Honoring Women’s Impact: A Look at the Trailblazers Who Accelerate Action

March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on how women have contributed to society and impacted history. It also serves as an opportunity to consider how we can create a world where everyone is valued for their unique strengths, regardless of gender.

The spirit of this month is about inspiring change and taking a moment to recognize the importance of having a mix of perspectives, which makes a difference in every aspect of our lives. International Women’s Day (IWD) was March 8^th, and the rallying cry for the celebration was #AccelerateAction.

The theme #AccelerateAction is about stepping away from the sidelines to become an active participant in change. It challenges us to ask: How can I build a future where gender equality is no longer a goal but a reality?

Why IWD Matters

IWD has been celebrated for over a hundred years, with a mission statement that remains as relevant today as it was when it first began in the early 1900s. The IWD organization aims to create “a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive.”

This year’s IWD theme is especially important because it calls on us to engage in these issues, even when it feels uncomfortable or challenging.

As Supreme Court Justice and pioneering advocate for women’s rights and social justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg famously said, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” This is a reminder that women’s perspectives and leadership are essential in shaping the future.

Leading the Charge in Politics

To truly move forward, we must reflect on the women who have made groundbreaking contributions. Their achievements laid the foundation for the opportunities we have today, and by honoring their legacies, we can inspire generations of women leaders.

Women in politics have fought long battles for the right to lead and legislate. Despite facing discrimination and exclusion, they have broken barriers and reshaped governments through their determination to make a difference.

• Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, as well as the first Jewish woman. She is known for her powerful dissents on reproductive rights, pay equity, and voting rights. Her legal legacy reshaped U.S. law by establishing protections against gender-based discrimination, making her a transformative figure in the fight for women’s rights.

The Sales Tax Institute’s latest book club pick is RBG’s biography. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog post reflecting on her impact and the wisdom she shared.

• Shirley Chisholm: Chrisholm accomplished many firsts, including being the first African American woman elected to Congress and later the first to compete for a party’s official nomination in the general election for president of the United States. She advocated for women’s rights and civil rights, introducing over 50 pieces of legislation, co-founding the National Women’s Political Caucus in 1971 and serving on the House Rules Committee in 1977. She was the first black woman on the Committee and only the second woman in its history. Her motto, and the title of her autobiography, is .
• Wangari Maathai: A Kenyan native, Maathai was the first woman to earn a doctorate in East and Central Africa. She was also the first female chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy and associate professor at the University of Nairobi. In 2024, she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize thanks to her humanitarian work, which included founding the Green Belt Movement.

Balancing the Books: Women in Accounting

Societal norms made it difficult for women to gain recognition in the accounting profession, from denial of certification to struggling to find firms that would hire them. However, through perseverance and a determination to blaze their trail, these women proved their capabilities and paved the way for the future.

• Christine Ross: Originally from Nova Scotia, Ross moved to the U.S. to become a CPA just two years after the inaugural CPA exam. Despite scoring second or third in her group, her certification was delayed by over a year due to her gender. Even with the delay, she became the first female CPA in the U.S. She supported other professional women by taking on clients in women’s organizations and those in both fashion and business.
• Mary T. Washington Wylie: Mary T. Washington Wylie came to Chicago as a young child, where she was dedicated to becoming “a gateway into the profession for future generations”. Wylie was the first Black woman to earn a CPA license in 1943. Chicago was a hub for African Americans seeking opportunity, with one-half of the U.S.’s Black CPAs located in the city after World War II. Discrimination made it challenging to find work, so Wylie founded her practice in her basement and hired the talented black professionals that were denied work at other CPA firms because of discrimination. She worked with small Black-owned businesses, non-profits, and large Black-owned companies, such as the Fuller Products Company.
• Larzette Hale-Wilson: Hale-Wilson was the first Black woman in the U.S. to become a CPA with a Ph.D. in accounting. While serving as the 17th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she helped found the Heritage Series to highlight the achievements of contemporary African American women. Because of her efforts, the Heritage Series published over five thousand booklets promoting the accomplishments of African American women. As an educator, she became a professor of accounting at Utah State University and contributed articles to prominent business education journals.
• Mary Harris Smith: In 1920, Harris Smith became the world’s first female-chartered accountant after the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act allowed women to join professional bodies. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales rejected her numerous times despite her qualifications. Even without their acceptance, she opened her own offices in London. There, she audited and provided professional services, working with organizations like the Parliamentary Committee for Women’s Suffrage, the Society of the Return of Women as Poor Law Guardians, the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women, the National Union of Women Workers of Great Britain and Ireland, the Gentlewoman’s Employment Club, and the Soroptimist Club.

Breaking Barriers in Tax and Finance

Women in tax and finance have defied expectations and shattered glass ceilings in industries that have historically excluded them. Their leadership and vision have transformed their fields and created opportunities for others to follow in their footsteps.

• Marianne Burge: Marianne Burge was the first woman partner at Price Waterhouse in the U.S. in 1973. She joined the firm in 1966 as a tax consultant, later leading the international tax services practice in New York for 13 years. She advised clients on joint ventures, acquisitions, and insurance industry tax issues. Burge wrote several influential publications and held leadership roles in professional organizations, including the International Fiscal Association and the International Tax Association.
• Maggie Lena Walker: A pioneering business leader, Walker founded the St. Luke Penny Savings Bank in 1903. Born to formerly enslaved parents, she was the first woman to own a bank and championed the African American community through her economic independence. She was an integral leader in the Independent Order of St. Luke, the NAACP, and the National Association of Colored Women.
• Muriel Siebert: Muriel “Mickie” Siebert broke barriers as the first woman to become a New York Stock Exchange member in 1967 and later served as New York State’s first female superintendent of banking. She founded Muriel Siebert & Company and became one of Wall Street’s most influential figures, all without a college degree. Siebert advocated for equal pay, women’s rights, and charitable giving, creating the Siebert Entrepreneurial Philanthropic Plan in 1990. Following her death in 2013, Siebert Hall at the New York Stock Exchange was named in her honor, a first for the stock exchange.
• Janet Yellen: Yellen served as chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System from 2014 to 2018, becoming the first woman to hold the position. She earned her degree in economics from Brown University and her doctorate from Yale University, later becoming a professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. Yellen’s career includes roles as an economist at the Board of Governors, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. A leading expert in macroeconomics and unemployment, Yellen has received numerous academic honors.

For more information on women in tax, check out this resource, Recognizing 100 Years of Women in Tax.

What Does #AccelerateAction Mean to You?

As a woman owned business, the Sales Tax Insitute understands the extraordinary contributions of women and it is a part of our mission to accelerate action by empowering women. Through our Women to Watch series and involvement with organizations like National Association of Women Business Owners, we champion women’s leadership and do our part to build a society where equality is no longer a distant goal but a lasting reality.

If you want to learn more about the IWD organization, click here.