Give To Gain: What I’ve Learned from Listening
This year’s International Women’s Day theme stopped me mid-scroll: Give To Gain. Three words that, without realizing it, describe exactly what the past year of Tech She Secures has taught me.
When I created this platform, my intention was simple. I wanted to build a space where people could share their stories honestly and openly. A space where journeys mattered just as much as titles. A space that would amplify stories that often go unheard and bring forward diverse voices from around the world.
What I did not fully realize at the time was how much I would gain simply by listening.
Over the past year, I have had the privilege of sitting down with incredible professionals across cybersecurity, technology, medicine, and beyond. Each conversation was different, but a pattern kept emerging.
The people who make the greatest impact in their fields are often the ones who give the most.
They give their time.
They give their knowledge.
They give encouragement.
They give opportunity.
They give belief in others.
And in doing so, they create environments where people grow.
That is the true spirit of Give To Gain.
Mentorship Is the Longest-Lasting Gift
One of the strongest themes that emerged through these conversations was mentorship.
Throughout my own career, I have been fortunate to learn from people who took the time to guide me, challenge me, and sometimes push me beyond what I thought I was capable of. Not because they had to, but because they believed in investing in others.
Mentorship is one of the most powerful forms of giving. It is giving someone the confidence to walk into a room where they may feel unsure. It is sharing lessons that took years to learn. It is opening doors that someone else might not even know exist.
And the impact rarely stops with one person. When leaders invest in people, they strengthen teams, organizations, and entire communities.
Nobody Gets Brave Alone
In every interview on Tech She Secures, I ask what I call the “BADdest” challenge someone has faced, the moment when they had to be Bold, Authentic, and Driven.
The answers are always powerful. Sometimes it is stepping into leadership roles before feeling fully ready. Sometimes it is moving across the world to pursue education and opportunity. Sometimes it is walking into rooms where they were the only person who looked like them.
These moments are deeply personal, but they all share something in common: courage.
What strikes me most is this. Courage is rarely a solo act. Often someone believed in them first. Someone encouraged them. Someone gave them an opportunity.
And when people share those stories, they give others permission to be courageous as well.
Every Perspective Fills a Gap
Another lesson that continues to emerge from these conversations is the value of diverse perspectives.
The strongest teams are rarely made up of people who think exactly the same way. Innovation thrives when people bring different experiences, cultures, backgrounds, and viewpoints to the table.
When we listen to those perspectives with curiosity and respect, something powerful happens. We learn. We adapt. We see solutions we might have missed before.
Giving space to different voices does not weaken organizations. It strengthens them.
The Permission We Forget to Give Ourselves
But giving does not only flow outward. Some of the most important giving I have witnessed has been people finally giving something to themselves.
Permission to ask questions.
Permission to change direction.
Permission to evolve.
Many of the people I have spoken with did not follow perfectly straight career paths. Their journeys involved pivots, challenges, unexpected opportunities, and moments of uncertainty.
But they remained curious. They kept learning. And they stayed open to growth. That openness is often where the greatest gains happen.
You Rarely See Where the Ripple Ends
The more conversations I have had through Tech She Secures, the more I realize that leadership is not defined only by titles or achievements. It is defined by impact.
Impact created through generosity. Through mentorship. Through encouragement. Through creating opportunities for others to succeed.
One conversation can change someone’s confidence.
One opportunity can change someone’s career.
One act of belief can change someone’s trajectory.
Giving rarely diminishes us. More often, it multiplies what is possible.
And that is the true power of Give To Gain.
Moving Forward
International Women’s Day is a powerful reminder of how far we have come, but also how much work remains.
Real progress does not happen through a single day of celebration. It happens through everyday actions. Through mentorship. Through collaboration. Through advocating for one another. Through creating environments where people feel supported, valued, and empowered.
When we give our time, our knowledge, and our support, we do not lose anything. We gain stronger communities. Stronger leaders. And a future where more people have the opportunity to thrive.
And if the past year has taught me anything, it is this: when people choose to give generously and intentionally, we all gain.
So this International Women’s Day, I want to ask: who gave to you? And who are you giving to now?
Maliha
Disclaimer: The content on this blog and website reflects a combination of my personal experiences, perspectives, and insights, as well as interviews and contributions from other individuals. It does not represent the opinions, policies, or strategies of any organization I am currently affiliated with or have been affiliated with in the past. This platform serves as a personal space for sharing ideas, lessons learned, and meaningful reflections.
