Introducing International Women's Day "My Progress" Series

On a national and global scale, women are making progress like never before. According to Citi and LinkedIn's sixth wave of research on the career and financial concerns of professional women, progress for women in business has made remarkable strides.

According to the study, two-thirds of women surveyed feel they are on their way to equal footing in the workplace, and cited the top indicators of progress as the number of women in leadership roles, flexible work policies, and the elimination of the gender wage gap.

In four of the six markets surveyed – the United States, United Kingdom, Mexico and Colombia – women with a spouse or partner were more likely to earn the same or more income than their significant other. But being the family breadwinner doesn't fluster women. In fact, more women feel a sense of pride – rather than feeling pressured – in this role, the survey found.

Today, while only a small percentage of women feel they currently "have it all," the overwhelming majority view "having it all" as an attainable goal. And, women are leaning in, looking for ways to advance their skills and rise within their organizations.

While these survey results point to incredible progress, there is still more to be done. Women in every country surveyed said that a glass ceiling remains a barrier to true equality.

In the spirit of helping more women break through self-imposed or institutional barriers to their achieve their full potential, for this International Women's Day, Citi's My Progress blog series will feature personal stories of inspirational women and pioneers from across the world. We asked each to elaborate on a single, personal value or defining characteristic that led to their progress, however they may define success. Some are personal journeys. Others recount the experiences that led to professional or financial success.

Each is different. Each is human. And they are all triumphs.