They are muses of art and literature, whose bodies and lives are represented in various types of media, and yet, they fight every day to make the world a safer place so they can simply navigate their existence.

On this International Women’s Day, The Portugal News, a predominantly female newsroom, decided to honour them. Through the voices of those who lead and those who blaze trails, we seek to understand what it means, after all, to “navigate existence” in the job market and in modern life, uniting the newspaper’s editorial vision with the practical experience of those who make the gears turn every day.

The Strength of Empathetic Leadership

For Lucy Musk, COO of the newspaper, being a woman in the current context demands a constant dance between firmness and sensitivity. Lucy believes that “being a woman means simultaneously embracing strength and empathy; it’s about leading with emotional intelligence, building meaningful relationships, and creating space for others to grow.” For the manager, balancing multiple responsibilities (professional, mother, partner, and friend) is not a sign of weakness, but something that “deepens our perspective and teaches resilience, adaptability, and compassion.” On this day, Lucy emphasises that the celebration is not just about visible achievements, but about “recognising the silent strength, courage, and consistency that women demonstrate every day.”


The Journey to Independence and Leading by Example

While Lucy’s leadership focuses on collective growth, Sam Hoather’s journey, responsible for financial and administrative management, is a testament to autonomy. As a foreigner in Portugal, Sam brings with her a practical vision shaped since childhood in England, when the “Daughters to Work” program showed her that the corporate world also belonged to her. While acknowledging that modern society has opened doors, Sam notes that this openness often arises from economic necessity and not just a change in mentality, observing that, in daily life, women continue to be the main pillar in managing care and family.

“The world is modern, but some people only pretend to be,” she states.

For Sam, success is not measured by titles, but by competence and dedication. Managing departments ranging from Human Resources to logistics, she bases her leadership on versatility and mutual respect. In a demonstration of the “all-changing nature” mentioned in the article’s introduction, Sam doesn’t hesitate to take on any task necessary for the newspaper to continue moving forward, stating that “no job is beneath me; if one person needs help, we should all help to keep the company going.” With the pride of someone who has mastered the complex and nuanced language that Portuguese is and built a solid career outside their country of origin, Sam Hoather offers vital advice to all women:

“People tend to get more provoked when you achieve your dreams rather than when you spend time trying to justify them. If I had a daughter, I would advise her to do everything the same way, without wasting time trying to justify herself to others, so she could focus on simply achieving.”

Create, Transform, Remain

International Women’s Day came to be due to the workers’ struggles of the early 20th century, when women united to demand better working conditions and the right to vote. More than a century later, the scenario has thankfully transformed, but the essence of the date remains: the claim to the right to full existence, as well as the gratitude modern women have for the work that women before them did in creating the space and voice that women have today. On 8 March, women around the world vocally thank and celebrate their feminine ancestors for kickstarting the ideal world where there could be an existence without any fear, any judgment, with equal rights and opportunities, and more importantly, a safe place to be able to create, transform, and remain.

Celebrating this day at The Portugal News is to acknowledge that, even though women continue to be the architects of innovation and stability, their struggle still involves transforming “having to do” into “being able to be.”

Between Lucy Musk’s empathetic vision and Sam Hoather’s pragmatic determination, what remains is the image of a woman who doesn’t ask permission to sail; she just does it.