As Citi marks its 200th year, it also celebrated the achievements of women during the first global International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8.

This year, Citi Women, the company-wide effort to foster ongoing development and advancement of women, engaged employees to create more than 100 events in 88 cities across 57 countries. With the guidance of the Global Diversity Office, local women’s councils and networks leveraged toolkits and common branding to create a cohesive global approach.

The Citi Foundation made a $1 million grant to the Calvert Foundation, to launch the Women INvesting in Women INitiative (WIN-WIN). The program will invest at least $20 million in high-impact organizations and projects worldwide that help create economic opportunities for women lacking access to traditional credit and funding sources. Below is a sampling of other activities on International Women’s Day:

  • In London, Citi colleagues collected 200 boxes of clothing for Dress for Success to celebrate the day and Citi’s 200th anniversary.
  • In Mexico City, Citi hosted a program for 200 senior managers with internal and external panelists from government and media.
  • In San Francisco, Citi and the Financial Women’s Association of San Francisco featured a panel of business leaders on the subject of ingenuity.
  • In Singapore, 300 Citi colleagues raised funds for the Citi-Tsao Financial Education Program for Mature Women.
  • In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Citi hosted former City Councilwoman and State Legislator Casey Murschel to present “Women in Leadership – Past, Present and Future.”
  • Citi Kenya partnered with Junior Achievement for an Innovation Boot Camp for university students.
  • Citi Turkey celebrated the contributions of women with a photo exhibition and panel on the “Role and Importance of Women in the Business World.”

IWD connected colleagues and clients from different countries and businesses with new ways to celebrate Citi’s diversity. The energy and excitement has generated interest in forming employee networks and councils across the globe, as well as increasing focus on women’s programming. Externally, Citi received positive media coverage, and at many events engaged clients in dialogue demonstrating Citi’s leadership, ingenuity and commitment to diversity.