International Women's Day Forum 2016

Monday, March 7, 2016 (All day) to Tuesday, March 8, 2016 (All day)

United Nations New York, NY

United States

On March 7 and 8, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Corporate Citizenship Center and United Nations Office for Partnerships hosted the 6^th Annual International Women’s Day Forum. The event convened public and private sector leaders to explore inclusive solutions that create opportunities for women and girls around the world.

Gender parity presents a significant economic opportunity for the entire world. With the new Sustainable Development Goals in place, the time is now to harness the collective action of the public and private sector to fully realize this potential. During this two-day program, we heard how the business community is applying a gender lens to their local and global development work. Thought leaders across sectors and industries shared best practices and lessons learned that help drive global empowerment forward. Conversations focused on issues such as:

Education and Skills Gap
The Sustainable Development Goals
Inclusive Workforce
Financial Inclusion
Empowering Women in the Supply Chain and as Entrepreneurs
Maternal and Child Health
Women's Role in Communities for Peace and Security

This inspiring, solutions-focused event brought together more than 500 cross-sector innovators to learn from the private sector, development practitioners, and thought leaders. Focused on the most pressing issues, innovations, opportunities, and partnerships, past forums have featured speakers such as Melanne Verveer, Sheryl WuDunn, Ban Ki-moon, Isobel Coleman, Barbara Bush, Chelsea Clinton, and Geena Davis.

Want to learn more? Check out CCC's Women's Economic Empowerment program, complete with resources, recent publications, and more. Join us on LinkedIn to participate in these conversations.

Event Editorial:

The Business of Inclusion: Pushing the Envelope on Gender Equality
Making the Case for Women: The Business of Inclusion
Leadership Perspective from Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director, UN Women

Past Forums:

2015 - The Empowerment Bridge: Building a Lifetime of Opportunity for Women and Girls
2014 - Turning Inspiration into Action: Next Steps for the Private Sector to Empower Women Globally
2013 - How Women's Economic Empowerment Strengthens Business
2012 - The Role of Business in Empowering Women
2011- Investing and Women & Entrepreneurship: Solutions to MDG 3

Agenda

Print Agenda

Mar 7
Mar 8

Monday March 7, 2016

12:00pm to 1:00pm

United Nations Headquarters

Registration Open and Networking

1:00pm to 1:25pm

ECOSOC Room

United Nations Headquarters

Opening Remarks

Speakers:

Marc DeCourcey, Senior Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Corporate Citizenship Center, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and Inter-Agency Affairs, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Suzanne Clark, President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

1:25pm to 1:40pm

ECOSOC Room

United Nations Headquarters

Keynote Remarks

Speakers:

David Miliband, President and CEO, International Rescue Committee

1:40pm to 1:50pm

IMPACT2030

Hear leaders from IBM, Ritz-Carlton, Tata Consultancy Service, and UPS on this unique collaboration with UN Office for Partnerships leveraging employee engagement and volunteerism to tackle the Sustainable Development Goals.

Speakers:

Balaji Ganapathy, Head, Workforce Effectiveness, Tata Consultancy Services

Sue Stephenson, Vice Chair, Executive Committee, IMPACT2030

Diane Melley, Executive Director, The Philadelphia Foundation

Herve Humler, President & Chief Operations Officer, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

Angela Thompson, Vice President, Human Resources, U.S. East Region, UPS

1:50pm to 2:50pm

ECOSOC Room

United Nations

Looking to 2030: Gender and Business in the Sustainable Development Agenda

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have set out to alleviate extreme poverty, fight inequality and injustice, and address climate change. During this session, panelists will discuss the importance of gender empowerment and how business can help us achieve all 17 goals. Panelists will discuss priorities, strategies, and best practices taken from the Millennium Development Goals to help further the reach, impact, and involvement of all sectors.

Speakers:

Toni Townes-Whitley, Corporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft

Hugh Welsh, President and General Counsel, DSM North America

Angela Baker, Director, Qualcomm Wireless Reach

Laura Trevelyan, Journalist, BBC World News America

Daniela Ligiero, Vice President of Girls and Women Strategy, United Nations Foundation

2:50pm to 3:15pm

Leadership Perspective

Speakers:

Maria Pinelli, Global Vice Chair, Strategic Growth Markets, EY

Soledad O'Brien, CEO, Starfish Media Group

3:15pm to 3:40pm

Leadership Interview

Speakers:

Cynthia Germanotta, President and Co-founder, Born This Way Foundation

Soledad O'Brien, CEO, Starfish Media Group

3:40pm to 4:00pm

United Nations Headquarters

Networking Break

4:00pm to 4:25pm

ECOSOC Room

United Nations Headquarters

Leadership Discussion: You Do The Math. Stemming the STEM Trends

Speakers:

Jennifer Scanlon, SVP, USG Corporation, President, L&W Supply Corporation, and President, International

Shereen Shermak, Founder, Good Growth Capital

4:25pm to 5:15pm

ECOSOC Room

United Nations Headquarters

Plenary Panel: Building an Inclusive and Modernized Workforce - Key Issues in Women's Labor Force Participation

Diversity is integral for sustainability in your workforce. Diversity of thought, gender, and ethnicity bring more value to your company and employee base. During this panel, we will learn from companies who are leading the development of an inclusive workforce and driving skills and innovation in the process. These companies will share how they’re creating opportunities to develop the talent pool needed, particularly in engineering, IT, manufacturing industries.

Speakers:

Deborah A. Elam, Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer; GE; President, GE Foundation

Kevin Cassidy, Senior Communications and External Relations Officer, International Labor Organization

Diane Melley OLD, Vice President, Global Citizenship Initiatives, Corporate Marketing, Communications, and Citizenship, IBM

Jenny Abramson, Founder and Managing Partner, Rethink Impact

5:15pm to 5:35pm

ECOSOC Room

United Nations Headquarters

Leadership Interview

Speakers:

Michael Fenlon, Global and US Talent Leader, Principal, PwC

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka , Executive Director of UN Women

5:35pm to 5:45pm

ECOSOC Room

United Nations Headquarters

Closing Remarks

5:45pm to 7:30pm

Delegates Dining Room

United Nations Headquarters

IWD Reception

Brought to you by IMPACT2030, IBM, Ritz-Carlton, Tata Consultancy Services, and UPS

Tuesday March 8, 2016

8:30am to 9:00am

Microsoft New York Offices

Registration

9:00am to 9:10am

Microsoft New York Offices

Welcome Remarks

9:10am to 9:35am

Microsoft New York Offices

Innovation Blitz

Speakers:

Jennifer Sirangelo: OLD, President and CEO, National 4-H Council

Ann Veneman, Fmr. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture; Board Member, National 4-H Council; Fmr. Executive Director, UNICEF

9:35am to 10:20pm

Microsoft New York Offices

Plenary Panel: The Power of Communication and Perception

Today's brands are breaking down the barriers around traditional gender perceptions. This panel explores how strong and purposeful brand campaigns are empowering women and girls and dismantling gender stereotypes in the workplace.

Speakers:

Beth Colleton, Senior Vice President, Corporate Social Responsibility, NBCUniversal, Inc.

Lori Harnick, Chief Operating Officer, Microsoft Philanthropies, Microsoft

Sergio Fernández de Córdova, Chairman and Co-Founder, PVBLIC Foundation

Deepa Purushothaman, Principal, Strategy & Operations Practice, Deloitte Consulting LLP

10:20am to 10:40am

Microsoft New York Offices

Networking Break

10:40am to 11:00am

Microsoft New York Offices

Innovation Blitz

Speakers:

Mariarosa Cutillo, Chief of Strategic Partnerships, United Nations Population Fund

11:00am to 11:45am

Microsoft New York Offices

Plenary Panel: The SHEconomy: Unlocking Economic Value from Gender Parity and Gender Focused Innovation

A brand new study from McKinsey will explore the compelling economic case for closing the gender gap and panelists will also explore the opportunities for nimble, customer-focused companies to empower women through new and innovative products and services.

Speakers:

Mekala Krishnan, Fellow, McKinsey Global Institute; Author of the Power of Parity: How Advancing Women's Equality Can Add $12 Trillion to the Global Economy

Sharon Ritchey, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, AXA Financial, Inc.

Sarah Emerson, Director, Women Empowered Initiative, Project Concern International

Elizabeth Vazquez, President, CEO, and Co-Founder, WEConnect International

Suzanne Fallender, Director, Corporate Responsibility, Intel Corporation

11:45am to 12:15pm

Microsoft New York Offices

Networking Break

12:15pm to 1:35pm

Microsoft New York Offices

Breakout Luncheon - Employee Engagement: Leveraging Your Internal Impact

Join your fellow attendees in an interactive, deep dive breakout session focused on:

As companies look to engage employees at every stage of their careers and create economic opportunity for women, employee engagement programs have evolved to engage new generations, support college graduates, and provide resources for working parents. Hear from companies that are creating opportunities for women's growth, connections, and collaboration while maximizing recruitment, retention, and the bottom line.

Speakers:

Cynthia Ritter, Vice President, Finance, Tyco; Chairperson, Tyco’s Women’s Growth Network

Pamella Rodrigues, Program Lead, CSR & Diversity, North America, Tata Consultancy Services

Natalie Masri, Economic Empowerment Consultant, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Sarah Blank, Senior Vice President, Account Manager, PIMCO

12:15pm to 1:35pm

Breakout Luncheon - Enabling Women in Global Supply Chains

Join your fellow attendees in an interactive, deep dive breakout session focused on:

Women represent 60-80 percent of the global manufacturing workforce and 40-70 percent of the agricultural workforce. Many of the largest corporations have made commitments to source from women-owned businesses. Panelists will explore how corporations can identify women-owned businesses that have the scale and capacity to meet high procurement standards of large corporations.

Speakers:

Katarina Kahlmann , Director, Strategic Initiatives, TechnoServe

Sydney Price, Senior Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility, Kate Spade & Company

Kara Valikai, Senior Manager, Women's Economic Empowerment, Walmart Stores, Inc.

Amy Braun, Senior Sustainability Manager, Kellogg

Shamarukh Mohiuddin, Former Director, Economic Empowerment Program

12:15pm to 1:35pm

Breakout Luncheon - The Future of Inclusive Finance and Women Centered Design

Join your fellow attendees in an interactive, deep dive breakout session focused on:

According to the IFC there is a $300 billion gender gap in access to finance. In order to reach new female customers, companies must design innovative financial services to suit their specific needs. Low-income girls and women are also underserved with the skills and confidence-building experiences that serve as a foundation for long-term financial capability. Panelists will look at how companies play a role in addressing such gaps.

Speakers:

Laura Margarita Fernandez Lord, Head of Talent & Corporate Culture, BBVA Microfinance Foundation

Dorothy Stuehmke, Program Officer, Citi Foundation

Radhika Shroff, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Accion Global Investments - Gateway

Karen Newman, Senior Consultant, Sustainable Development Goals Fund, United Nations Development Programme

Colleen Briggs, Executive Director, Community Innovation, JPMorgan Chase & Co

Shannon Trilli, Director, Corporate Responsibility Strategy & Partnerships, S&P Global

1:35pm to 1:55pm

Networking Break and Transition to Plenary Sessions

1:55pm to 2:40pm

Microsoft New York Offices

Plenary Panel: Sector Initiatives and Uncommon Alliances that Empower

Partnerships are critical success factors for business. Hear from businesses across sectors, that may also at times be competitors, about the importance of partnership for the future of your business. How do they make it work? How can more companies see the potential of business to business partnerships for women’s empowerment? Company leaders will share the value of these collaborations, and why more of it needs to happen.

Speakers:

Nicole Robinson, Senior Director, Community Involvement; Mondelēz International; Foundation President, Mondelēz International

Elizabeth Lipscomb, Vice President, Strategic Alliances, Discovery Education

Marcela Hahn, Executive Director, Strategic Partnerships, CARE

Kristy Caylor, Co-Founder, Maiyet

Roberta Salvador, Legal and Compliance Director, Natura

2:40pm to 3:00pm

Microsoft New York Offices

EmpowHERment

Establishing sustainable business models in underprivileged communities that allow marginalized women to benefit from selling their fair trade goods and products.

Speakers:

Naomi Whittel, Founder, W Products Limited

3:00pm to 3:30pm

Data Blitz

Speakers:

Emily Pryor, Senior Director, Data2X

Sarah Iqbal, Program Manager; Lead Author - Women, Business and the Law 2016: Getting to Equal, World Bank

3:30pm to 3:55pm

Turning a Movie Into a Movement #withMalala - He Named Me Malala's Global Impact Discussion

Speakers:

Sarah Barton, Director, Girls' Education Campaign, Participant Media

Gretel Truong, Film Campaign Manager, Malala Fund

3:55pm to 4:00pm

Microsoft New York Offices

International Women's Day Forum 2016

Event Editorial:

Past Forums:

Benefactor

Patron Sponsors

Media Partners

Shape Leaders

Featured Speakers

Agenda

Registration Open and Networking

Opening Remarks

Keynote Remarks

IMPACT2030

Looking to 2030: Gender and Business in the Sustainable Development Agenda

Leadership Perspective

Leadership Interview

Networking Break

Leadership Discussion: You Do The Math. Stemming the STEM Trends

Plenary Panel: Building an Inclusive and Modernized Workforce - Key Issues in Women's Labor Force Participation

Leadership Interview

Closing Remarks

IWD Reception

Registration

Welcome Remarks

Innovation Blitz

Plenary Panel: The Power of Communication and Perception

Networking Break

Innovation Blitz

Plenary Panel: The SHEconomy: Unlocking Economic Value from Gender Parity and Gender Focused Innovation

Networking Break

Breakout Luncheon - Employee Engagement: Leveraging Your Internal Impact

Breakout Luncheon - Enabling Women in Global Supply Chains

Breakout Luncheon - The Future of Inclusive Finance and Women Centered Design

Networking Break and Transition to Plenary Sessions

Plenary Panel: Sector Initiatives and Uncommon Alliances that Empower

EmpowHERment

Data Blitz

Turning a Movie Into a Movement #withMalala - He Named Me Malala's Global Impact Discussion

Closing Remarks and Wrap-Up