Panel
Educate, Elevate, Empower: Investing in Girls and Women
Milken InstituteKatie O'Reilly, Nancy Armstrong, Brian O'Neil, Shiza Shahid, John Wood, Shelley Zalis, David Ettinger, Peter Bryant, Melissa Stiers, Heather
- Education gaps between women and men are projected to close globally, with more women expected to attend universities than men in reporting countries.
- Growth industries, particularly health care, are predicted to favor women, while diverse financial markets with varied decision-makers are expected to perform better.
- Humankind is projected to reach Mars 50 years before achieving gender pay equality in the workforce under current trends.
- Nancy Armstrong plans to interview the top 100 groundbreaking women in America, bringing the organization's "hidden figures" count to approximately 400 and beyond.
- The organization's mission prioritizes gender equality in both the workplace and leadership roles.
- 78% of CEOs or companies are expected to list gender parity as a top priority, and 175 CEOs signed a pledge to achieve 50-50 parity by 2020.
- Achieving gender parity in the C-suite is estimated to take 100 years, though equal promotion rates at entry and manager levels could more than double current women in these roles.
- Legislation prohibiting pay inquiries, such as current laws in California, is expected to help equalize wages, complementing plans for mandatory parental leave for both men and women.
- 2020 marks the 100-year anniversary of women's suffrage, a milestone during which the Girls' Lounge plans to increase advertising representation of girls and women by 20%.
- Room to Read reached 10 million students by 2015, five years ahead of schedule, and projects reaching at least 15 million students by 2020 with 20,000 libraries.
- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation is investing in emerging managers through a five-year-old program to support managers at a pivotal stage for impact.
- Now Ventures intends to invest in women and diverse entrepreneurs operating at the intersection of business, entrepreneurship, and social good.
- A shift in venture capital ratios toward women and people of color is identified as critical to the movement, exemplified by a feminist message avatar company gaining a million followers in a year.
- A girl born in Pakistan with smartphone and internet access is expected to possess more information than the US president held 15 years prior.
- The Boston Symphony Orchestra implemented a blind audition process by removing shoes, resulting in a 50-50 gender split among participants.
- The next generation is expected to be more passionate about social good than any preceding generation.
- A Q&A session is scheduled for 10 to 15 minutes at the conclusion of the event.