More than just a celebration 💜
What happens when you create space for real conversations? You spark change. At Xebia, knowledge sharing, connection, and community aren’t just words on a page—they define how we grow together. And at the International Women’s Day 2025, we put that into practice in the best way possible.
The road to International Women’s Day 2025
Organizing this event was a journey in itself! We started this journey early November 2024. Together with Aila Albrecht, Nafiseh Nazemi, Rachèl van der Wal, and Sanne Reynders, we carefully selected our speakers to create an inspiring and diverse lineup. At first, we considered bringing in a keynote speaker, but after some thought, we made a different choice—one that truly aligned with our values. Instead of spending a big part of our budget on a single keynote, we used it to ensure that all our external speakers were paid. Fairness, inclusion, and recognition for everyone—exactly what International Women’s Day should be about.
When the day finally arrived, I wanted to set the tone right from the start. Dressed in my purple dress (because let’s be honest, International Women’s Day is a celebration too!), I welcomed everyone and kicked things off. The energy in the room was amazing—so many different voices, so much engagement, and a real sense of community.
What really stood out? The variety of sessions, the diverse mix of participants, the buzz in every room, and how naturally people spread across sessions. And the best part? The invitation was truly open—we had men joining, mothers, sisters, friends and daughters.
Powerful voices, meaningful conversations
Our incredible speakers sparked new ideas, challenged perspectives, and inspired action:
- Kimberley Huizing – How do we get to the EI in DEI?- Tackling unconscious gender bias in software development.
- Tess Scholten – Authenticity on Social Media: Owning your voice in the digital world.
- Jessica Naffass – Personal Branding Workshop: Building your own brand canvas.
- Pelpina Trip – Visibility Online: From no voice to full presence—mastering short video for impact.
- Esther Kuijper – Understanding (Peri-)Menopause: A must-know topic for well-being and health.
- Elise Vroonland – Female Embodiment Workshop: Reconnect with yourself and embrace your inner power.
- Marianne Bruijn – You Earn It, You Deserve It! Taking charge of your financial future.
- Charissa Promes-De Jong – Being a Working Parent: Balancing career and family with confidence.
A huge step forward from 2024
Compared to last year, this was on another level. Here’s what made it such a win:
- A top-notch program—every session brought value, and the engagement proved it.
- Great flow of participants—sessions filled up naturally, creating a great vibe.
- Posters and flyers by Olaf—they really made a difference in how the event looked and felt.
- Social media exposure—the buzz reached way beyond Xebia.
- Complete freedom in how we organized—it worked so well.
- The prep process felt super organic—it just came together naturally.
- A record number of attendees—and more diversity than ever before!
- More +1s than expected—which brought fresh perspectives to the table.
- More men in the room than we thought we’d see—love to see that shift happening!
- High engagement during the sessions—people weren’t just listening; they were actively part of the conversations.
- Solid budget allocation—we made sure every external speaker was fairly compensated.
- And yes, snacks. Because, obviously.
What we can improve for next time
We’re always looking to level up. Here’s what we’re taking forward:
- Better session registration—to make sure everyone gets into their preferred sessions.
- On-brand design—banners, flyers, and visuals should match Xebia’s look and feel.
- More leadership involvement—invite them early and expect them to be there
- A stronger message to men—so they feel even more encouraged to join the conversation.
- Sending flyers to home addresses—to create even more excitement before the event.
- Making International Women’s Day a permanent, annual Xebia tradition—just like the Family Event and Christmas Party.
- Keeping the International Women’s Day mindset alive year-round—it’s more than one day, it’s a continuous effort.
- Friday afternoon might not be the best event day—something to keep in mind.
- Connect with Human Resources on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) topics—to explore how we can take inclusion even further.
- Better food, more food. Enough said.
- More professional photo and video content—to capture the magic properly.
- Opening and closing keynotes as bookends—to frame the event better.
- Tighter time management for sessions—keeping everything running smoothly.
- Room hosts for every session—so everything stays on track.
- More body-focused sessions—movement, physical awareness, and well-being.
- More attention to decoration—the details matter.
- Helping speakers connect more with the overall theme—for stronger impact.
- Including a male speaker or panel discussion with men’s perspectives—because inclusion means all voices.
An attendee’s feedback
Marilia Falsetti, Blog Coordinator of Agile Gatherings, was my plus one! Here she tells her own personal experience on the event:
“I was very excited by the opportunity of attending my very first International Women’s Day work event in the Netherlands as an expat professional living here since 2020! In Brazil, it is very common for companies to organize a celebration on this date for their female employees, and even support other initiatives, like an internal diversity comittee or a periodic meeting of self care and networking for women in the same field. In my culture, it is encouraged to talk about the unique perspective of people from different genders, ethnicities and social backgrounds with your co-workers as a way to deepen professional relationships and create a more inclusive background. It was fulfilling to find such a safe place to do the same in my new country.
Women play several roles in their lives, but nevertheless, I often see International Women’s Day events discussing the same topics over and over again. The line-up to this event was quite refreshing! Xebia offered interesting talks to address the variety of challenges a woman can face not only at work, but in society in general: social media & personal branding, motherhood, financial independence, physical and mental health, and how to fight the (still present) gender bias. The flexibility to choose the learning path gave me an empowering feeling of being in control of my own journey. I enjoyed the evening learning more about DEI, as well as gathered valuable information to start planning my financial future.
A surprising outcome of the event for me was to get to know a large group of Latin female immigrants on location! During and after dinner, we sat at the same table and expressed our joy for finding a warm meal that reminded us of our gastronomic preferences back home. We also shared what it meant for us to be working and living in the Netherlands, and the mutual understanding and respect for each other’s story created an instant connection that I was longing for. I look forward to see them again in other work events.
International Women’s Day has a historical importance that is sometimes forgotten or not promoted enough. It is said that those who forget History are condemned to repeat it. The philosopher Simone de Beauvoir wrote:
Never forget that it only takes one political, economic or religious crisis for women’s rights to be put in jeopardy. Those rights are never to be taken for granted; you must remain vigilant throughout your life.
Even though all talks covered important topics that are relatable to several women who attended the event, at some moments of the celebration, I missed the reminder of why we were gathered there. How does the gender bias affects us as we present ourselves as professionals in our social media, for example? The women who came long before us didn’t have the same basic rights we do, they had to conquer their freedom through difficult times. And there are still many women suffering with despicable forms of violence around the world who deserve our attention and support. Even here in the Netherlands! The gender microaggressions are still present in our culture. I believe next year’s edition could improve the range of discussions, including for example a talk for queer people who identify as women or non-binary, as well as a workshop to help transform empathetic men in real supporters of a gender equality movement.
And my last piece of wisdom is: we are women everyday. Not just on March 8. Let’s keep the conversation happening! I would love to be invited to events like this every month of the year. And I will also keep an eye on Xebia’s social media and website to see the real outcomes of this gathering. Grateful for the experience, and hungry for more.”
Feedback shared on social media
“It was an amazing event—such incredible energy! So many women, but also men. And we need both to accelerate equality.”
(Marianne Bruijn)
“Wonderful gathering and celebration of women’s power.”
(Charissa Promes-De Jong)
“Amazing to be part of this!”
(Elise Vroonland)
“It’s always amazing to see women empowering each other a little extra on days like these!”
(Tess Scholten)
“I learned a lot. Also, It was special for me, because it was the first sharing knowledge session at Xebia, I joined with my daughter.”
(Aila Albrecht)
A massive thank you!
Events like this don’t happen without an amazing team. Huge appreciation for my co-organizers Aila Albrecht, Sanne Reynders, Nafiseh Nazemi, and Rachèl van der Wal, and to everyone who helped make this happen!
Special thanks to our behind-the-scenes heroes: Laura Bliekendaal, Sander Hoogenbosch, Wieske Dorrestijn, Noëlle & Ellen Hartog, Rico van der Bent, Nathalie Schiffers, Jan Beljaars, Oskar Frere Smith, and Jan Moes—we couldn’t have done it without you.
More than a celebration—A call to action
This was more than just an event. It was a call to #AccelerateAction. The conversations we started there? They didn’t end. They continue in how we work, how we lead, and how we support each other every day.
