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Why Gender Diversity Matters
Gender diversity matters in microfinance. WWB champions gender diversity because we believe that diverse perspectives lead to stronger decisions and healthier, more vibrant organizations. Incorporating women’s voices when designing and delivering microfinance products is particularly important when a majority of clients are women. Equally as important, microfinance clients often speak of the inspiration they derive from seeing powerful women leaders in the organizations that serve them. How best to achieve diversity? The answer lies in leadership and technical skill development of individual, high-potential leaders as well as in organizational transformations to ensure that all women and men work in environments where they can perform, excel and lead.
Featured Publication
“Transforming the Landscape of Leadership in Microfinance: Maintaining the Focus on Women” introduces WWB’s new methodology for helping MFIs support gender diversity at all levels of their institution. WWB has expanded its Women’s Leadership Development Program, which works with individuals, to include a tool that focuses on the challenges and opportunities microfinance institutions face in the attraction, retention, and promotion of qualified women staff members - the Organizational Gender Assessment. Now available in English and Spanish.
Leaders in Microfinance Convene for an Executive Coaching Program hosted by WWB’s Center for Microfinance Leadership
From June 18 to 21, 2012 senior microfinance leaders gathered in Abingdon, England for the third annual Coaching Program hosted by Women’s World Banking and delivered by Creative Metier Limited, specialists in remote international coaching delivery. The program brought together 19 participants from 15 microfinance institutions in 14 countries.
Over the course of the four day program, participants improve their own leadership abilities as well as communication skills in order to develop their teams. Participants work with each other and leadership experts to build skills such as how to: create organizational cultures that retain talent and address the politics of implementing strategic initiatives and change.
The impact of the Coaching Program extends beyond the four day workshop. For six months following the program, graduates work with a professional executive coach on their real-time business and leadership development issues. On the opening day of the program Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of WWB, addressed the leaders and encouraged participants to take full advantage of this “incredible opportunity” to invest in their personal growth during the six month coaching relationship.
Past participants have tackled topics including: developing a clear succession plan, focusing on delegation, creating a better work-life balance and using strategic thinking to drive innovation and efficiency. In the words of a graduate of the 2011 program “I place great value in the program in helping me analyze, reflect and understand my leadership approach.”