Interview with AVOW’s Monica Todor for IWD 2026
For International Women’s Day (IWD 2026), Monica Todor, VP of Finance and Legal at AVOW, shares why generosity, mentorship, and structural courage are key to advancing women in finance leadership.
Every year on March 8th, we celebrate progress toward gender equality. But as a VP of Finance and Legal, I’m naturally curious about what the data says about that progress.
And the data is clear: finance teams are often rich in female talent. The C-suite and the networks surrounding it are not.
Even after #MeToo. Even after board quotas. Even after years of public debate, leadership structures still largely reflect a system historically designed by and for men.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Give To Gain.” A powerful reminder that equality isn’t a zero-sum game. When we give – our voice, our advocacy, our structural courage – we don’t lose power. We expand it.
IWD 2026: Moving Beyond the “Quota”
In the corporate world, we talk a lot about quotas. Setting targets for female representation at the board level is a necessary start. But many women who reach those positions describe a familiar experience: being “one of few” can sometimes highlight isolation more than progress. Presence alone isn’t influenced if the culture hasn’t shifted to match it.
You can feel this dynamic in subtle ways – in who speaks first, who interrupts, who is assumed to lead the conversation. Being the only woman in the room doesn’t automatically make you part of the inner circle.
I see this reflected at high-level finance networking events. You enter a room where conversations are already flowing within long-established circles. Similar CVs. Similar paths. Similar networks. It’s rarely explicit exclusion – but the structure speaks for itself.
Interestingly, women at these events often find each other quickly. Not out of avoidance – but because the atmosphere can feel more competitive than collaborative. When more women are present, the dynamic shifts. Less posturing. More partnership.
“Equality is not about replacing one network with another. It’s about widening the room.”
And perhaps a small invitation to the gentlemen in the room: next time you attend a networking event, make a conscious effort to start at least one conversation outside your usual circle. If we want more equality in leadership, men don’t just participate in the system – they help shape it.
IWD 2026: How We “Give To Gain”
The IWD campaign says: “Giving is not subtraction. It’s intentional multiplication.”
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
Give Your Voice: Actively amplify women’s ideas in meetings. Visibility compounds.
Give Structural Courage: Trial part-time leadership. Pilot co-sharing executive roles. Rethink what “serious leadership” looks like. Flexible does not mean less responsible. It means more inclusive – and often more sustainable.
Give Your Knowledge: Mentor intentionally. The CFO of tomorrow may already be on your team today.
Give Your Resources: Equality remains fragile in many parts of the world. Supporting education and legal rights for women globally is not charity – it’s long-term stability.
Give Your Support Close to Home: Culture shifts in everyday moments – in listening, encouraging, and sharing responsibility.
At AVOW, our management team consists of 4 women and 3 men – representing Germany, Romania, France, India, Bolivia, and Russia. On a small scale, we are already piloting part-time leadership, family awareness, and flexible schedules when needed.
It’s not a revolution. It’s a decision.
And decisions compound.
This International Women’s Day, I’m committing to giving more – more advocacy, more mentorship, and more structural courage.
When women thrive, leadership evolves. And so do organizations. Happy IWD 2026!
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