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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.
WWB Brings Together Colombian Women Leaders in Microfinance during 5th Annual Women in Leadership Workshop in Bogotá
Monday, September 27th was the first day of the Women in Leadership Workshop hosted by Women’s World Banking’s (WWB) Center for Microfinance Leadership. The course, taking place in Bogotá, Colombia, is the 5th annual Women in Leadership Workshop and the first held exclusively for women leaders from Latin America.
The Women in Leadership Workshop, co-designed with Wharton, is targeted at women in mid- and senior-level management at microfinance institutions who seek to build their leadership skills and position themselves for top jobs in their organizations. Participants develop their own road map to leadership and leave with an individualized action plan, as well as peer support, to help them achieve their goals.
26 women leaders from 14 microfinance institutions in 8 countries are participating in the workshop this week in Bogotá. To celebrate the first day of the program, the Center for Microfinance Leadership hosted a dinner to celebrate women’s leadership in Colombia. During the dinner, workshop participants had the opportunity to meet some of the Colombian women leaders who played a fundamental role in founding the WWB network and who continue to serve as beacons of great leadership in the microfinance industry.
In attendance were six renowned microfinance leaders: Clara de Akerman, President, WWB Colombia; Margarita Correa, Executive Vice President, Bancamía; María Mercedes Gómez, President, Bancamía; Leonor Melo, President, Fundación Mundo Mujer, Popayán; Teresa Prada, Executive President, Fundación Mundial de la Mujer, Bucaramanga and; Maria Isabel Pérez, Executive President, Corporación Mundial de la Mujer Colombia.
During the rest of the week, workshop participants will increase their understanding of various models of leadership, gender and culture to better understand their individual styles and competencies, appreciate alternative styles and approaches, and identify the specific behaviors that can help them implement their leadership vision. They will also develop strategies and skills to build and maintain mutually challenging and supportive relationships with other women leaders.
For more information about WWB’s Women in Leadership Workshop, please click here >>
Para leer la historia en Español, visite el Portal de las Microfinanzas >>