By Vinisha Rathod
Let’s define what a “woman’s issue” really is. Are we talking the gender pay gap? Endometriosis? Domestic violence? Menopause? Safety when running at night? Pressure to stay young as we age?
Too often these issues are dismissed as niche or sentimental; relegated to panels, not policies. Yet they shape our communities, our economies, and our collective wellbeing. They are human issues with deeply systemic consequences.
Every time I introduce myself, without fail, I get the question: “So, what do you do?”
I bring up domestic violence. Not in a way that shuts down the room, but in a way that weaves through how our systems actually work and fail. I don’t save this conversation for women-only spaces. I bring it into meetings, keynotes, dinner parties, boardrooms.
Because domestic violence is not a siloed issue. It’s a barometer of inequality. It touches the economy, employment, education, urban design, and our justice systems. And when I do speak about it? It’s incredibly welcomed. Because I don’t just say “diverse teams generate better revenue” (although they do). I say this:
When we build high-performing teams—teams that hire and promote based on real capability, not connections or comfort—we open the door to “A” players from everywhere: different genders, cultures, neuro-types, and ages. We make room for brilliance that might otherwise be overlooked. And when that happens, when talented people from underrepresented backgrounds are given a genuine shot, we do more than boost performance. We reduce the wealth and equity gap. And when we reduce that gap, we also have an opportunity to reduce domestic violence. Because access to money and community is often the difference between someone staying in an unsafe situation and having the freedom to leave. That’s not a feel-good story. That’s economic reality. And it’s one I’ve lived.
Work gives agency. Agency gives choice.
This is not about labelling men the problem. It’s about naming the systems that perpetuate exclusion and showing the cost—commercial, social, and personal—of leaving things as they are. One of my favorite quotes is from the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice and champion for equality Ruth Bader Ginsburg:
“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”
That’s how I approach equity. I don’t blame. I reframe. I show the cost of inaction, and the opportunity of redesign. I’ve learnt that the best way to create buy-in is to speak to what people already care about. For many, that’s their daughter, sister, wife, best friend, or niece. So the question becomes: what kind of world do you want for them? We know the answer.
A comprehensive review of 56 cash transfer programs across 30 countries found consistent positive impacts on women’s employment, decisionmaking, and reduced intimate partner violence when cash was directed to women and paired with gendersensitive design
And yet, women still earn less, own less, lead less, and are more likely to retire in poverty.
So how do we shift the conversation? Here’s what’s worked for me and what might support you in weaving these issues more boldly and beautifully into your world:
1. Start with what you care deeply about
Your why is your credibility. Whether it’s financial independence, education, safety, innovation, or healing—when you speak from what drives you, you’re impossible to ignore.
2. Learn the data
Stats help. Know your figures on DV and employment, leadership gaps, funding disparities, maternal health. Use them to support your emotional truth.
“1 in 4 women in Australia experience emotional abuse from a current or former partner. Yet financial dependence is the #1 reason women don’t leave.”
– AIHW 2023, ANROWS Research
3. Make it commercial
Business is built on logic. So make your case. Diverse teams perform better. Inclusion drives retention. Equity reduces legal risk. Fair policies grow market share. Economic security lowers healthcare and social welfare costs.
4. Speak from love and action, not guilt
We don’t need more shame. We need more shared responsibility. If someone feels implicated, give them a path forward. Invite, not indict.
5. Embed, don’t isolate
Don’t wait for International Women’s Day. Make this part of your hiring process, your team offsites, your product design, your investor decks. Let it be how, not just what, you do.
There’s still so much work to do. But imagine what becomes possible when we stop calling these “women’s issues” and start seeing them for what they are: societal design flaws that limit us all. The briefcase I carry is full of tools: data, insight, commercial strategy and deep, unshakeable care. Because a world that’s better for women is better for everyone.
Let’s make it irresistible to join.
Vinisha Rathod is a keynote speaker, advisor, and founder of P3 Studio, and author of The Briefcase Effect. With 15+ years shaping leadership, brand, and culture across sectors, she’s known for her sharp commercial insights and disarming warmth. The Briefcase Effect, is based on her signature 1:1 and workshops. This book is a practical deep-dive for anyone seeking alignment, agency and traction. As a fierce advocate for systems that reward merit and capability, she’s driven by a bigger mission: breaking glass ceilings and ending domestic violence through economic empowerment and community. See more of Vinisha’s work on her website, and follow her on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn for more updates.
