International Women's Forum’s Post

The recent report from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor brings with it very, very welcome news! Learning that in Scotland we’ve finally achieved a more equal balance of male and female founded companies is testament to every individual and organisation working to champion equality and diversity across the entrepreneurial landscape. But we’ve still got some way to go. Our most recent Female Founders Survey told us that 92% of women believe their business has growth potential and 52% are currently focused on scaling. But there are numerous obstacles to women founders being able to scale effectively. Access to finance and the associated learning and networks is a big one, as is juggling personal responsibilities like childcare. I know that, in spite of this good news, I will continue to listen to our founders, innovate in the support we offer, and be more determined than ever to keep us on this steady, upward trajectory. Who’s with me? Aside from the wonderful ladies pictured, who attended our most recent Techscaler and Elevator meetup in Dundee. Full read here: https://lnkd.in/dkPG7VZJ #womeninbusiness #femalefounders #accelerateher

The next meeting is on Zoom and we will watch and discuss a “SHEted Talk” on competence and likability: how are women perceived?

So pleased to see our new research 'Bridging the Divide: Women, Tech and Business Success' included in Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs' knowledge hub. When we consider how to advance women's entrepreneurship in low and middle income countries, it's absolutely critical to think not only about the 'ingredients' you need to start a business—knowledge, capital, networks, markets—but also about what challenges and barriers are holding women back from success. I was shocked to find that nearly half of the more than 1,100 women entrepreneurs we surveyed had experienced online harassment, stalking and other types of violence to the extent that it had impacted their businesses; for nearly one in 10 women this had been severe. At Cherie Blair Foundation for Women we've made it clear that moderation of online platform users' treatment of women is a direct route to women's economic empowerment. And we know that means independence and safety for women, healthier and better-educated children, jobs creation, poverty reduction and so much more. My hope is that, by sharing our findings and recommendations globally and across sectors, we can work collaboratively and holistically to create a landscape where women are supported at every stage to start, sustain and grow businesses, free from gendered obstacles and threats like online violence. You can read our report via #ANDE here: https://lnkd.in/eFTtvKrW #SocialMedia #GBV #VAWG #Entrepreneurship #WomensHistoryMonth

I was very lucky to attend the Women's Forum for the Economy & Society (A Publicis Groupe company) in Paris with AXA delegates end of November - We heard from AXA leaders about how we are investing in employee programs to support women health, why being a woman shouldn't be a risk, and how microfinance is supporting women businesses - We were amazed by women leaders across the world that are making changes for the better – for instance Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Tawakkol Karman, Chelsea Clinton, Kakenya Ntaiya, and Florence Lustman - We speed-mentored & listened to impressive young adults like Leen Al-Saflan and Ariane Jeanjean; and loved their determination Here are 10 key messages and figures I want to share with you: 1/ Securing access to the workplace for women is not just a moral imperative, is it an economic one. Keeping them in the workplace is also critical, especially after 35 2/ Women in the US are now 50% more likely to die in childbirth than their mothers, and only 60% of men support abortion rights 3/ 81% of women prioritize the health of their loved ones compared to their own health; the #1 cause of death for women is heart disease (and not breast cancer) 4/ 33% of business owners are women. Women are often the main decision-makers for buying goods in a household (including for cars!) and it is critical for women independence to invest time in financial literacy 5/ By essence AI is not neutral and we need to set rules for AI not to enhance stereotypes (e.g. images of a CEO) 6/ Career choices of industries & domains often result from stereotypes (e.g. maths / tech / sports) and we need to encourage women to explore in these areas, especially as 80% of jobs of the future will be tech-enabled. There is still a lot to do: studies showed that 40% of recruiters didn't interview any woman for Tech jobs in 2021, and 45% of those who lost their jobs in the recent wave of Tech layoffs were women. We need more and more female role models to avoid vicious circles; for instance, Ada Lovelace drafted one of the first computer programs in the 1850s! 7/ Women are neither fragile things or superheroes. Whether you believe or not that women differ from men by nature (essentialism theory), men are not better at leadership for instance and boys clubs in companies are not OK anymore 8/ Men are essential in the conversation: they help and believe in women every day. Wellbeing benefits granted to women benefit men too (and men also have babies!) 9/ Gender inequalities are a structural problem rooted in education and socialization – hence hard and long to change 10/ If we look at history, when we don’t purposefully include women in the conversation they are not included. ‘Gender fatigue’ is not a good excuse I feel very grateful for AXA to offer us such opportunities to invest time to learn, reflect and be inspired by women leaders. Thank you Ulrike Decoene, Chen CHEN, Diana Muravyova and Alexandre Rizos! #AXA4Inclusion #AXAChangeMakers

Join us for our 3rd International Women’s Day virtual conference, 'Inclusive Impact: Beyond Boundaries' in collaboration with Entrepreneurs' Ecole. With 122 speakers from 5 continents and 32 countries, this event promises to be an empowering celebration of global diversity. Tune in on 8-9 March 2024, 12 pm GMT to 5 pm GMT, live on YouTube at https://lnkd.in/dEmbajmx. Topic One: Investing in Women: A Human Rights Imperative – 8th March Topic Two: Ending Poverty: Urgent Action Needed – 8th March Topic Three: Implementing Gender-Responsive Financing in a Changing World – 8th March Topic Four: Shifting to a Green Economy and Care Society for a Sustainable Future – 9th March Topic Five: Supporting Feminist Change-Makers: A Call for Adequate Assistance – 9th March

How accountants can accelerate women’s economic empowerment | INTHEBLACK

Exciting news from Mastercard and Women choice as they expand their partnership to empower women entrepreneurs across the Middle East and Africa! This collaboration aims to create 1 million job opportunities for women by 2030, fostering economic growth and inclusivity in the region. The partnership introduces two new initiatives, ImpactHer and EmpowerHer, providing comprehensive training, mentorship, and resources to support women entrepreneurs in growing their businesses. With a target of impacting 50,000 women entrepreneurs in 2024 alone, this program is set to make a significant difference in the lives of women across the region. #Entrepreneurship #WomenEmpowerment Mastercard's commitment to creating a more inclusive world is evident in this expanded partnership with Women Choice. Together, they are equipping women with the skills, resources, and tools they need to succeed in the business world and drive economic growth in their communities. #Inclusion #EconomicEmpowerment As the partnership continues to grow, it aims to connect even more women entrepreneurs, provide support through accelerator programs and conferences, and ultimately make a lasting impact on the economic landscape of the Middle East and Africa. #Partnership #EconomicDevelopment #MastercardWomenChoice #Hakunamatatamedia

We have called for accelerated action to realise the multi-billion-pound opportunity represented by women’s under-participation in entrepreneurship.   Our newly published Survey of Women in Enterprise reveals an ongoing ambition for growth amongst Scotland’s women entrepreneurs which is being constrained by structural inequalities. While some action has been progressed by Government and other organisations, a much greater economic contribution could be realised every year by tackling constraints in areas such as grant funding, mainstream support services and sectoral support.  Accelerated action would also assist in addressing the sharp increase in reported experiences of discrimination.   Our report is based on insights gathered from a survey involving 238 female entrepreneurs between January and April 2023. The Survey explored gender-based inequalities, structural barriers, and the exceptional repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cost-of-business crisis. At the same time, the impact of other key socio-economic factors including net-zero, digital and technology and pension provision were also investigated. Thank you to the women who completed the survey and shared their views and to our partners and network who helped to share the questionnaire to groups and communities across Scotland. Read more of the key findings and access the full report. https://lnkd.in/gaVS_t9b

Building a Start-Up after 50s, or study a PhD.....Age is now just a number but the vast experiences and knowledges you gained over the years are massive.

🌟 Women still face discrimination in various fields such as education, work, and political life. Violence against women remains a pressing challenge, with one in every three women experiencing violence. Additionally, women make up a significant proportion of the poor, which hinders their ability to fulfill their full potential. 💼 Women play an important role in economic development through their participation in the labor market and entrepreneurship. 👩💼 Women can be a driving force in decision-making by holding leadership positions in various fields. 📚 Education enables women to achieve their full potential and participate in building fair and prosperous societies. 🎉I worked for 5 years in the field of women’s empowerment. I visited many regions and received a lot of training in this field because I believe that women make a difference, We celebrate the International Women's Day 2024 under the theme "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" March 8th is International Women's Day, and investing in women is essential for achieving progress and development for all. By supporting and empowering women and girls, we can build a more just and prosperous world for everyone.