MARCH 6, 2026
International Women’s Day 2026
Give to Gain
For the ‘PeopleOfRepublic’, “Give to Gain” isn’t just a theme, it’s how we work.
When we share knowledge, open doors, mentor, advocate, and create space at the table, we don’t lose anything. We multiply it. Opportunities grow. Confidence grows. Leadership grows. And when women thrive, everyone rises with them.
Every March, International Women’s Day gives us a reason to pause and look inward. This year, we’re proud to say that 55% of our team members identify as women.
In the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry, a space that has historically been male-dominated, especially at senior levels, those numbers matter. Representation matters. And leadership representation matters even more.
Today, 60% of Republic’s leadership team is made up of women.
That’s progress worth celebrating!
Spotlight: Pam Zyla, Chief Operating Officer
If you’ve met Pam, you already know “status quo” isn’t really her thing.
Pam joined Republic in August 2023 as a Project Director. But her story started long before that, with a curiosity about structural engineering and building systems. She pursued a diploma in Structural Computer Aided Drafting, followed by Design and Drafting Technology, and spent more than a decade as a Structural Technologist.
Then she pivoted.
Pam shifted her focus toward leading engineering projects and earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification. Because growth, for her, is never accidental, it’s intentional.
And if that wasn’t enough? In her spare time, she’s been working toward her MBA.
Earlier this year, Pam stepped into the role of Chief Operating Officer — and she hasn’t slowed down since.
She jumped in, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work. Her organization, drive, and ability to see both the big picture and the smallest details are already shaping how we operate. Processes are tighter. Teams are aligned. Momentum is building.
Two years ago, when asked what inclusion means to her, Pam said:
“Inclusion is making opportunities available to everyone — both the opportunity to fulfill specific roles and the opportunity to learn new skills.”
That mindset shows up in how she leads. It’s in the way she mentors. It’s in the way she builds teams. And it’s in the opportunities being created across our organization.
Pam’s journey reflects what happens when talent is supported, when opportunities are shared, and when leadership is earned through curiosity and grit.
That’s “Give to Gain” in action.
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating progress and the people pushing it forward.
Here’s to building an industry where leadership reflects the talent within it.
Here’s to giving.
Here’s to gaining.
And here’s to the women helping shape what’s next.
Living “Give To Gain” Beyond Our Walls
Supporting women doesn’t stop at our studio doors.
This International Women’s Day, we’re also proud to support our neighbours at the House of Peace.
The House of Peace provides a warm, welcoming home for 20 newcomer women from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Many have endured poverty, war, violence, and abuse. At the House of Peace, they are given time — up to two years — to heal from trauma, set goals, and rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Since 2004, more than 200 women from 45 countries and 9 faith traditions have called the House of Peace home. They are known not as residents, but as “Neighbours.”
That language matters.
Inclusion, as Pam reminds us, is about making opportunities available to everyone — the opportunity to learn, to grow, to lead, and to begin again.
If “Give to Gain” means anything, it means showing up for the women in our communities. We encourage you to consider supporting the House of Peace, or organizations like it, by donating your time, supplies, or financial contributions.
When women gain stability, confidence, and opportunity, we all gain stronger communities.
Republic team members at House of Peace Welcome Home Dinner, November 2025