Igniting Change: Celebrating Fire Horse Energy on International Women’s Day
This year, International Women’s Day on March 8 lands in a rare astrological moment in the Chinese zodiac: the Year of the Fire Horse.
Each year in the Chinese zodiac, the five traditional elements (earth, wood, fire, metal and water) rotate with the 12 animals. The Year of the Fire Horse happens just once every 60 years. The last Fire Horse year was in 1966.
The Year of the Fire Horse is associated with intense energy, boldness, and rapid change. There is a focus on action, transformation and disruption. It is seen as a time for independence, fearlessness and leadership.
On IWD, as we push for meaningful change, let us harness this energy of courage, forward motion and change to help advance and secure true equality for everyone in our industry.
It is not lost on me that the characteristics of the Year of the Fire Horse are similar to the characteristics of women around the world who push for reform and drive progress.
The women of the early 1900s who established IWD were fighting for multiple rights including the right to vote. Often, they were beaten, imprisoned, and arrested. It is their bravery and focus on action that caused change. Suffragist Millicent Fawcett wrote, “Courage calls to courage everywhere, and its voice cannot be denied.”
The United Nations cites on its IWD web page that women today have only 64 percent of the legal rights that men hold worldwide (1). One way to celebrate IWD is to get involved with an organization and take action to demand equal rights, to champion a cause, to lead transformation, and to bring awareness to the injustices that women face.
There are also many other ways to mark the 115th year of IWD. It is a time to celebrate the achievements of women around the world. In 2025, Sanae Takaichi became the first female Prime Minister of Japan. Dr. Maria Alvarez, a leading figure in AI, has developed ethical AI frameworks that have set new standards around the world (2). Anita Gupta has developed clean water technologies that are now used in over 30 countries (3).
In the semiconductor industry, women continue to lead with courage and boldness. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, was named in 2025 as one of TIME magazine’s “Architects of AI” for the Person of the Year. This year, Jodi Shelton, co-founder and CEO of GSA, launched her podcast, “A Bit Personal.” Celebrate IWD by listening to two amazing women who have had a significant impact on the industry worldwide. Jodi’s interview with Lisa can be found here:
YouTube: Lisa Su Interview
Apple Podcasts: A Bit Personal with Jodi Shelton – Podcast – Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Lisa Su Interview
Another way to celebrate IWD is to read The Trailblazer’s Playbook by author, engineer, CEO, strategist, Board leader and trailblazer, Sylvia Acevedo. Sylvia writes, “This book is for you. If you’re ready to aim higher, push harder, and chart a path toward your boldest aspirations, The Trailblazer’s Playbook is your guide to make it happen. Let’s start the journey together. Dream Big. Act Boldly.”
In her article, “The Fire Horse: What 2026’s Rarest Zodiac Year Means for Women In Business,” founder and CEO of The Bacon Magazine, Andrea Walker, writes, “This is the year for the big bet—starting the company, taking the C-suite role, making the industry switch everyone said was too risky.”(4)
As we head into IWD, let’s celebrate the Fire Horse energy of women around the world that are fighting for equality and pushing down barriers, and the women who have made bold moves and laid the groundwork for us.
Let’s allow that Fire Horse energy to ignite in us to act boldly. As Millicent Fawcett shared, acts of bravery inspire others to act courageously, and it is powerful.
Author: Kristin Hehir, Credo
Footnotes:
1. https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day
2. Women Who Made History by 2025: Triumphs & Success