Every March, Women’s History Month is a time to reflect on the progress made toward gender equality while recognizing the challenges that still exist. From closing the gender pay gap to increasing women’s leadership representation, there’s still work to be done—and businesses play a vital role in creating that change.

At Herbaland, we believe in empowering women, championing diversity, and creating social impact in our communities. As a 50% women-founded company, we’re proud to uplift women inside and outside our business. However, in recent months, we’ve seen a backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts, especially in the corporate world. So, what does Women’s History Month stand for? And why does gender equality still matter? Let’s answer those questions!

The Barriers Women Still Face in Leadership & Pay Equity

While progress has been made, the numbers don’t lie—women continue to be underrepresented in leadership and paid less for the same work.

• In Canada, women working full-time still earn 89 cents for every dollar men make, and for racialized and Indigenous women, the gap is even wider (Statistics Canada, 2023).

• Only 35% of management roles in Canada are held by women, even though they make up 48% of the workforce. The percentage drops even further at the executive level (McKinsey, 2023).

• Among Canada’s top 100 publicly traded companies, just 6% of CEOs are women—a glaring statistic that highlights the lack of representation at the highest levels (Globe and Mail, 2023).

Pay gaps and leadership barriers aren’t just moral issues—they’re economic ones. Studies show that closing the gender gap could add $150 billion to Canada’s economy by 2026, yet businesses are still slow to take action.

The DEI in Business Backlash: Why Businesses Shouldn’t Step Back

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) refers to the commitment organizations make to ensuring equal opportunities, fair treatment, and an inclusive work environment for all employees, regardless of gender, race, or background. Numerous studies prove that DEI-friendly workplaces perform better financially, innovate more, and have higher employee satisfaction rates.

However, in recent months after Trump’s appointment to office, some of the biggest companies in the world—including Google, Meta, Disney, and PepsiCo—have either cut funding for DEI programs, laid off DEI staff, or removed DEI initiatives altogether.

Collectively, these four companies employ just under 1 million people and influence the lives (and perceptions) of millions more. The concern is that when industry giants de-prioritize diversity, smaller businesses follow suit, setting back years of progress in workplace equality.

Despite the backlash, businesses that prioritize DEI actually see higher performance and profitability. Companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are 25% more likely to outperform competitors financially (McKinsey, 2023). Moreover, workplaces with strong DEI cultures report higher employee retention and engagement rates, leading to better productivity and lower turnover costs (Deloitte, 2023).

Women’s History Month 2025: A Yearlong movement at Herbaland

At Herbaland, we walk the talk when it comes to women’s empowerment.

• 50% of our co-founders are women – Herbaland was co-founded by Aisha Yang, who has led the company to international success.

• 50% of our management team is made up of women in key leadership roles, including Offline and Online Sales, Finance, Quality Control, and HR.

By ensuring women have a seat at the table in decision-making, we’re fostering a more inclusive and dynamic work culture—one that values leadership, innovation, and diverse perspectives.

How To Join the Movement

Empowering women isn’t just about grand gestures or big corporate initiatives—it’s about everyday actions that add up over time. You don’t have to be a B Corp or a business owner to make a difference. Here’s how you can support women’s empowerment:

✅ Support women in business and women-led businesses
✅ Advocate for fair pay and opportunities in your workplace
✅ Challenge gender bias when you see it
✅ Educate yourself on women’s contributions to history and society
✅ Be more skeptical of businesses that claim inclusivity without action (spoiler: a lot of them are false!)

At Herbaland, we believe in using business as a force for good. If you’d like to collaborate or get involved with any of our initiatives, reach out to us—we’d love to hear from you.

Happy Women’s History Month! Let’s keep making progress—together💜💜.