Social Impact Pioneer Elizabeth Wells talks about women entrepreneurs and digital inclusion.
Elizabeth is currently the Head of Entrepreneurship at the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. The Foundation is on a mission to eliminate barriers to entrepreneurship for women, helping to enable global economic gender justice. Elizabeth’s work within the organisation is focused on unlocking the power of digital for women’s entrepreneurship.
With 10 years of experience working on women’s economic empowerment, economic development, and governance programmes, Elizabeth shares why digital exclusion is particularly pronounced for women – from access to mobile handsets, digital connectivity, low digital literacy and the high associated costs. Elizabeth reveals the potential of integrating digital tools in business operations for women. Whether it’s mobile money and online transaction systems, that helps to provide financial autonomy; through to book-keeping and client management that enhances business efficiency.
Elizabeth is passionate about working in partnership with private and public sector organisations and has delivered this in some 12 different countries. Her experience includes working with partners like Qualcomm, DHL Express, FCDO and USAID. Together we talk about some of the partnering opportunities that can better serve female entrepreneurs.
Elizabeth says – “There is a lot of excitement around AI. Digital inclusion is critical to business success and, if women are digitally excluded – whether it’s because of poor connectivity or infrastructure, high cost of data or lack of mobile phone ownership or access – women will never achieve their potential in business.”
Please find here the links to the reports:
GSMA Mobile Gender Gap Report 2023
Cherie Blair Foundation for Women Research Reports
Bridging the Divide: Women, Tech and Business Success
Cherie Blair Foundation website
Cherie Blair Programmes
Cherie Blair HerVenture
Cherie Blair Mentoring