AWLN President's Message: Amplify

I recently attended the Global Summit of Women, attended by 1000 women from 81 countries.  This was quite an impressive gathering of women from corporations, governments and NGOs and the sentiment shared by all was that more needs to be done to achieve gender equality globally. One panel was on Board diversity which shows that we still have a long way to go: women on corporate boards represented 3.2% in Middle-East countries, 6.5% in Asia Pacific, 9.9% in the Americas, 11.9% in European countries. According to the 2010 Alliance for Board Diversity Census, only 0.3% of Fortune 500 company board seats are held by Asian women. On the optimistic side, there were many women leaders gathered with the passion, power and influence to effect greater change. Women in government minister positions vowed to go home to their respective countries to drive for greater gender equality. 

Marisa Drew of Credit Suisse presented on Global Megatrends. She shared some eye-opening facts on women such as: "Women perform 66% of the world's work, produce 50% of the food but earn 10% of the income and own 1% of the property".

But there is hope, as she shared another fact: "Women control 27% of global wealth today or roughly $20.2 trillion; this is expected to grow at a rate of 8% per year through 2014"; a growth rate that's closer to that of high growth emerging countries.

She wrapped up with some powerful quotes, one of them particularly struck a chord for me:

"Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. Teach a woman to fish, she'll teach her friends, start a business and pretty soon an entire village is on the mend" Hillary Clinton (adapted)

It reminded me of my mother and other women that I've met or learned about, powerful change agents who have influenced and improved the lives of so many around them. My mother used to run free cooking classes for her friends and relatives, and some of them subsequently built businesses on the dishes she taught them. Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, retired Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army,  founded the Family Leadership Institute, to provide families with the knowledge, tools and inspiration to help their children succeed in school.  I'm sure you know of other women who not only effect change but amplify it to impact all around her.

Imagine the change we can drive by coming together as a group, we can amplify our voice to raise awareness and recognition of our capabilities, uniqueness and value. Together we can help others see through some misperceptions of Asian women and to learn, respect and appreciate what we bring to the table.

We invite you to bring your voice and join AWLN at our upcoming General Meeting, held during the Working Mother Media's Multicultural Women's National Conference on July 19, 2011 at 5:00PM, at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, 811 7th Ave On 53rd Street, New York, NY.

Meow Yee
President, AWLN