To mark the importance of today, we speak to female jury members and design leaders at Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Colgate-Palmolive and Arithmetic on what drives them forward.

Every year we grow our jury and strive for a more diverse mix of nationalities, ages, genders, educations, skill sets and experiences, and for the first time ever, our jury line-up includes more women than men.

So on a day like International Women's Day, there is no better opportunity to hear from some of these inspirational and strong female leaders within our industry on what they are most proud of, makes them tick, and their advice for young women and designers.

Rebecca McCowan, Design Lead at Coca-Cola (Europe)

"As an introvert (who often felt that everyone else in the room was smarter than me and that I might die if I had to do any public speaking) I’m humbled and amazed at where my career has taken me now leading design for Coca-Cola in Europe. I’ve learned to trust my gut, to really step out of my comfort zone, and push hard for the things I believe in and care about. But most importantly, I’ve learned to be myself.

As designers, we must tap into our background and life experiences, as these are the things that shape us and make us different… and different is GOOD! I wish I could tell my younger self to stop worrying what other people think, that in the end, it’s so much better to question things, to challenge the brief, to propose a new way of thinking about something. So to all the young creatives out there, be yourself and be confident in your ideas and thinking!"

Joann Maisonet, Senior Designer, Microsoft (USA)

"For me, leadership in design and packaging extends beyond creating aesthetically pleasing designs. It's about understanding the consumer, digging into their needs and wants, and striving for their optimal experience. I've had the opportunity to work in various design fields, including CPG, electronics, and in-store design. Often, the consumers I design for have different needs and preferences than mine. For instance, working on food packaging as a vegetarian or now diving into graphics for inclusive product design . Both scenarios require a level of learning, understanding, and empathy.

What I am most proud of navigating in my career is the transition from the Chicago design scene to Seattle while also expanding our family . It wasn't easy—juggling new industry dynamics, attending night classes, and interviewing while eight months pregnant was a lot. Looking back, I appreciate the challenges and growth, and am grateful for the support of my partner along the way.

For women joining the industry, my advice is: Don't get stuck chasing perfection or let the pursuit of perfection stall you. It's okay to make mistakes. Your first ideas might not be perfect, but they pave the way for the great ones. Embrace the process and trust in your ability to learn and improve. I have to repeat this to myself often . Your career is a journey, not a destination. Prioritize personal growth, foster collaboration, and cherish small victories. It's tough not to be envious of everything you see on LinkedIn or Instagram, but everyone’s journey is unique. Support each other and give yourself and others grace."

Sofia Kalligeri, Senior Marketing Manager, Strategy & Innovation - Europe, Colgate-Palmolive (Switzerland)

"My advice to young women starting their career: forge your own path, based on what you love to do.

Be open-minded & insatiably curious and don’t let others make you doubt your value, since, no matter the improvements, women’s equality is still not fully embedded in corporate culture . Even when you get cold feet, present your own brand with conviction and you will be surprised by the effect this has on people. Trust yourself."

Margherita Porra, Creative Director, Arithmetic (Canada)

"Holding conviction and actioning my purpose to heal the earth, help humans, and serve humanity through design is what roots my vision for myself as a design leader. It has always been for the humans, and when you’re in the industry for a long time, it’s possible to lose track of the fact that we are designing to solve a problem or to help someone, that’s when the ego has room to grow. I have a daily practice to keep my heart humble, full of empathy and to see the world with a beginner’s mind.

Something I’m most proud of? I’ve dedicated fifteen years to copious hours of self-funded research in plastic free and biomaterial packaging design solutions with the aim to eliminate plastic packaging completely. With the material research, knowledge and the manufacturing partner relationships gained, my team and I have been able to help countless of independent female and BIPOC businesses break out in their categories with a sustainability mandate that would have otherwise been inaccessible to them.

My top tips for young women joining the industry would be: Come prepared. Do the work, research culture and history, study human behaviour, be curious, challenge your assumptions, truly listen with an empathetic heart, ask specific questions and then when you speak, speak with conviction and devoid of doubt, trust your inner guidance system and look them straight in the eye. You belong ."

Take a look at this year's full jury line-up here or find out more about the 2024 competition here.