International Women’s Day 2020: Women Who Go Beyond

March 8^th marks International Women’s Day, a day in which we take the time to reflect on the social, cultural, economic and political achievements made by extraordinary women all over the globe – while also campaigning for greater progress towards gender equality.

This year’s campaign theme is #EachforEqual – an equal world is an enabled world. Together, we can each help build a gender equal world whether it be in our workplace, government or home.

Here at Payoneer, we’re celebrating six influential women, from a variety of backgrounds, to share how they will celebrate women’s achievements, while calling for a more gender-balanced world. We couldn’t be prouder to be a company where a majority of our leaders are women.

Let’s meet just a few of Payoneer’s Wonder Women…

Diana Sechter, Customer Approval Representative

I was born and raised in Romania, where International Women’s Day is a really important holiday. On this day, we are reminded how important we are to others and that being a woman is truly a gift. Let’s come together to celebrate everything we have to offer this world.

As a married woman and mother, I always try my best to be a good wife and parent as well as a professional which can be at times, exhausting, but I’ve never given up and I never will.

My message to women on this special day is to take a deep breath and stop for a few moments. Simply close your eyes and think to yourself. Remind yourself how special you are and think of the things that you love to do and haven’t gotten a chance to do for years. Do what makes you happy.

In order for a more gender-balanced world to become a reality, we need to stop and take time for ourselves – to heal and love ourselves. Let’s recharge our batteries and continue to give the love we are giving. When you love yourself, you’re happy and when you’re happy you smile, and that smile makes this world even more beautiful than you ever imagined.

Kasia Orlowska, Head of EU Risk & Compliance

International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to draw attention to challenges often faced by women related to cultural stereotypes and gender misperceptions, but also encourage and inspire ourselves, to never give up and continue to pursue our dreams and ambitions. This is possible through mutual support, gaining awareness and raising above any negativity. March 8^th is a special day for me personally, as my good friend is launching her own innovative product and I’m organizing a party to celebrate her success and years of hard work – so proud!

We are all facing barriers of our own, but I truly believe people are at their best when they support each other. Therefore, regardless of gender, we should all be open-minded, transparent and brave – let’s call out any lack of inclusiveness and always be kind to one another. This can bring us a step closer to more gender-balanced world.

Eti Bahar, Global Bank Transfer Representative 

I grew up in a society where men are very dominant, and women are often left behind and have to constantly fight for their rights in order to feel equal. I’ve always supported equal rights and believe that gender equality must exist in all societies.

In my opinion, women and men are like Yin and Yang. Men and women can be seemingly opposite, but at the same time, they also complement each other and can come together as one. Resilience, creativity, production, patience and perseverance are all qualities that women contribute to the development of an organization. Societies all around the world should take it upon themselves to recognize the power that women have and support it in every sense.

I proudly work for a company that respects the necessity of women’s existence in the system and that consistently pushes for a more equal workplace. This year, I wish all women to continue to reflect on the power and light within themselves, to realize their contribution to this world and their progress in organizations across the globe and to continue to be honored. Happy International Women’s Day!

Yaeli Darschevitz, Product Manager     

“When I’m sometimes asked when will there be enough women on the Supreme Court and I say, ‘When there are nine,’ people are shocked. But there’d be nine men, and nobody’s ever raised a question about that.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court

I grew up in a family where both my parents are successful businesspeople, and CEOs of their own companies that they’ve established from scratch. My mother has always been the best role model and has continuously taught me what it means to be a strong independent woman. I apply this inspiration in every aspect of my life as well as in my career path.

Payoneer sets a great environment for women, as we can see many women in executive roles, giving an excellent example for young women who aspire to be leaders. I think it’s important to work in a diverse workspace and in an environment where both women and men are equal in every aspect and receive the same opportunity to develop and grow. When it comes to recruiting new talent or promoting current employees, it’s important that we create equal opportunities for everyone, giving them the opportunity to advance in their career.

Sarit Mann, Configuration Services Associate       

For centuries, women have been fighting for equal rights – for education opportunities, autonomy, and for a seat at the table in the workforce. Today, I’d like to add a new goal – the ability to empower women, not only by the usage of power, but by using their feminine strengths.

When entering a room of powerful people, one may maintain the talk of power — but a feminist should take that room to a whole new level. Feminists should create a new soil that enables both professional and personal growth. This soil is imbedded in our nature and is the power of life.

Ever since I was a young girl, I was considered a tom-boy. I always wanted to be seen equal in sports, religious responsibilities, career paths and more. I set goals and therefore actions that led me to similar positions and accomplishments but today, I believe I could do even more and not by fighting for power and recognition but by connecting to myself, giving me courage to become stronger than before. Once I’m aligned with who I am and what I could do, I’ll become empowered and serve my authentic purpose.

By establishing this connection, women can endorse motivation, productivity, creativity, communication and more. The sky is our limit.

Sanjukta Baruah, Senior Manager Business Development Direct

My personal opinion is that in order to reach a more gender-balanced world, why celebrate women’s day just one day? The very fact that we’ve dedicated one specific day to women clearly shows that we are still not a society that champions equality. Equality should be celebrated each day, not only once a year.

In the workplace, we want to see more women in leadership positions, in positions of power that bring change, ensuring that we are treated the same and awarded the same opportunities as our male peers. Today, women now have more influence over decisions that affect their lives and we should be seeing more of this than ever before.

This International Women’s Day let’s celebrate just being our wonderful selves. Happy International Women’s Day!

Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone to greatness.

-Oprah Winfrey