Dear Friends,
On the first Friday of March, Deloitte held its annual #AppreciationDay, aligning it with International Women’s Day to celebrate and empower women in leadership.
As part of this special occasion, they invited Albana Vrioni, founder of Women on Boards Albania (WOB-AL), to deliver a keynote speech that inspired the audience to rise, lead, and shine. We are honored to share her powerful words with you as a postcard, bringing her message directly to our entire community.
Below the full speech of Albana:
It is an absolute honor to stand before you today as we celebrate International Women’s Day—a day that is not just about recognizing women’s achievements, but about reaffirming our commitment to a future where every woman, in every industry, at every level, has the opportunity to rise, lead, and shine.
The world does not change when we wait for permission. It changes when we dare.
- When we dare to rise—even when the odds seem stacked against us.
- When we dare to lead—even when we are the only ones in the room.
- When we dare to shine—not just for ourselves, but for those who come after us.
But daring to rise, lead, and shine is not just an individual act—it is a collective responsibility. Even more when it concerns diversity, equity, and inclusion. Because talent is universal, but opportunity is not. And when organizations, especially global leaders like Deloitte, commit to diversity—not just in words, but in action—we create a world where everyone can rise.
Daring to rise is not just about personal ambition—it is about breaking barriers for ourselves and others. It’s about rejecting the idea that leadership looks a certain way, that power belongs to a select few, that success requires us to fit into someone else’s mold.
Numerous studies show that companies with diverse leadership teams are more innovative, more profitable, and more resilient.
Diversity isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’; it’s a business imperative.Yet, women continue to face systemic biases in leadership.
When I was introduced to the VP Sales of large Telco in the context of leading their change program, he asked if I was Spanish. “No,” I said, “I’m Albanian.” “Sorry, I’m not armed,” he goes. “That’s your lucky day,” I said smiling, “me neither.” While those around turned red, ashamed, I stood calm and delivered a successful mission.
We rise in many different ways! The question is not whether we are qualified—the question is whether organizations are creating the conditions for us to thrive.
In 1988 they said I may not study, but I ended up being in the 2% of the top students in the engineering faculty. In 1995 no one believed I would sit in the oval table of negotiation with statesmen. And I was junior in diplomacy, I had studied German privately, and I was not a girl from the capital. I simply dared!
So, my challenge to you today is this: What will you do to dare to rise? Because when we rise, we don’t rise alone—we pull others up with us.
Today more than ever, we need a leader in each and every one of us – we need to redefine leadership! Leading is about influence, courage, and being first to action towards the future.
Leadership is not about a title. It is about owning your space at the table—not waiting for someone to invite you in.
Daring to lead means making decisions that reflect our values. Are we creating workplaces where everyone—not just some—can thrive?
It does not mean you have all the answers; it means you are brave enough to ask the right questions and challenge the status quo. It means you learn to lead first and develop the leader in others.
When we took over a multiple-million contract, they said we would never make it and would sink on heavy penalties. It has been the contract with the smoothest transition and healthiest margins both parties ever had. The secret sauce lay in developing the leader inside each team member.
So today, I invite you to reflect: What kind of leader do you dare to be?
For too long, we’ve been told to work hard and let our results speak for themselves. But I’ve learned that it is far more effective to talk about your results yourself.
Daring to shine means claiming your achievements. It means stepping into the light and saying: Here is where I stand. I did that. I earned this. It means signing up for a commitment to growth and self-leadership. It means supporting each other.
Because when one woman shines, we all shine. Because when women shine, companies thrive. Economies grow. Societies become more just.
So: Dare to rise. Dare to lead. Dare to shine. Not just on International Women’s Day, but every single day. Because when we dare, we don’t just change our own lives—we change the world.
Happy International Women’s Day!
A heartfelt thank you to Deloitte for recognizing the power of inclusion and for officially joining forces with WOB-AL to enrich and support our mission. Together, we are making a difference.
With gratitude,
Albana Vrioni
Founder, WOB-AL