In Episode 28 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking. Matthias and Mary Ellen examine the persistent gender gap in financial inclusion and its linkages to digital inclusion.

Matthias and Mary Ellen begin their conversation by analysing why finance is not optimised for women, looking at the lack of access to financial services for women and the intricate connection of financial equality and digital inclusion. Using India as a case study, Matthias and Mary Ellen illustrate the importance of implementing digital public infrastructure that is inclusive and motivates individuals to stay in the system.

Looking at the topic from a business perspective, Matthias questions why banks and companies are not working harder to push for financial inclusion. Mary Ellen shares that there is a lack of utilising data to see what products and services are offered, demanded and can drive their businesses.

Matthias and Mary Ellen further discuss why innovation in this sector seems to come from emerging economies and the polarising debate on the efficacy of cryptocurrencies in achieving financial inclusion.

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A Foreign Policy series about women creating change through economic empowerment, hosted by Reena Ninan. This season, host Reena Ninan and reporters across Africa are focusing on one theme: the role of male allies. When are they effective? Why are they doing this work? And how do they influence men and boys?We visit religious leaders in Kenya, interview a former politician in Lesotho, and talk to male allies changing men’s attitudes toward gender-based violence in South Africa, among others. HER♀️ is a Foreign Policy production made possible in part through funding by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President & CEO of Women’s World Banking, on women’s financial inclusion — The Do One Better Podcast

Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President and CEO of Women’s World Banking joins us to discuss the importance of women’s financial inclusion.

We look at the topic of women’s financial inclusion from various angles, including digital literacy, social norms and impact investing, and we also look at some of the research that tells us that this is not just a moral imperative but also an objective that makes commercial sense.

Women’s World Banking is a 44-year old global non-profit organisation and they currently work with 65 partners in 36 countries. Their partners include a range of organisations, such as mainstream banks, FinTechs, mobile money provides and non-bank financial institutions that recognise the commercial potential of serving low-income women in a responsible and sustainable way.