Global Thryv voices bring a sharper lens to International Women’s Day
Thryv® (NASDAQ: THRY), ANZ’s leading AI-enabled small business marketing software platform provider, marks International Women’s Day (IWD) with a business perspective around this year’s theme, ‘Give to Gain’, focusing on the business value created when women are championed and supported at work across teams, workplaces and growth environments.
Bringing together senior global Thryv voices from Australia, New Zealand, the United States and the Dominican Republic (DR), their insights examine how visible and consistent support, shapes confidence, decision-making, retention and long-term progress.
A stronger International Women’s Day lens for business
Across legal and HR, finance, marketing and regional business leadership, Thryv female leaders share their perspectives on how support shows up in different parts of an organisation and how that experience shapes outcomes.
Their perspective includes the practical conditions that help women build confidence and authority, especially during periods of change. It also examines how clarity, inclusion and access can strengthen retention, decision-making and team performance over time.
According to Elise Balsillie, Head of Thryv Australia and New Zealand, support often changes outcomes long before those outcomes are visible.
“Early in my career, a few people believed in me before I fully believed in myself, and that changed the trajectory of what I thought was possible,” Elise said.
“That kind of support builds confidence over time. When leaders invest in people intentionally, the return flows through teams, culture and performance in ways that are often bigger than expected.”
The day-to-day culture test
According to Sally Knox, Marketing Manager, Thryv New Zealand, the impact of support shows up less in one-off gestures and more in the daily experience of work.
“Backing women at work is rarely about one big gesture. It is what a workplace feels like every day, whether people are trusted, included early and supported consistently,” Sally said.
“When people feel expendable, they play it safe. When they feel supported, confidence compounds, they think bigger and teams grow faster. That is where retention and scale come together.”
Clarity, inclusion and leadership through change
Thryv’s Chief Legal Officer and HR, Lesley Bolger, highlights the importance of clarity and composure when organisations are moving through constant change.
“Teams read a leader’s nervous system. If leaders panic or communicate unclear expectations, that spreads quickly,” Lesley said.
“Strong leadership through change starts with honesty, clarity and inclusion, acknowledge that change is hard, communicate clearly, celebrate wins and support everyone in the room, not only the loudest voices.”
Lesley also points to authenticity as a critical part of how women build authority.
“You are in the room for a reason. You do not need to adjust who you are to justify your seat at the table,” Lesley said.
“The job is to bring your expertise, your perspective and your voice, and to help create a culture where difference is recognised as strength.”
A global lens on confidence and access
According to Ana Garcia, Senior Manager Finance, Thryv DR, one of the first and more powerful barriers many women face is questioning whether they belong in the room.
“That changes when support, encouragement and access to learning come together. Technology has become a bridge, opening doors to training, mentoring and development that were once much harder to access,” Ana said.
“Progress is strengthened when organisations create environments where women can build confidence with support, not in isolation.”
Five practical ways businesses can turn Give to Gain into action
- Make support visible in day-to-day culture
Support is most effective when people feel it in how decisions are made, how opportunities are shared and how people are backed in the room and outside it.
- Treat backing women as a business driver
Support strengthens confidence, decision-making and momentum, with effects that flow across teams and performance over time.
- Lead through change with clarity and composure
Clear expectations, calm communication and inclusive decision-making help teams stay steady during pressure and uncertainty.
- Build presence through clarity
Executive presence does not require women to become someone else. It grows through confidence, consistency and clarity of contribution.
- Tackle confidence barriers early
Mentoring, encouragement and access to learning can reduce self-doubt early and create stronger pathways for women to step forward and grow.
A collective voice with business relevance
What emerges most clearly is that Give to Gain is practical, relational and cumulative. Each voice captures a different part of that equation, and together they show how support builds momentum that lasts.
According to Lesley, real progress is sustained when support is shared, values are lived and people continue backing each other in meaningful ways.
“It is our responsibility to keep moving forward in this, supporting each other, regardless of title, pay, level in the company, outside the company, parent, child, it does not matter. We can always support each other, and with the give comes the gain,” Lesley said.
