The Week That Was: Global Women Empowerment News Overview (11th September - 16th September)

Women are adopting crucial leadership roles in a variety of sectors, breaking down barriers and driving societal progress. Successful female leaders are making an indelible impression in politics, economics, science, technology, and the arts. These remarkable women act as role models, demonstrating their abilities, knowledge, and persistent resolve to inspire others. In their leadership roles, they aggressively promote diversity and inclusiveness, emphasising that gender should never be an impediment to success.

Furthermore, women in leadership not only produce significant achievements, but also campaign for social justice, gender equality, and human rights, tackling systemic difficulties and overcoming preconceptions. Despite gender-related challenges, these ladies display tremendous fortitude. Their growing presence in leadership is shaping a more inclusive society for everybody, emphasising the enormous potential of female leadership.

The latest achievements of female leaders may be discovered at theglobalwomanleader.com

Philippines' Real Estate Company AYALA Land Inc Appoints First Female President & CEO

AYALA Land Inc. (ALI), the real estate arm of the Philippines’ Ayala conglomerate, has recently announced the appointment of Anna Ma. Margarita “Meean” B. Dy was its first female President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Meean will be succeeding Bernard Vincent “Bobby” O. Dy.

Bobby Dy has been with ALI for 26 years, where he led the company as the President and CEO for nine years. He will retire from the company on October 1, 2023, and will take a new role as the Senior Advisor to ALI Chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (JAZA).

Cathy Bryce Becomes First Female President of Banking & Payments Federation Ireland

Cathy Bryce, the Managing Director of AIB Capital Markets, has been named as the first female President of the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI). This landmark decision signals a significant step forward for gender diversity in leadership within the financial industry.

BPFI serves as the industry lobby group representing the banking and payments sector in Ireland, playing a crucial role in advocating for the sector's interests and promoting its growth.

IFC and Amartha Collaborate to Support Indonesian Women-led Microbusinesses

To increase access to capital for women-led microbusinesses, an innovative funding solution has been created by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Amartha, an Indonesian fintech platform for microfinance. The agreement includes international impact investors, with a potential scale-up of $206 million using capital market techniques.

IFC, the World Bank's private sector arm, has committed funds from its account as a cornerstone investor in order to establish the platform and plans to raise the remaining funds from reputable foreign investors. IFC and Amartha will support companies that collectively employ tens of millions of people and play a significant role in the economy by increasing access to finance for microenterprises.

Japanese PM Kishida Boosts Female Representation, Retains Finance & Trade Ministers in Cabinet Overhaul

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has decided to retain his finance and trade ministers as part of a Cabinet reshuffle aimed at refreshing the government's image while maintaining a team capable of swiftly introducing economic stimulus measures. Kishida's approval ratings have been impacted by rising prices that outpace wage increases, prompting him to plan substantial economic initiatives to address the issue.

Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki and Economy, Trade, and Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura will continue in their roles. To underscore a shift toward economic expansion through investment, Kishida will appoint Yoshitaka Shindo, a former vice minister at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, as the new minister for economic revitalization.

Canada Invests in Women's Economic Participation

In a commitment to bolstering Canada's competitiveness and prosperity, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Industry, on behalf of the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister of Women, Gender Equality, and Youth, announced on September 13, 2023, a $296,000 investment in the Société d'aide au développement des collectivités (SADC) Shawinigan. This grant will go towards their ground-breaking programme, "Flexi-Loan for Women."

WE-HELP Digital Platform Launched to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh

The "WE-HELP" digital platform has been created in a significant step to help women entrepreneurs by delivering a varied variety of services.

This platform, developed by the SME Foundation in conjunction with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNSCAP), provides 20 different sorts of services, such as policy advice, networking, market creation, marketing aid, exhibits, webinars, and more.