To mark her final International Women’s Day as our Rector, Lise Hudson shares her own personal reflections on this year’s theme, Give to Gain.
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it means to give. Not the kind of giving that comes with a certificate, a title, or a spotlight. Not the kind of giving that is measured in minutes on a calendar. The kind of giving that happens quietly, between people, when someone chooses to show up.
Thirty-six years ago, I arrived at HSD as a young professional with more hope than certainty. I didn’t know then that this school would become my life’s work, my extended family, my home. I didn’t know that I would become the first woman to lead this community. I didn’t know that I would stay. And yet, here I am, at the close of my career, still believing that the greatest work we do is the work of caring for one another.
The theme of International Women’s Day 2026 is Give to Gain. At first glance, it sounds almost transactional; give something, get something back. But I’ve learned that giving is never a bargain. Giving is a choice. It’s a way of being. It is, in its purest form, a show of love.
I have spent my entire professional life at HSD. This is not something I say with pride, but with a deep and quiet gratitude. I have been given so much by this community, trust, purpose, friendship, and the chance to watch generations of young people grow into themselves. To have spent my career here has been the privilege of my life.
And I want to be clear about something: I have never felt that giving to HSD has been a sacrifice. It has been a joy. Because giving does not deplete us. It enlarges us.
Over the years, I have come to realise that leadership is not a position. Leadership is a practice and the practice I have chosen is one rooted in emotional intelligence, kindness, and compassion. Emotional intelligence is simply this: the courage to feel what we feel, and the courage to understand what someone else is feeling too. It is the ability to pause before we speak, to listen before we judge, and to respond before we react. When we lead with emotional intelligence, we create space for people to be human. We create environments where people feel safe enough to take risks, to ask for help, to be vulnerable, and to grow.
I would hope that the HSD community would know that of all our Core Values, Kindness stands out for me. I believe profoundly that kindness is not a ‘soft’ skill, quite the reverse; Kindness is strength in disguise. It is the quiet decision to treat people with dignity, even when we disagree. It is the choice to offer compassion when someone is struggling, instead of rushing to fix or dismiss. It is the willingness to stand up for what is right, not with anger, but with clarity and care.
The HSD community gives in so many ways. We give financially, supporting Charities, Bursaries and opportunities that open doors. And we give our time volunteering, mentoring, listening, guiding, and being present in ways that matter. Both forms of giving are profound, both are needed. They are love made visible and I believe that every person in this community has the capacity to give. You don’t need a position to make a difference. You don’t need a platform to change a life. You don’t need a name in lights to be powerful. You only need to show up.
So, on this International Women’s Day 2026, I want to invite us all to think about what we can give not because we expect something in return, but because giving and caring for others is who we are when we are at our best.
Happy International Women’s Day 2026!