Women Archives

Natalie Deacon

How does a business like Avon – the multinational ‘more than beauty’ compony, deal with coronavirus? Hear first-hand from Natalie Deacon, Avon’s Executive Director Corporate Affairs and Sustainability and the President Avon Foundation for Women.

Gender, Health

April 3, 2020

How Can Business Respond to an Increase in Gender Based Violence During the COVID-19 Outbreak?

Join us for an online written discussion with a panel of experts to explore how business can respond to an increase in gender based violence during the COVID-19 outbreak. Taking place on Monday 6 April, 10am-11am EDT (3pm-4pm BST/ 5pm-6pm EAT)

Gender, Gender-Based Violence, Health

April 1, 2020

The Morning Show: How Business and Television Can Help Us See Possible Contributions to Peace

To date, this column has been devoted to films that provide a lens through which we might see the ways that various cultural artifacts, including business, music, sports and film, can help us see possible contributions to peace. This month, I’m expanding beyond film to its screen cousin, television, with attention given to AppleTV’s The Morning Show.

Conflict and Peace, Gender, Innovative Business Models

March 3, 2020

Gender Equality is Everyone’s Business: How Can Companies Engage Men as Allies Across the value chain?

Due to launch in early February, a new report will reveal how companies have a unique opportunity to positively influence gender norms at scale by engaging #MenAsAllies to advance gender equality.

Gender

January 29, 2020

10 Trends That Should Be on Your Board’s Radar

I have vivid memories, from the years I spent working on social impact in-house for big business, of scrambling for Board or Exec report around this time. ‘Please summarise the key social impact trends and the effects on business’, was the exam question. This year, I thought I would do the same for you. Feel free to borrow, comment and add your own.

Agriculture, Climate & Environment, Corporate Impact, Fostering Leadership, Gender, Innovative Business Models, LGBTQI+, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

December 19, 2019

A Year at the Intersection Between Business and Social Impact

A little over a year ago, I had just met Zahid Torres-Rahman for the first time in London. Having searched high and low for a meaningful next step up the career ladder, within five minutes of meeting Zahid I knew that I wanted to be a part of his organisation, Business Fights Poverty.

Gender, Technology

December 19, 2019

Daring to Dream? The Realities and Risks for Adolescent Girls Living in Fragile and Conflict Affected Areas

Across the globe girls and young women living in humanitarian crises are dreaming of a better life for themselves and their families. Girls tell us that they want to be pilots, doctors and teachers. For many of them, these aspirations will never become a reality. Instead, they are faced with impossible choices to secure their mere survival.

Conflict and Peace, Gender

November 26, 2019

Five Questions on Partnership with the Pollinate Group

SDG 17 calls for a revitalisation of global partnerships. In India and Nepal, a social enterprise, Pollinate Group, is working in partnership to empower women to distribute solar energy products in informal settlements. Pollinate Group is partnering with Greenlight Planet and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Business Partnerships Platform.

Energy, Gender, Partnerships, Social Enterprises

November 4, 2019

How Can Business Address Gender Equality Challenges Through Business Aware Practices?

The Business Fights Poverty lunch in NYC provided an opportunity to explore how companies can address gender equality challenges through their business aware practices. The discussion was focussed on the question ‘Why is SDG 5* for gender equality reportedly off-track and what can companies do differently to accelerate progress’?

Gender

October 15, 2019

Time to Unstereotype? How Brands Are Reimagining Gender Norms Beyond the Screen

We’ve seen for so long a familiar dialogue running through advertising where gender stereotypes are reinforced time and time again. But with the likes of Skol’s REPOSTER, Nike’s Dream Crazier and Sport England’s ThisGirlCan challenging female stereotypes, there is a clear development towards a new narrative.

Gender

October 10, 2019

Empowering Women in Toy Factories: Insights from Pilots in India

If you are buying a toy for your child, niece, or nephew, it was most likely made by a woman in China or India. Indeed, women make up over 60 percent of the global toy manufacturing workforce and are critical to its success. However, low-income women working at toy factories can face gender discrimination, harassment, and poor health conditions.

Gender

September 30, 2019

Rising to the Challenge: Donors Must Change their Funding Systems to Ensure that Businesses Achieve Social Impact

It’s time to re-evaluate how we invest. I have seen funders stringing along companies in emerging markets for years while they jump through the hoops of their longwinded selection processes. To donors and funders I say: If you want to help businesses achieve social impact, maybe it’s your funding system that needs to change.

Gender

September 29, 2019

How Companies Can Tackle Gender Based Violence

Gender Based Violence (GBV) affects 1 in 3 women globally and has been referred to by the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as a political ‘global pandemic’ and ‘a mark of shame on all our societies’. A new Business Fights Poverty toolkit has been published to help companies tackle violence and harassment and domestic violence. These two forms of violence can affect employees full and equal participation in the workforce.

Gender, Gender-Based Violence, LGBTQI+

September 25, 2019

A Man’s Place: How Men Can Tackle Everyday Workplace Sexism

There’s a strong call for men to step up to help deliver gender equality of opportunity. Research shows there is a gap between being supportive of action and knowing what action to take. This blog suggests practical actions that individual employees and middle managers can take and leaders of organisations can facilitate.

Gender

September 20, 2019

Banking The Unbanked

Be inspired by Business Fights Poverty NYC keynote speaker, Naureen Hyat, as she tells us about Tez Financial Services, a Visa Everywhere Initiative award-winning technological innovation, which is positioned to bridge the gap towards the financial inclusion of women in Pakistan.

Gender, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Technology

September 18, 2019

The Role Banks Can Play in Advancing Gender Equality

What happens when a bank makes a move towards achieving greater gender parity internally, combined with a razor sharp focus on the ambitions set out in SDG 5? Learn more in a conversation with Laura Hemrika, Global Head, Corporate Citizenship & Foundations and Patsy Doerr, Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Credit Suisse.

Finance and Investment, Gender, Innovative Business Models

September 17, 2019

Inviting Men to Make a Difference: the #HeForShe movement

Engaging men as allies can be a powerful accelerator to help companies, governments and institutions achieve gender equality. Elizabeth Nyamayaro takes us behind the scenes of how UN Women built a worldwide network of men who are championing SDG 5 – the gender equality goal.

Gender

September 17, 2019

The New ILO Violence and Harassment Convention: Signalling a Shift in Norms and Expectations

On 21 June 2019, the International Labour Conference agreed with a near-unanimous vote to adopt a new ILO Convention to eliminate violence and harassment in the world of work. As the focus now shifts to ratification and implementation of this new international treaty, leading businesses are taking a hard look at their own policies and practices and assessing whether they, too, are meeting the new global benchmark for protection and prevention.

Gender

September 11, 2019

How Should Business Encourage Family-Friendly Workplaces?

Family friendly workplace policies, such as paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and support for affordable childcare, play a fundamental role in ensuring children get the best start possible in life. But are businesses doing all they can to support parents manage a changing work-family balance?

Gender

August 27, 2019