Women IN

The European venture industry remains male-dominated despite relatively rapid progress in recent decades. That is why I was interested in the topic 🇬🇧🇺🇦 “Women in Venture Capital and Finance Investment: Ukrainian Case Studies Together with UK Experience”, which I took for my research at the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, at The University of Manchester. WVC:E recently launched the ‘Investing in Women: The Untold Stories of Mothers in VC’ report, explores the experiences of women going on maternity leave and returning to work. A few stats that jump out which coincide with my research data: ▫️ 71% of women planning on having children (or having more children) were concerned about returning to work in VC ▫️ Nearly 80% said there was room for improvement in the return to work process ▫️ The most selected concern for women when considering having children (just over 30% of respondents) was career progression/promotion 🔗 This report isn’t just for women — it’s essential reading for anyone in VC who’s committed to a more inclusive and balanced work culture >> https://lnkd.in/dw8mRXNr 🙌 I also recommend for viewing the amazing female-led businesses that featured on J.P. Morgan's Top 200 Women-powered Businesses List 2024. Although some statistics show growth and development around women-powered businesses, the report still shows there's lots of work to be done in leveling the playing field for women founders and women led businesses in regards to funding and equity investment. 🔗 Here are really inspiring women from amazing women led/powered businesses including a lot in the FMCG/Retail/Hospitality space >> https://lnkd.in/dvnKRvxA #WomenInVentureCapital #FinanceInvestment #WomenInBusiness #FemaleFounders #WomenLeadership

Why female entrepreneurs are key to getting more women to work? 🔎 A new study highlights how promoting female entrepreneurship can greatly enhance women's workforce participation. By creating more opportunities for other women, female-led businesses can drive significant economic growth, it says. Imagine a world where women, though half the population, own less than a fifth of businesses. This is the reality The World Bank uncovered in a survey spanning 138 countries from 2006 to 2018. 🌐 Even more intriguing is how female-owned businesses empower other women. In male-owned firms, only 23% of workers were women, but female-owned businesses employ far more women. And while just 6.5% of male-owned businesses have a woman as the top manager, over half of female-owned firms are led by women. 🔗 An interesting read exploring female entrepreneurship in India >> https://lnkd.in/g4gVPqEt #FemaleFounders #WomenInBusiness #FemaleEntrepreneurship

🚨 Dear LinkedIn Community, I need your help! I'm wrapping up my research project and am looking for three more women founders of UK-based startups for interviews. 🙌 If you know anyone who fits the bill, I'd be super grateful for an intro! You can tag them below or message me directly. For the past two years, as a Fellowship Researcher at the Masood Entrepreneurship Centre, at The University of Manchester I’ve been diving into the topic of 🇬🇧🇺🇦 “Women in Venture Capital and Finance Investment: Ukrainian Case Studies Together with UK Experience”. As part of this, I’m interviewing female leaders in venture capital and women-led startups to capture their experiences and insights. 🤝 Big thanks to the incredible women who have already shared their stories your insights are invaluable: Taryn Andersen, CEO and Co-founder of Impulse4Women Hailey Eustace, Deep Tech Comms, Angel Investor, Founder at Commplicated Lynne Cadenhead, CEO and Co-Founder at Immaculate Drinks Marika Svardstrom, Investor, NED and Advisor of Active Capital Ltd  Lara Stallbaum, CEO & Co-Founder at Twirl Katherine Stennett, Co-founder & CCO at myota  Beenish Siddique, CEO and Founder of AEH Innovative Hydrogel Ltd Lena Artemenko, Co-founder at GO TO-U Anastasiia Romanova, CEO and Co-founder at Mosqitter  Ksenia Belkina, CEO and Co-founder of Cardiomo Nataliya Limonova, Founder of GIOS (Global Innovative Online School)   Lopina Nataliia, MD, PhD, Founder and Director of ClinCaseQuest Iryna Tsyganok Founder of Irysan Daria Leshchenko, CEO and Managing Partner at SupportYourApp Daria Shapovalova, Founder of DRESSX 💜 Thank you all!  Looking forward to meeting a few more inspiring founders to round out this study! #FemaleFounders #WomenInStartups #UKStartups #FemaleLeaders

Unpaid care work keeps millions of women out of the labour force. ☝️ According to the latest International Labour Organization estimates, 708 million women worldwide are unable to participate in paid employment due to care responsibilities — compared to 40 million men. Data from 125 countries shows care responsibilities (i.e., child-rearing, care and support for persons with disabilities and those in need of long-term care, housekeeping, and other care responsibilities) are the main barrier preventing women from entering and staying in the workforce, while men often report other reasons such as education and health issues. 🌍 Worldwide, 1.6 billion women and 800 million men are outside the labor force, with 45% of women and 5% of men attributing this to care responsibilities. Here are quick stats on women outside the labor force due to caregiving responsibilities: ▫️ Northern Africa: 63% ▫️ Arab States: 59% ▫️ Asia and the Pacific: 52% ▫️ Latin America and the Caribbean: 47% ▫️ Northern America: 19% ▫️ Europe and Central Asia: 21% ▫️ Eastern Europe at 11% As the demand for care grows, it’s clear we urgently need policies that support the care economy and foster opportunities for all. 🔗 Learn more about these new findings and how to drive change >> https://lnkd.in/eZkvTggx #WomenInWorkforce #CareEconomy #Care #Support #LabourForce

🚀 Women and diverse leaders build better businesses! "If women started and scaled businesses at the same rate as men, it’s estimated that £250 billion could be added to the economy." Alison Rose’s review of female entrepreneurship reports that there are record numbers of new female-fronted firms. Among those blazing a trail is Eléonore Crespo, investor and co-founder of Pigment. In the first half of 2024, Europe saw two new unicorns (start-ups valued at over US$1 billion). One was Eléonore’s Paris-based software company, dubbed the next Excel. 🔎 Only 2% of global venture capital funding goes to women-led enterprises. Deloitte are championing women investors and entrepreneurs and recognising women who are breaking down barriers. They also now have a new category in its 🇬🇧 UK Technology Fast 50 recognising the success of female founders and leaders. 💬 “The UK’s tech sector is a symbol of talent, innovation and competitiveness,” says Kiren Asad, lead partner for the programme. “The Women in Leadership award is one way we can highlight the achievements of women in the tech field, providing a platform to support and celebrate female founders and CEOs as they grow and scale their companies.” In addition, for the third year running, Deloitte is sponsoring the WVC:E summit. Taking place in Paris in October, the event will bring together women from across the venture capital world, including established founders, emerging entrepreneurs, investors and advisers. 🌐 The community, which has now grown to over 1000 women working in the industry, has a positive impact on women navigating a male-dominated sector. “After the first summit in 2022, someone messaged me to say, ‘Thank you, I’ve never felt part of the industry until now,’” says WVC:E Co-founder and CEO Sophie Winwood. 🔗 You can read more here >> https://lnkd.in/egCErx6C #WomenInLeadership #FemaleFounders #VentureCapital #WomenInvestors #WomenInTech

5 Women Authors Shaping Contemporary 🇺🇦 Ukrainian Literature 📚 On October 27, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Ukrainian Writing and Language. In honor of it, we have prepared a list of 5 Ukrainian women authors who shape Ukrainian literature in Ukraine and are the voices of Ukrainian culture and nation abroad. 🌟 Oksana Zabuzhko — the best known among foreign readers for her groundbreaking novels. "Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex" is a raw introspective of gender dynamics and power struggles in Ukrainian society through the stream-of-consciousness narrative of its female protagonist, while “The Museum of Abandoned Secrets” is a daunting multi-generational epic that reflects on important elements of Ukrainian history such as the Holodomor and the role of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. 🌟 Irena Karpa is beloved by readers for her unflinchingly bold, sensual, and provocative prose, she challenges the conventions of a society that in many respects remains deeply rooted in tradition. Despite — or perhaps because of — her audacious literary style, she has secured her place as one of Ukraine’s most popular authors. Having lived abroad for many years now, Karpa infuses her prose with a cosmopolitan sensibility that transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries. 🌟 Kateryna Kalytko, a poet, novelist, and translator. In Kateryna Kalytko’s poetry beautiful images come together like puzzle pieces to create violent and shocking images of war and create an atmosphere depicting the sense of loss and pain that is experienced during a search for safety and identity in violent times. She is focused on integrating the experience of Bosnia/Croatia, and drawing parallels with the Ukrainian experience — not in terms of the nature of conflict, but in terms of living through the horrors of war. 🌟 Iryna Shuvalova (向隐燚), PhD is a Ukrainian poet and translator, with a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where she focused on oral poetry in the war-affected communities. Shuvalova’s lyric poetry is thick with beauty, memory and sorrow; with folklore, story and song. Shuvalova’s writing has been widely anthologized and featured in the periodicals in Ukraine and abroad, including Literary Hub, Modern Poetry in Translation, Words Without Borders, and many others. Her poems have been translated into twenty-five languages. 🌟 Sofia Andrukhovych, a writer, publicist and literary translator. She has been publishing prose since 2002 and has since been awarded numerous prizes, most recently with the International Hermann Hesse Prize 2024 for her "Amadoka" epic. "Amadoka" appears poised to become one of the most translated Ukrainian novels in recent years. The book’s success is due in part to literary agent Elianna Kan and Ivan Fedechko at Видавництво Старого Лева / Old Lion Publishing House, who have facilitated rights sales across Europe and for English-language editions. #UkrainianWomen #WomenAuthors #WomenInLiterature #InspiringWomen

United for Equality — WEPs signatories meet at the United Nations! 🌍 At the “Forward Faster: Why Collective Action Matters” Leadership Summit during UNGA79 on the 25th of September 2024, leaders from the watch and jewelry industry came together to champion gender equality. Brands like Cartier, CHANEL, Gucci and Pandora were spotlighted and shared how they are advancing on gender equality. At the Leadership Summit, Women’s Empowerment Principles launched Emerging Practices: Advancing Gender Equality in the Watch & Jewelry Industry, a collection of case studies showcasing how 14 companies are accelerating gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community. 🌐 With the launch of a brand-new case study booklet, UN Women and the Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 aim to showcase the transformative power companies can wield in accelerating gender equality and women’s empowerment across the workplace, marketplace, and community.⁠ The 14 participating companies range from globally recognized brands to new start-ups, from tens of thousands of employees to hundreds. They trade in a spectrum of precious metals and gems, and cater to customers at all levels of purchasing power. The case studies cover their operations at headquarters as well as in labs, factories and retail stores in five regions: Africa, the Arab States, Asia, Europe and North America. Each case singles out one of the WEPs, although all companies are committed to all seven principles. 📢 Promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment within the industry’s supply chain is essential to contribute to sustainable development and to foster an ecosystem of socially responsible businesses, which is the foundation of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) established in 2010.⁠ The publication shares some common findings and provides a path to action >> https://lnkd.in/gg4qz2wY #WEPs #GenderEquality #WomenEmpowerment #SustainableDevelopment

📣 New Report Highlights Financial Challenges for Women in Public Sector Jobs The overall financial wellbeing of women working in state and local government is mixed, with both positive indicators and troubling challenges according to a new report from MissionSquare Research Institute. 📝 The key findings of this report about women in the public sector are as follows: ▫️ Retirement Plan Access and Contributions: Women generally have less access to and contribute less to retirement plans compared to men. ▫️ Wage Disparity: On average, women earn less than their male counterparts. ▫️ Education and Debt: Despite being well-educated, many women carry substantial student loan debt. ▫️ Financial Struggles: A significant number of women face difficulties in paying their current expenses. ▫️ Career Constraints: Women often experience lower financial wellbeing due to shorter careers influenced by familial responsibilities and persistent glass ceilings and walls. #WomenInGovernment #PublicSector #FinancialChallenges

💫 The mission of Women IN is to make women more visible and to highlight their achievements in business, politics, sports and other fields. Our board game "Women IN: Leadership and Business" helps you do that by a quiz about outstanding women from all over the world! 💡 You can get this game and play as a whole team. You can also buy it for your partners as a gift, or for customers to form communities around common values. If you have a challenge — to hold a corporate event with a focus on female leadership and the women's empowerment you can order the game, as well as its organisation for your team. 🙌 Join us in promoting gender equality and women leadership! #GenderEquality #WomenLeadership #WomenEmpowerment

📚 To help you finish the year on a high note, I am sharing my top reads of the year — books, written by women that inspired, challenged, and entertained me. Whether you're looking for something insightful or simply engaging, there is something here for every woman. 📖 Womentality: Thirteen Empowering Stories by Everyday Women Who Said Goodbye to the Workplace and Hello to Their Lives, by Erin Wildermuth Thirteen stories by everyday women from around the globe who left the nine-to-five to start their own creative businesses and found far more fulfillment — plus more equitable pay — than in traditional corporate careers. 📖 How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job Hardcover, by Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith Sally and Marshall identify the twelve habits that hold women back as they seek to advance, showing them why what worked for them in the past might actually be sabotaging their future success. 📖 Risky Women: How To Reach the Top Levels of Leadership or Know When It's Time to Get the Hell Out Hardcover, by Megan Farrell Ragsdale For every woman who is tired of chasing what feels like an elusive goal of fulfillment, an imaginary arrival point in her personal and professional life when she will feel like she finally made it. 📖 Girl Code: Unlocking the Secrets to Success, Sanity, and Happiness for the Female Entrepreneur Paperback, by Cara Alwill Girl Code is a roadmap for female entrepreneurs, professional women, “side hustlers” (those with a day job plus a part-time small business), and any­one in between. 📖 Girl, Woman, Other Hardcover, by Bernardine Evaristo The book follows the lives and struggles of twelve very different characters. Joyfully polyphonic and vibrantly contemporary, this is a gloriously new kind of history, a novel of our times: celebratory, ever-dynamic and utterly irresistible. 📖 The Power Paperback, by Naomi Alderman From award-winning author Naomi Alderman, The Power is speculative fiction at its most ambitious and provocative, at once taking us on a thrilling journey to an alternate reality, and exposing our own world in bold and surprising ways. #WomenPower #WomenAuthors #Books #Learning #Reading