Latest news with #Womenin
Business Journals
12-06-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
From Coffee to Collective Impact: The Origin of the Women in Finance Forum
On Wednesday, May 28, more than 200 women+ from around Portland working in the financial services industry came together for an evening of inspiration and connection at the second annual Women in Finance Forum. The event was hosted by the local chapters of five professional women's organizations: ● CFA Society ● Portland Women in Investment Management ● Women in ETFs ● Women in Insurance & Financial Services ● WE Inspire. Promote. Network. A Moment of Inspiration In a city rich with professional women's organizations, a simple coffee meeting in early 2023 sparked a question that would launch something much greater: "What would happen if we teamed up?" That's the question Yolanda Reyes White and Lisa Massena asked one another over coffee in the sunshine, as they chatted about work, family, and their involvement with two standout groups in Portland's financial landscape — We Inspire. Promote. Network. (WIPN) and CFA Society Portland (CFASP). 'It started with a Happy New Year email,' Lisa recalled. 'That led to a spontaneous catch-up between two people who care deeply about the role women play in shaping the financial industry.' Their conversation quickly led to a shared realization: there are so many powerful organizations that support women in finance, but few opportunities for members of the individual networks to connect. With the support of their respective boards, the idea took off. By the fall of 2023, the concept of a collaborative event had taken shape. More leaders were invited to the table, ideas began to flow, and the Women in Finance Forum was born. A Shared Vision What emerged wasn't just an event — it became a platform rooted in three core goals: ● Cultivate Community and Foster Meaningful Connections Introduce women in the Portland financial sector to the participating organizations to expand professional networks, spark collaborative opportunities, and create a supportive environment. ● Change the Metrics Encourage and support more women to take on roles of responsibility within the financial services industry, shifting the landscape for the next generation. ● Collaborate to Provide Greater Value Combine resources, ideas, and energy to offer more than any one organization could alone. 'This collaboration is about more than networking,' Yolanda shared. 'It's about showing what's possible when women unite around a shared mission. We're acknowledging, celebrating, and amplifying the leadership already happening — and making room for more.' In just one year, the event has grown to include five partner organizations, dozens of volunteers, and a sold-out audience at its 2024 and 2025 forums. The heart of it, however, still comes back to the question asked over coffee — and the collective action that followed. A Collective Thanks The 2025 Women in Finance Forum would not have been possible without the generosity and commitment of its sponsors, the strength of the five collaborating organizations, and the dedication of the volunteers who brought this vision to life. To all attendees — thank you for showing up with curiosity, energy, and purpose. Your presence is what transforms ideas into momentum. This forum is a reflection of what happens when we lead together, build intentionally, and share the stage.
Deccan Herald
09-06-2025
- Science
- Deccan Herald
25 women to get STEM career boost with Biocon-supported initiative
The BioWISE — Women in STEM Empowered — programme aims to empower disadvantaged women students from tier-2 and Tier-3 universities across Karnataka through regular mentorship, internships, bio-incubation centre visits, and other initiatives.
Business Upturn
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Biocon launches BioWISE program to empower women in STEM across Karnataka
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on June 9, 2025, 17:01 IST Biocon Foundation, the CSR arm of Biocon Group, has announced the launch of its new BioWISE (Women in STEM Empowered) program in partnership with the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) and the Bengaluru Science and Technology (BeST) Cluster. The initiative aims to support 25 women science students from tier 2 and 3 universities across Karnataka to build careers in life sciences through internships, mentorships, and training. This first-of-its-kind program will support 15 postgraduate and 10 undergraduate students from underserved communities, offering six-month and three-month mentorship and hands-on exposure respectively. The initiative is structured to include lab visits, bio-incubation centre tours, soft skills training, and continuous mentor-mentee sessions with experts from Biocon Biologics, NCBS, and other partner institutions. Chairperson Dr. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw emphasized that empowering women in STEM is a strategic investment in India's future. The program will be hosted at NCBS, while BeST Cluster will oversee design and implementation. Biocon Biologics will also provide professional mentorship. The launch event witnessed participation from various dignitaries and scientists, with all stakeholders committing to building an inclusive scientific ecosystem that ensures equitable access to research, education, and opportunity. Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
Kuwait Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Kuwait Times
British Embassy marks Women's Day, launches Women's Diwaniya
KUWAIT: The British Embassy hosted its inaugural 'Women's Diwaniya' on Sunday, May 18, bringing together female leaders from many different sectors to mark Kuwaiti Women's Day on Friday, May 16. This new initiative - which is set to run on a quarterly basis, reflects the Embassy's ongoing commitment to strengthening partnerships with female leaders and creating dedicated spaces where they can network and discuss key issues. The decision to launch a Women's Diwaniya follows the success of the Women in Business-themed Ghabga the Embassy hosted during Ramadan - and builds on broader efforts to support and empower women and girls through initiatives such as its 'Future Female Leaders in Sport' program, run in collaboration with the UK's 'Safeguarding Alliance' and Kuwait's Public Authority for Sport. Speaking at the event, Belinda Lewis, British Ambassador to Kuwait, said: 'Kuwaiti Women's Day offers a moment to celebrate the incredible achievements of women here, both past and present, and to inspire the next generation of female leaders. It is also a chance to reflect on the shared and different challenges faced by women across the world, the progress made and barriers still to be dismantled. I am proud that the British Embassy team has hosted this evening's Women's Diwaniya, where female leaders from many different sectors can connect, collaborate and support one another.'
Khaleej Times
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Khaleej Times
UAE among top 5 nations where women's representation is highest, says UN
The UAE has been ranked among the top 5 countries globally where women's representation is the highest in a lower or single house, higher than developed countries, according to the United Nations (UN). In the Federal National Council (FNC), women account for 50 per cent of seats, ranking the country 5th along with Andorra. Out of 40 Federal National Council (FNC) seats, 20 have been reserved for women. According to Women in Politics: 2025 by the UN, women's representation in the UAE is higher than Western and other GCC countries such as New Zealand (45.5 per cent), Sweden (45 per cent), UK (40.5 per cent), France (36.2 per cent), Germany (35.7 per cent), the US (28.7 per cent), Saudi Arabia (19.9 per cent), Turkiye (19.9 per cent), Japan (15.7 per cent) and India (13.8 per cent) among others. The study was released on the occasion of International Women's Day, which is marked on the 8th of March. 'Women are the essence of life, its story, and its soul. They are the nurturers of generations and the makers of heroes,' said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on the occasion of International Women's Day. The women's role in FNC has increased over the years. In the first FNC elections in 2006, women occupied 22.2 per cent of the total seats. In 2018, the then-president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan issued a directive whereby Emirati women must occupy 50 per cent of the FNC seats, 20 each for men and women. Meanwhile, women account for 20 per cent of ministerial positions in the Cabinet, positioning the country at 100th along with Greece and Timor-Leste, according to the UN. Globally, Rwanda (63.8 per cent), Cuba (55.7 per cent) Nicaragua (55 per cent) and Mexico (50.2 per cent) have the highest representation of women in unicameral parliaments or lower house of parliament up to January 1, 2025. The women have the lowest representation, zero per cent, in Oman, Yemen and Tuvalu. According to the UN, average women representation globally was 27.2 per cent in single or lower house and 27.4 per cent in upper house or senate. Regionally, the Americas have the highest representation of women at 35.4 per cent in both the houses, followed by Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Pacific and Middle East and North Africa.
