International Women's Day 2026: Women in STEM event in Seoul and IWD Voices spotlight on Lynette Siow
Two distinct initiatives framing international women's day 2026 offer a mix of convening and reflection: a Women in STEM event set for 6 March in Seoul and a month-long IWD Voices series that includes a feature conversation with Lynette Siow. Both items emphasize moving beyond awareness to measurable progress and practical steps to strengthen women’s roles in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
International Women's Day 2026 — Women in STEM event in Seoul
An event on the theme of "Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)" will take place on 6 March 2026 from 14: 00 to 18: 00 at Design Lab 4F Jandi Sarangbang, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (281, Eulji-ro, Jung-gu). The gathering is organized by the EU Delegation to the Republic of Korea in partnership with Sookmyung Women's University and the Korea Foundation for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET).
The session is designed to bring together leading voices from academia, industry and research to share personal journeys, discuss challenges and opportunities, and explore solutions aimed at strengthening women’s roles in STEM fields. Professionals, students and anyone interested are welcomed to attend. Registration is requested by 5 March 2026.
The Women in STEM session on 6 March is one of the initiatives framed under international women's day 2026 programming and is positioned as a practical forum for exchange rather than a solely symbolic observance. By combining personal testimony with sector-focused dialogue, the event aims to surface actionable ideas for recruitment, development and retention in STEM careers.
IWD Voices: Lynette Siow on measurable progress, equity and leadership
The IWD Voices series dedicates the month of March to spotlighting women leaders and their experiences. One featured conversation highlights Lynette Siow, chief executive officer at Saint-Gobain Malaysia & Singapore, reflecting on the theme "Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls. "
In the interview, Lynette frames the next phase of work on gender equity as a shift from conversation to measurable progress. She describes a deepening understanding of fairness — moving from the idea of equal treatment to a focus on equitable access — and places responsibility on senior leaders to shape equitable workplaces beyond policy statements.
At the company level, Lynette discusses building equity into recruitment, talent development and leadership pathways to ensure opportunities are accessible and fair. She emphasizes that empowerment must not be selective and that systems, workplaces and communities should remove barriers so no woman is left behind because of background, circumstance or bias.
The conversation also touches on the formative influence of early professional trust and responsibility, and the inspiration drawn from established leaders who demonstrated that strong business performance and empathetic leadership can coexist. These reflections are presented as part of a broader push during March to highlight lessons, obstacles and practical approaches for the next generation of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors.
What these initiatives mean and what comes next
Taken together, the Seoul event and the IWD Voices conversation signal complementary paths for International Women's Day activity: convening practitioners and students to identify concrete solutions in STEM, while amplifying leadership perspectives that call for measurable, system-level change. Both emphasize that rights and justice must translate into everyday decisions, recruitment practices and measurable pathways to leadership.
Participants and observers should expect the Women in STEM forum to surface sector-specific challenges and potential pilot steps for institutions and companies. The IWD Voices series will continue to surface leadership lessons and practical approaches that organizations can adapt. Details such as registration deadlines and event timings are in place; participants are encouraged to plan accordingly.
These initiatives reflect a shared emphasis on turning principles into practice and creating environments where women can advance with dignity, confidence and equitable access to opportunity.
