Building Communities of Growth
Atos’s Larisa-Doria Tatarcan’s reflections on IWD 2026
In our endeavors to uncover the true impact of International Women’s Day themes, we were in conversation with Atos’s Larisa-Doria Tatarcan, Global Head of Strategy & Transformation – Technology, Group Technology Office.
Larisa shares that IWD is a catalyst for year-round action, collaboration, and meaningful change far beyond a single day, and the 2026 theme, “Give to Gain,” highlights the power of support, mentorship, and shared opportunities to build stronger, more diverse communities.
Read on to know more about her perspective on how sustainable giving, active mentorship, and creating the right workplace environments ensure every individual can grow and contribute.
1. Before we start, we have to ask a question that seems to always crop up at this time of the year: Do you think IWD themes are short-lived celebrations or are they truly impactful with ripple effects throughout the year?
I don’t see IWD themes as one-day celebrations. At their best, they act as catalysts. Each year’s theme draws global attention to a specific challenge, giving people, communities, and organizations a shared focus and common language.
That focus often sparks collaboration. Partnerships form, initiatives are launched, and conversations that may have stayed local gain global momentum. When individuals and communities invest their time and energy in a theme, the impact naturally extends well beyond March 8.
It creates a snowball effect, fueling ongoing dialogue and sustained action throughout the year. International Women’s Day becomes a clear call to action — a moment to share stories, highlight good practices, and continue building on them, month by month.
2. The IWD 2026 theme, “Give to Gain,” calls for supporting women’s advancement to create a better world for everyone through the spirit of giving. What are your thoughts on this?
I believe “Give to Gain” is a powerful reminder that progress happens when support is intentional and shared. It encourages us to build environments where success is multiplied through collaboration, not competition.
Giving can take many forms - time, mentorship, advocacy - but also access, visibility, and opportunity. Opening doors and actively championing women doesn’t just benefit individuals; it strengthens organizations.
It builds stronger, more diverse leadership. When knowledge is shared and mentorship is prioritized, learning accelerates and performance improves.
Ultimately, the message is simple but powerful: the more we give, the more we gain.
3. Is there a role model from your own life who has embodied this theme (Give to Gain)? And how?
When I think about a role model who embodies this year’s theme, I think of Michelle Obama, not only for her years as First Lady, but the influence built before that.
After graduating from Harvard Law School, she chose a career that blended leadership with public service and community impact. She helped prepare young people for public service and contributed to developing community service programs, setting the tone for her future work.
As First Lady, Michelle launched and championed long-term initiatives – improving children’s health through Let’s Move!, and supporting service member, veterans, military families through Joining Forces.
Supporting girls is key for Michelle. Her work in girls’ education is a clear “Give to Gain” example. Through Let Girls Learn, Michelle has helped adolescent girls access quality education, empowering them to reach full potential, lifting up their families and transforming communities.
She has continued this work after leaving the White House through her foundation Girls Opportunity Alliance. To me, she truly embodies the spirit of Give to Gain.
4. In today’s world where women are still striving to be recognized in the face of gender equality, pay gaps, and basic human rights too, how can every woman imbibe a “Give to Gain” mindset?
I firmly believe that unity is strength.
Embracing the “Give to Gain” mindset globally, with genuine commitment, can create healthier, more sustainable models of strengthening women’s position worldwide.
Through this mindset we can build strength, share knowledge that will help others move faster, and celebrate and credit women’s success publicly and visibly.
Once this becomes a shared habit, it will build communities where support and recognition circulate, and, over time, we will be able to see improvements in all the mentioned areas – gender equality, pay gaps and basic human rights.
5. How are you looking to embrace your drive to “give to gain” in a sustainable, reciprocative and nurturing manner? What are some of the social media platforms you would use to amplify this? How about offline?
For me, embracing “Give to Gain” means choosing a high-impact habit rather than a one-off act of support. It’s about consistency.
It means mentoring and sharing knowledge, from lessons learned to practical guidelines, creating space for others to grow and support them, while also remaining open to feedback and continuous learning. At the same time, shared responsibility is essential so that giving remains sustainable and doesn’t lead to burnout.
When it comes to social media, I would turn to LinkedIn. Highlighting achievements, publicly recognizing contributions and sharing knowledge — this platform would be my go-to.
Internally, I would focus on Teams and Communities on SharePoint to share Atos-driven insights, connect colleagues to opportunities, and foster collaboration and dialogue. I would also continue to actively engage in mentorship programs, contributing both as a mentor and as a learner.
This naturally extends offline by showing up to in-person sessions, building meaningful professional relationships, and actively advocating for others in the rooms where key discussions and decisions take place.
6. How is Atos enabling you to empower your team members to contribute and leverage their own skills?
When I think about how Atos enables all of us to empower our team members, I immediately think of the strong communities we have - — spaces where people can learn from their peers, share practical knowledge, and support one another.
Atos also creates real development opportunities through mobility across projects, allowing individuals to broaden their experience, take on new challenges, and build a more diverse skill set over time.
Personally, I try to delegate both tasks and ownership, enabling others to stretch their skills without needing a perfect background. That creates a safe space to grow, build confidence, and believe in their own potential.
I also try to make recognition visible and specific, so contributions are clearly acknowledged.
When people feel trusted and supported, they naturally give more, and when they give more, we all gain more. That, to me, is truly the essence of a “Give to Gain” mindset.
Larisa Tatarcan
Global Head of Strategy & Transformation – Technology Group Technology Office
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