International Women's Day: It Takes All of Us

Throughout the month of March, Citi celebrates International Women's Day (IWD). International Women's Day, championed by Citi Diversity and Citi Women, is one of the most visible and inclusive expressions of Citi's commitment to helping women succeed. Last year, Citi engaged our clients, employees and community partners by hosting 231 local events in 134 cities from 90 countries and we are on track for similar participation in 2016.

Our 2016 theme for International Women's Day reflects Citi's position that diversity and inclusion requires the engagement of all employees: It takes all of us.

Citi's participation in International Women's Day is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of women to Citi as well as emphasize the role they play in defining our future. I am proud to be the Co-Executive Sponsor for this year's IWD celebrations, along with Stephen Bird, CEO of Citi's Global Consumer Business. Our joint sponsorship is symbolic of Citi's far reaching involvement – from our marquee International Women's Day events targeting institutional clients in key markets, to our IWD branding presence across many consumer channels including ATMs and online banking. These external activities are complemented by our hundreds of employee-led events across the globe.

Citi is committed to being a company whose workforce is as varied as the clients and communities we serve, and we recognize our diversity as a competitive advantage. I believe Citi's annual participation in IWD is a strong and positive reminder to all employees that the recruitment, involvement and advancement of women are business imperatives. Please join me in celebrating the global economic, political and social achievements of women.

The roots of International Women's Day date back to the early 1900s, with observations and celebrations occurring in many countries on various dates. By 1977, the United Nations General Assembly designated March 8 as International Women's Day, as it continues to be observed today.