Conference Presentation, Panel
Women Leaders’ Summit: Unlocking Potential: Fueling Economic Empowerment
Milken InstitutePetra Freddi, Henny Sender, Kamal Ahmad, Betelhem Dessie, Leili Gerami, John Wood, Stacey Worden
- The Milken Institute Center for Financial Markets and the International Finance Corporation anticipate a majority of women fellows in upcoming years, a cohort of approximately 200 policymakers in ten years, and an accelerated trajectory for private sector finance once a cadre of capital market champions is established.
- The program plans to transition from an initial focus on Africa to a global network, with alumni expected to remain connected via an alumni network and assume future financial leadership roles in their respective countries.
- Specific organizational projections include Room to Read enrolling 50,000 young women and opening its 20,000th library within the current year, alongside plans to leverage a matching campaign to secure an additional $50 million and launch as the 15th country in Myanmar once seed funding is secured.
- Financial data indicates that extending a girl's education from fifth to twelfth grade can double or triple her earning power, with a 15 to 20% income increase for every year of education beyond societal norms, achieved at an average long-term scholarship cost of $300 per girl annually.
- Educational initiatives such as those by Women's University in Bangladesh and ICOG Labs target specific age groups and demographics, with plans to celebrate a 10th anniversary and provide emerging technology access to students aged eight to 16, including prior instruction for 100 girls on coding and 5,000 children on technology basics.
- Strategic expectations involve shifting societal mindsets to achieve gender parity, maintaining radical financial transparency with partners, and utilizing purpose to aid corporate recruiting and customer connections, while requiring evidence before scaling programs.
- Predictions emphasize that failure to educate in technology, computers, and AI could result in a "black box" world, while noting that excluding 100 million girls from schooling will perpetuate poverty and disempowerment, contrasting with the belief that the new generation in Iran is motivated to dismantle barriers.
- The panelist Bettalim Desi intends to transfer knowledge from the 10-month program to colleagues upon return, reflecting a broader expectation that organized efforts are necessary to support girls during the transition from primary to secondary education.