International Women’s Day recognises not only the extraordinary achievements but also the everyday impact of women who contribute meaningfully in their everyday lives.
On the 8th of March, we celebrate eight remarkable women here at GCS whose stories reflect the many faces of modern femininity, a powerful force expressed through resilience, leadership, endurance, and ambition.
Each bring their own unique experiences and perspectives, reminding us that there is no single definition of success and that strength is found in embracing the journey that feels most authentic.
Bibi
The first woman featured on Women’s Day is Bibi!
Bibi’s story is a reflection of the generations of women who have had to start again, rebuild, and find their place in the world, just as she has done in her own courageous way.
Eight years ago, Bibi packed her entire life and chose courage over comfort. Leaving behind everything that she knew, she started from scratch in a new country, new language, new culture, all on her own.
Rebuilding became her superpower.
Having been a high-level athlete representing her country, she knows that talent flourishes only when paired with discipline and consistency, a mindset she carries into every area of her life. That same focus and determination helped her conquer one of her greatest challenges: a 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas. It’s also this mindset that drives her at work, where targets and healthy competition within the recruitment department keep her moving forward.
For Bibi, growth means going beyond fear. Her story is one of resilience, humility, and gratitude, proof that your opportunities are what you make of them.
And that strength is found in embracing the journey that feels most authentic.
Who is Bibi’s greatest female inspiration?
"My mother. After divorcing, with two young children, she worked tirelessly to raise my brother and me, teaching us strong values that guided us to become professionals, athletes, and kind people. She is a brave woman and my greatest example of integrity and goodness.”
Bibi
The first woman featured on Women’s Day is Bibi!
Bibi’s story is a reflection of the generations of women who have had to start again, rebuild, and find their place in the world, just as she has done in her own courageous way.
Eight years ago, Bibi packed her entire life and chose courage over comfort. Leaving behind everything that she knew, she started from scratch in a new country, new language, new culture, all on her own.
Rebuilding became her superpower.
Having been a high-level athlete representing her country, she knows that talent flourishes only when paired with discipline and consistency, a mindset she carries into every area of her life. That same focus and determination helped her conquer one of her greatest challenges: a 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas. It’s also this mindset that drives her at work, where targets and healthy competition within the recruitment department keep her moving forward.
For Bibi, growth means going beyond fear. Her story is one of resilience, humility, and gratitude, proof that your opportunities are what you make of them.
Bonus question: Who is the woman that is Bibi's biggest inspiration?
“The woman who inspires me the most is my mother. After divorcing with two young children, she worked tirelessly to raise my brother and me, teaching us strong values that guided us to become professionals, athletes, and kind people. She is a brave woman and my greatest example of integrity and goodness.”
Alexandra
The second honorable woman at GCS is none other than Alexandra
.
Like Bibi, Alex also turned every challenge into an opportunity. At 18, Alex left Colombia with a dream to study Arabic and Egyptology. She landed in Egypt without speaking English or Arabic.
Learning two languages at once just to survive, she turned her confusions into new capabilities. Fifteen years ago, she arrived in Malta, and what do you know, she also learned Maltese! She chose not only to adapt but to belong.
Alex brought this adaptability to her professional life; from healthcare roles to corporate leadership, she climbed steadily to become a Corporate Manager. Along the way, she discovered another identity: an endurance athlete. Triathlon and ultra-running became metaphors for her life, resilience, and discipline. Today, she proudly represents Malta in races abroad.
Alex proves that endurance isn’t just physical. It’s a mindset.
Bonus question: Who is the woman that is Alex's biggest inspiration?
“For me, my biggest inspiration is not a woman particularly but in general women. I can't think of a single female that has been a role model, but I can think of women in general to be role models in a way or another. Women who dress up and go out to give their best are my role models.”
Deborah Vella
At 63, Deborah Vella reflects on 35 years of what she calls the “beautiful juggle.”
Originally from England, she balanced part-time shifts while raising her young children, went on to dedicate decades to her full-time professional career, and even took it upon herself to become fluent in Maltese along the way. She has balanced her career within audit with being the anchor of her family. She’s been the cheerleader at every milestone, the steady support behind her husband’s career, and the glue holding it all together.
Her greatest achievement? Watching her children thrive as successful adults and parents themselves. In a time when modern feminist movements may overlook these traditionally “feminine” roles, she reminds us that being a mother and a supporter are some of the most vital contributions a woman can make to society.
Deborah opens up the discussion about the women who make it all work, not necessarily perfectly, but powerfully. Still contributing, still showing up, she reminds us that strength is often quiet and steady.
Bonus question: Who is the woman who is Debbie's biggest inspiration?
“As a woman, my biggest inspiration in life is Audrey Hepburn. She would say nothing is impossible because the word itself says “I’m possible," and even more meaningful for me, “In life, for beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness." Her timeless wisdom often focused on loving oneself, helping others, and appreciating life's beauty, which is what I base my life on.”
Deborah Grech
While some have mastered the “beautiful juggle” over decades, another inspirational woman wi
thin GCS is stepping into the early chapters of her own. As she navigates both career ambitions and an important life transition, she is preparing to become a first-time mother while remaining committed to her role within the accounts team.
This chapter has already stretched her in meaningful ways, teaching her to be more intentional with her time, more flexible when plans shift, and more grounded in what really matters.
Deborah demonstrates strength by showing grace to herself and slowing down enough to be able to appreciate the small wins. Motherhood has given her a renewed sense of purpose and deepened her perspective in her faith. She reminds us that growth doesn’t happen all at once, it happens with steady intentions.
Bonus question: Who is the woman that is Deborah's biggest inspiration?
“One woman who is my biggest inspiration is my mother. The reason I chose her is that even though throughout her life she went through a lot of struggles and hardships, her strength and perseverance shone brightly towards all her achievements and in raising us. Apart from that, she showed me that in life you never know when you will need to serve as a helping hand, and through the option of fostering, she served a huge helping hand to a number of children, including both of my sisters, and for me that is a huge inspirational thing to do.”
Ruth
Across our leadership team, we also see women who guide departments while guiding families at home. One of our directors embodies this daily; her strength lies not in keeping up with so much at once, but in knowing what matters most in each moment.
As a director and mother of two young children, Ruth leads both at work and at home with intention. Presently, Ruth has made the admirable decision to reduce her working hours in order to be fully present for her children, specifically Zach, who was born with Joubert Syndrome and requires ongoing therapies and medical appointments.
Ruth chooses presence without stepping away from leadership. She continues to contribute meaningfully, proving that impact is measured by focus and clarity.
She reminds us that true strength is not about doing everything, it is about knowing where you are most needed and showing up fully there.
Bonus question: Who is the woman that is Ruth's biggest inspiration?
“My biggest inspiration is my mother, whose strength and constant support have shown me what love looks like in practice. Her encouragement has always given me the courage to keep moving forward.”
Bonus question: Who is the woman that is Martina's biggest inspiration?
Martina: "My nanna, Carmen, who sadly passed away earlier this year. She was like a second mother to me, always present in my upbringing and filling my childhood with love, guidance, and unforgettable moments. Despite facing many health challenges, she never gave up. No matter what life threw at her, she always fought through it, remained present, listened to our stories, offered her advice, and supported us until the very end. She will forever be my greatest inspiration.”
Martina & Sharon
Martina & Sharon from the Recruitment team are two other inspirational women to celebrate this Women’s Day. They embody the modern woman by showing that true success isn’t about perfection but about finding balance and continuing to make progress in every area of life.
Martina, who is now confidently navigating her role as team lead within recruitment, has embraced leadership while juggling full-time targets and milestones of her own. Martina goes from managing candidates to managing her new home; she’s learning that independence, even though challenging, can be empowering. Alongside also supporting her partner, she’s building a life she’s proud of, professionally and personally.
Sharon’s journey in recruitment has been built step by step. Through doubt and growth, she chose consistency over immediate validation. She’s built confidence and stepped into success. Outside work, she channels that same discipline into planning a home renovation, meal prepping every week, and doing the things she loves.
These two women understand that making time for the things that energize and inspire them is the balance that success is all about. From HYROX and CrossFit training to exploring new countries and prioritising their loved ones and home projects, they show that success doesn’t mean sacrificing health or adventure.
Bonus question: Who is the woman who is Sharon's biggest inspiration?
“My mum is my greatest inspiration because she is the strongest, most loving, and selfless person I will ever know. She has faced the hardest battles with quiet courage, never complained, and still showed up for me every single day, filling the role of two parents and making my world overflow with love, safety, and care. She puts me before herself in everything, and if I grow up to be even half the parent, the woman, and the human being she is, I will consider my life a success.”
Liana

Last but not least is Liana, the steady force. Liana’s journey hasn’t always been linear. She began in marketing, learning the art of communication and understanding people, skills that later guided her transition into human resources and coaching. Supporting those around her with care and empathy, whether at work or in her personal life, is one of Liana's many strengths.
At home, she is a devoted wife and step-mum to a remarkable 20-year-old with Joubert Syndrome, a role that has taught her patience, perspective, and the strength of unconditional love, making her one of the two women in this article who navigate parenthood alongside this rare neurological condition.
Balancing ambition with personal responsibility hasn’t always been easy, yet she approaches each challenge with resilience. For Liana, every twist and turn in life has been a lesson; rather than letting challenges set her back, each has added to her sense of empowerment, something she now channels into uplifting others and helping them grow. She strongly believes that sharing knowledge and experience does not diminish our success, but it multiplies it by creating access and opportunity for others.
Bonus question: Who is the woman that is Liana's biggest inspiration?
“I’ve long admired Brené Brown for her championing of courageous leadership. Her belief that vulnerability, empathy, and self-awareness are strengths (not weaknesses) deeply resonates with my own leadership philosophy. She also highlights introspection as a leadership superpower, a principle I actively promote through coaching. She reinforces what I strive to practice daily: that brave, wholehearted leadership creates cultures where people truly thrive.”
In celebrating these eight women at GCS, we’re reminded that strength takes many forms. There is no single blueprint for success or universal timeline; what unites these women is not perfection, but intention, the courage to grow, and to keep moving forward in a way that feels true to their purpose.
This International Women’s Day, we celebrate not only who they are but also the example they set, that there is no single story of strength or success, and that every journey holds its own value.

