Every year, March 8 looks almost the same: tulips, congratulations, kind words, and photos of bouquets filling our feeds.

But the history behind this day tells a different story.

More than a hundred years ago, women took to the streets demanding the right to work, the right to vote, the right to participate in decision-making, and the right to be heard.

A lot has changed since then. Today, women lead companies, countries, and research centers. But the road to this point was long.

One of the names that became part of that history is Margaret Thatcher.

She became the first woman to serve as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. A political arena that had long been dominated by men suddenly looked different. Thatcher not only had to govern the country but also had to do so under constant scrutiny. Every decision, every speech, every step was examined far more closely than that of many of her peers.

She became known as the “Iron Lady”. But if we look more closely at her career, the title was less about toughness and more about consistency and confidence in her decisions.

There is a quote often associated with her leadership style:

"If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman."

People may have different views on her policies, but it is hard to deny that she reshaped perceptions of what a leader can look like.

And when we talk about March 8 today, we became curious about something simple: what do women actually want on this day? Flowers? Attention? Or perhaps something more?

We asked this question in a short video on Instagram, feel free to take a look. We would love to hear your thoughts as well.

CEO of AIFC Academy, Olga Baspayeva

o.baspayeva@aifc.kz