Betelhem Dessie

Women Leaders’ Summit: Unlocking Potential: Fueling Economic Empowerment

Petra Freddi, Henny Sender, Kamal Ahmad, Betelhem Dessie, Leili Gerami, John Wood, Stacey Worden

The International Finance Corporation and Milken Institute launched a specialized training program for mid-career finance professionals from emerging markets, aiming to cultivate a global network of policymakers to accelerate capital flow to the private sector. Complementing this initiative, a panel of experts from Ethiopia, Iran, Bangladesh, and global NGOs detailed strategies for economic empowerment through education, emphasizing technology literacy, the removal of gender barriers, and the necessity of holistic community support systems. Key figures such as Bethlehem Desi, Leili, Kamal, and John Wood highlighted that sustainable progress requires shifting from simplistic incentives to comprehensive models that integrate vocational skills, family engagement, and corporate partnerships to unlock hidden potential in marginalized populations.