Fora: Network for Change’s Post

I’ve been fortunate to have dynamic women as leaders and mentors in my career. However, this isn't always the case for many women and gender marginalized individuals. In 2024, gender equity in Canada is still not achieved. If not now, then when? Check out my latest op-ed, where I discuss how opportunities for women in senior leadership roles continue to be overlooked.

Fair and equitable participation for all groups is essential for a robust and growing economy. However, systemic barriers rooted in institutional and cultural biases continue to disadvantage equity-deserving groups in the Canadian labour market. 📘Our latest report, Bridging the Gender Gap: Skills for the Advancement of Women, dives deep into these issues. Through rigorous qualitative data analysis, we examined: - The role of skills in women’s leadership trajectories - Corporate equity, diversity and inclusion policies and practices - The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 💡 Key findings from the report, which includes insights from 50 senior executive and C-suite women across Canada, highlight major barriers such as: - Being different - Unspoken rules - Conformity culture - Caregiving responsibilities These disadvantages are even more pronounced for women with intersectional identities. In collaboration with the Asper School of Business and with funding from the Future Skills Centre - Centre des Compétences futures, this report offers critical insights and actionable implications. Dive into the full report to learn directly from women in senior leadership roles about their experiences and strategies for overcoming these barriers ➡️ bit.ly/46HXQvY. #BridgingTheGenderGap #ReportLaunch #50_30Challenge #EDI #EmpoweringWomenLeaders

🌐 As a Female Founder and CEO of a global organization, I am incredibly passionate about diversity and inclusion. However, the statistics tell a different story. Let's take a closer look and advocate for change: 👩🎓 Education Empowers All: 64% of illiterate adults are women, emphasizing the urgent need for diverse educational opportunities. As a leader, I believe in empowering minds regardless of gender. 👥 Representation Matters: Only 21.9% of parliamentary seats and 8% of executive roles are held by women. Embracing diversity in leadership is not just a goal; it's a necessity for a truly inclusive world. 🌍 Global Leadership for All: With 95% of countries led by males, it's time to champion diverse voices in leadership. A tapestry of perspectives globally accelerates progress and innovation. 💼 Economic Inclusion: Over 100 countries restrict women's economic participation. Let's dismantle these barriers for a more inclusive and thriving global economy. 🚀 Empowerment for All: Women in power pave the way for greater opportunities in girls' education, health, and overall equality. Investing in inclusive equality is investing in a brighter, diverse future! 💪 #InclusiveLeadership #DiversityandInclusion #EmpowerAllGender Female Founders Initiative (Middle East& Africa)

Achieving gender equity is still 300 years away. UN General Secretary António Guterres highlighted this dire reality in his 2023 speech. Let that sink in 🤯 He emphasized the slow progress towards gender equity, worsened by global setbacks like the overturning of Roe v. Wade and restrictions on girls' education by the Taliban. In the MENA region, the impact of patriarchal dynamics is particularly severe, leading to one of the lowest female labor force participation rates globally, at just 18.4%. I came across an interesting article "Supporting Women's Workplace Inclusion in the MENA Region" by Charlotte Karam, Dr. Carmen Geha & Lina Daouk-Öyry. Key points from the article include: 🔹 Patriarchal Dynamics: In the MENA region, patriarchal values and norms, reinforced by legal frameworks and governance structures, significantly limit women's economic, political, and personal rights. As a result, only 18.4% of women participate in the formal economy compared to the global average of 48%. 🔹 Entrepreneurship Limitations: While entrepreneurship is often promoted as a solution, it can lead to exploitation and a lack of social security benefits and is not suitable for all women. A more contextualized approach is needed to support diverse women's aspirations and skills. 🔹 SAWI Project Approach: The SAWI Project and its predecessor, the KIP Project, use a feminist participatory approach, engaging employers and employees to reform employment policies. Funded by the US Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative, the project collaborates with local civil society organizations, universities, and business leaders to identify barriers and co-design solutions. #GenderEquity #MENA #WorkplaceDiversity #EmpowerWomen #herCAREER

Our latest blog, authored by Ellen Bomasang and Carley Clontz, delves into the findings of the BRIDGE 2.0 survey, shedding light on gender and racial disparities, as well as the strides made and challenges encountered in closing the gap within the international development sector. Dive into actionable recommendations for fostering inclusion and driving meaningful change within our organizations: https://lnkd.in/gxG-WHZd

🌍 Happy International Youth Day! Did you know that half of the world's population is 30 or younger, and this number is expected to reach 57% by 2030? Despite challenges, 67% of people believe in a better future, with 15 to 17-year-olds being the most optimistic. Yet, only 2.6% of parliamentarians globally are under 30, and less than 1% of these young MPs are women. The time for youth to have a stronger voice in shaping our world is now! Let's empower young minds to lead the way toward a sustainable future. 💡🌱 #InternationalYouthDay #EmpoweringYouth #DigitalSustainability #21stGeneration #YouthLeadership

🌍✨ Today, on World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, we celebrate the vital role of cultural diversity in driving sustainable development and fostering peace. At Harmony Alliance, we recognise the incredible contributions of women in the cultural and creative sectors, which are among the most powerful engines of global development. According to UNESCO, the cultural and creative sector provides over 48 million jobs worldwide, with nearly half of these positions held by women. This sector represents 6.2% of all employment and contributes 3.1% to the global GDP. Moreover, it offers significant opportunities for young people under the age of 30. As we observe #WorldDayforCulturalDiversity, let’s acknowledge the pivotal role that women in the cultural and creative sectors play in fostering dialogue, understanding, and development.  #HarmonyAlliance #CulturalDiversity #WomenEmpowerment #CreativeEconomy #Inclusion #SocialCohesion #HealthEquity #CommunityEngagement #SustainableDevelopment #DialogueForDevelopment 

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗣𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀! Women's exclusion from community bodies is rooted in spousal influence, societal perceptions, and a lack of defined leadership roles. Qualitative studies affirm a widespread gender insensitivity in employment processes, excluding women across the board, except in Rivers State. Some Key Insights Why There is Limited Women Representation in Governance: 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: Partners advising their women against leadership roles. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Lack of clarity on women's eligibility for key roles. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝘀: Of those assessed, over 60% felt that their communities culture did not encourage women having a voice in public spaces. To catalyse change, stakeholder collaboration is imperative. Businesses must adopt thought leadership and international best practises to stand out and be sustainable entities. Be a catalyst for change! Email [email protected] or visit sitei.org/pia-research to access CSR-in-Action's comprehensive report on gender disparities within the PIA.

Addressing the gender gap in leadership roles, ARDD organized a policy session discussing women's participation in Jordan's political sphere. Insights from prominent figures like Abla Abu Ulba shed light on the importance of education and societal engagement for women's empowerment. #womenempowerment #youthparticipation #leadershipdevelopment #politicalparticipation

Yes, it is true, my heart still longs for Canada (Athabasca University rules). This is a great paper on "Feminist Visions of the Future of Women’s Work: A Systemic Exploration of the Past, Present and Future of Women at Work in Canada". Although we might live in different parts of the world, many of the below-mentioned numbers will apply to our own countries as well, I am sure. #feministleadership #feminism #gendergap #genderequality