Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025, this year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” underscores the urgency of our collective efforts to achieve gender parity. At the current rate of progress, full gender equality is projected to take until the year 2158, which is approximately five generations from now (Source). While there are many things we can do to accelerate action, I wanted to focus this blog post on where I personally could add the most value – by helping and empowering women to harness the power of storytelling.

Why Storytelling?

Storytelling is more than just sharing personal experiences – it’s a catalyst for transformation. Research shows that stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone (Stanford University). Stories help us connect, shape perceptions, and shift mindsets. Neuroscientific research reveals that:

• Stories engage the brain through neural coupling, causing brain waves in the listener to mirror those of the storyteller (Princeton University).
• Stories create emotional connection, helping readers and listeners develop empathy (Harvard Business Review).
• Stories activate multiple brain areas, unlike data alone, making information more immersive and memorable (Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience).
• Stories change the brain’s chemistry by increasing oxytocin (the “trust hormone”), which enhances generosity and connection (Source – Paul Zak, Director of the Centre for Neuroeconomics at Claremont Graduate University).

By telling our stories with intention, we create momentum in our efforts to achieve gender parity and amplify the urgency of action. Here’s how.

10 Ways Storytelling Helps Women Accelerate Action

1. Start With Your ‘Why’ – Define the Change You Want to See

Every powerful story begins with a purpose. Ask yourself: What do I want to change? Whether advocating for workplace equity, women’s leadership, or safety, defining your “why” gives your story direction and inspires others to take action.

Accelerate Action Tip: Stories that start with a strong “why” fuel movements. Think of Malala Yousafzai’s story – her ‘why’ was the right to education, and her storytelling turned into global activism.

2. Be Authentic – Your Truth is Your Power

Your story is uniquely yours, and that’s what makes it powerful. Authenticity fosters connection, builds trust, and helps others see themselves in your experiences. By sharing your truth – whether it’s a personal struggle, a career lesson, or a vision for change – you inspire others to do the same.

Accelerate Action Tip: Authentic stories create lasting impact. Michelle Obama’s memoir Becoming resonated worldwide because she shared her journey with honesty, vulnerability, and strength, inspiring millions to embrace their own stories.

3. Know Your Audience – Tailor Your Message for Maximum Impact

A powerful story is one that resonates. Who needs to hear your message? Whether it’s corporate leaders, policymakers, or young women, tailoring your storytelling approach increases engagement and influence.

Accelerate Action Tip: Speak the language of the audience you need to persuade. A CEO might need data-driven storytelling, while an online community may respond to personal video narratives.

4. Harness Emotion – Stories That Move, Mobilize

People take action when they feel something. Whether it’s hope, frustration, or determination, storytelling infused with emotion makes people care and compels them to act.

Accelerate Action Tip: Greta Thunberg’s raw, urgent storytelling about the climate crisis made world leaders listen. Emotion is a tool for urgency and action.

5. Show, Don’t Just Tell – Make Your Story Tangible

Illustrate your story with examples, images, and metaphors. Data and statistics can be powerful, but weaving them into a human story makes them even more impactful.

Accelerate Action Tip: Rather than saying “gender pay gaps persist,” tell a real woman’s story about the impact of wage inequality on her family’s present and future. Use photos, videos, infographics to visualize the story.

6. Adapt Your Story to Different Platforms – Go Where the Change Needs to Happen

A well-told story is adaptable. For example, the way you tell your story in a LinkedIn article differs from an Instagram reel or a boardroom speech. Maximize your reach by using multiple platforms where your audience spends time.

Accelerate Action Tip: Consider video storytelling – women-led campaigns like #ThisGirlCan gained massive traction by showing real women’s stories in action.

7. Build Community – Storytelling Inspires Collective Action

Change doesn’t happen alone. When we share our stories, we empower others to share theirs, building a movement that’s stronger together.

Accelerate Action Tip: Organize storytelling circles, social media campaigns, or events where women can amplify their voices together. Shared narratives create shared action.

8. Use Data with Your Story – Facts Strengthen Your Message

Emotion alone isn’t enough. When storytelling is paired with data, it becomes even more persuasive. Stats give credibility, while stories make people care.

Accelerate Action Tip: If advocating for workplace equality, include data – like the World Economic Forum’s report on gender parity – alongside real-life examples to humanize the numbers.

9. Practice & Refine – Storytelling is a Skill That Gets Stronger Over Time

The best storytellers refine their narratives over time. Practice makes your story more compelling, concise, and effective.

Accelerate Action Tip: Test your story with friends, in professional settings, or online. Watch how people react and refine based on feedback to maximize impact.

10. Never Stop Evolving – Your Story Grows as You Grow

As we evolve, so do our stories. What drives you today may shift tomorrow. Keep sharing, learning, and adapting – your story is a living testament to progress.

Accelerate Action Tip: Keep telling your story, even when it’s messy. Progress is made through persistence, and every chapter adds to the bigger movement for change.

A Call to Action: Your Story Matters – Use It to Drive Change

This International Women’s Day, I encourage you to share a story that matters to you. Whether it’s about personal growth, a challenge you overcame, or a vision for the future, storytelling is one of the most powerful tools we have to accelerate action for gender equality.

Let’s use our voices to create the change we wish to see – starting today. What story will you tell?

Jessica Gioglio is the co-author of The Laws of Brand Storytelling and The Power of Visual Storytelling. Professionally, Jessica has led innovative marketing and public relations programs for Dunkin’, TripAdvisor, Sprinklr, and more. Today, Jessica is a keynote speaker (book her here) and founder of With Savvy Media & Marketing, a strategic branding, storytelling, and content strategy consultancy.