roles in high tech, my advice is simple: Step out of your comfort zone. Continuously seek out roles that challenge you and push you to learn new skills. Every position should be viewed as a stepping stone on your journey toward your ultimate goal. Seize opportunities when they arise, take risks, and stretch yourself—this is how you grow. In every new role, ask yourself: What can I bring to this position, and what can I learn from it?

Cecilia: The best investments are always in your well-being, learning, and relationships. When you feel out of your comfort zone or unsure of your qualifications, see it as the perfect opportunity to learn, stretch, and grow. Also, make it a point to engage with people who challenge your views.

Penny: Ask for what you want. It’s not always intuitive for leaders to stop and ask employees what they want. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked for a few who never asked me that question. So be your own advocate and ask.

What is your International Women’s Day message?

Niki: Change doesn’t happen alone—it happens when we move forward together. Act boldly. Hold ourselves accountable. Accelerate the path to equity. Every. Single. Day.

Lynn: Together, we are stronger, more innovative, and creative when we celebrate and understand diverse perspectives.

Amy: Gratitude for those that support and continue to take action for this critical mission year-round. This International Women’s Day, my message is a request for others to join us as allies. Let’s create more opportunities and inclusion for the women in our lives. Let’s build a better future for our mothers, sisters, daughters, granddaughters, aunts, nieces, friends, and women worldwide by taking action today.

Krithika: Believe in yourself and stay true to who you are. Don’t let anyone else define your worth or limit what you’re capable of achieving.

Cecilia: Be bold, know your worth, and remember that you always have something unique to contribute. Support one another and pave the way!

Penny: Equity matters. As the mother of a daughter who is early in her career, it’s vitally important to me that my daughter’s compensation is equal to that of a man with similar experience in a similar role. But that’s still not the case in many industries. I first started thinking about this a handful of years ago when Natasha Lamb at Arjuna Capital submitted pay equity shareholder proposals at a number of tech, finance, and retail companies. When I read her argument, it just struck me as fundamentally sound and inherently sensible. Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s good for business. Equitable pay practices contribute to employee retention, and studies have consistently shown that companies with a balanced gender mix perform better than companies with a lower percentage of women. So we have to keep talking about it, working towards it, and making more progress to close the gender pay gap.