I’d like to believe that future editions of history books will herald each International Women’s Day as an increasingly powerful and impactful day of change. I hope that, each year, the day yields an idea, a hashtag or a movement of historical and monumental proportions. I hope that, each year, the day is one we’ll never forget.

American Express today announced the appointment of Sonia Cargan as the chief diversity officer. In this role, Cargan will be responsible for ensuring American Express remains an employer of choice among top diverse talent and drives collective success through the development of inclusive teams and a collaborative work environment.

As she relaxed on a Saturday afternoon in 1991, Betsy Duke received a phone call that would change her life. Her mentor and boss at a community bank in Virginia, the Bank of Tidewater, had died from a heart attack. Twenty-four hours later, Duke became one of the state’s first female banking CEOs.

On International Women’s Day, GRI wants to highlight how transparency can help organizations work towards gender equality. This month's newsletter features several examples of how the GRI Standards and GRI’s services help companies better understand their impacts on gender.

On March 7, Balaji Ganapathy, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Head of Workforce Effectiveness in North America, joined an esteemed panel of speakers in Washington D.C., at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and U.S. Department of State’s eighth International Women's Day Forum, Partner With Purpose: Business for Gender Equality.

General Mills today announced a strategic sourcing agreement with Gunsmoke Farms LLC to convert 34,000 acres of conventional farmland to certified organic acreage by 2020. The farm, located west of Pierre, South Dakota, will grow certified organic wheat and other organic rotational crops. General Mills will use wheat grown on the farm to make Annie’s pasta products, including its signature Mac and Cheese.

Domtar Corporation today announced improvements to its award-winning supply chain transparency tool, The Paper Trail® (www.domtarpapertrail.com), offering customers a deeper look into the company’s products and the people and places behind their manufacture.

Aflac, the leader in voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the United States and a committed corporate ally for families facing childhood cancer, today announced an agreement with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® (CMN Hospitals) to sponsor several key CMN Hospitals events throughout the year, including the second annual #ChildrensHospitalsWeek, which is this week. Aflac will also sponsor the CMN Dance Marathon Leadership Conference in July and five select Miracle Network Dance Marathon events held at universities across the country.

General Motors and Switch are the first participants in a new Consumers Energy program to help large businesses use large renewable energy sources. Both companies are now matching 100 percent of their electric use at key operations in Michigan with wind-generated power.

In honor of women around the globe who are lifting up themselves and their families through their own hard work and creativity, happy International Women’s Day! Today Whole Planet Foundation celebrates the achievements of microentrepreneurs like Rupa who are using their voice and their personal power to change their own lives through microbusinesses that they lead.