Recapping #EmpowerWomen2026: Our Most Impactful Year Yet

Every March, something special happens. A group of women leaders, executives, and allies walk into a room together, and within minutes, the energy shifts into something you can feel. Conversations get real. Walls come down. And for a few hours, everything feels possible.

That is what #EmpowerWomen does. And this year, for our fourth edition, it outdid itself.

Table of Contents:

💜     Four Years of Empowering Women in Toronto

☀️     A Morning That Stayed With Us

👗     The Heart of It All: Giving Back to Women in Our Community

👋     See Your At #EmpowerWomen 2027

Four Years of Empowering Women in Toronto

When we launched #EmpowerWomen, we had a simple but deeply held belief: that bringing the right people together, in the right room, with the right intention, could create meaningful change. Four years later, that belief has only grown stronger.

This year's event was held on March 26, 2026, at Microsoft's head office in downtown Toronto. Over 80 women executives, senior leaders, and allies gathered to celebrate International Women's Day 2026, connect with purpose, and give back in a way that creates real, lasting impact. From the moment the doors opened, it was clear this year was going to be something truly special.

At ProServeIT, we believe that empowering women is not a one-day event. It is something we build together - one conversation, one connection, and one contribution at a time. #EmpowerWomen is our commitment to that belief, brought to life every March.

A Morning That Stayed With Us

The theme of International Women's Day 2026, Give To Gain, set the tone for everything that followed. Because that is exactly what this community did. They gave generously and wholeheartedly, and every single person in that room walked away richer for it.

Moments from #EmpowerWomen2026, featuring panel discussions, speakers, and community conversations.

Our first panel, Redefining Wellbeing and Success: Body, Mind, Wealth and Relationships, opened up one of the most honest conversations we have had at this event. Women in leadership shared their experiences navigating physical and mental health, financial security, relationships, and the often-unspoken emotional weight of leadership. It was a reminder that thriving looks different for everyone, and that creating space to talk about it matters deeply.

The second panel, Give to Gain: Building a Better Tomorrow, brought senior leaders and allies together to explore what inclusive leadership really looks like in practice. The candid stories that were shared, and the practical ways our panelists are actively working to create more equitable workplaces, left the room both informed and inspired.

And then there was Krista Strating, world tree climbing champion and tree care expert, whose keynote closed the morning in the most powerful way. Her message was clear: climb boldly, climb confidently, and climb like a girl. There was not a person in the room who did not leave ready to do exactly that.

The Heart of It All: Giving Back to Women in Our Community

Every year, at the center of #EmpowerWomen is our clothing and donation drive with Dress for Success Toronto. It is our reminder that empowering women in leadership starts with tangible action. And this year, our community took that action in the most extraordinary way we have ever seen.

The donations received at #EmpowerWomen 2026 were the highest in the event's four-year history. Every dress donated and every dollar contributed will go directly toward helping women in the Toronto community re-enter the workforce with confidence and economic independence. This is a ripple effect from this event, and it never gets old.

Thank You to Everyone Who Made This Possible

None of this happens without the people who show up and pour their hearts into it. To our incredible partners, Microsoft, Dress for Success Toronto, CAAT Pension Plan, The Benefit Code, LineZero, and Securian Canada, thank you for believing in this mission year after year. To our speakers and moderator, thank you for your honesty, your courage, and your generosity of spirit. To the ProServeIT and LineZero teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes, this event is a reflection of you. And to every single attendee who walked through those doors, thank you. You are the reason we do this.

See You at #EmpowerWomen 2027

As we close out International Women's Month, we carry this with us: when we give, we all gain. #EmpowerWomen 2026 was our most impactful year yet, and we could not be more grateful to the women leaders in Toronto and beyond who make this community what it is.

We will see you at #EmpowerWomen 2027. 💙