Women encouraged take charge

The International Women’s Forum (IWF) is challenging Barbadian women to step up and take charge in their careers as leaders.

Global president of the organisation Carolyn Carter made the call on Wednesday evening during a cocktail reception at Ilaro Court.

She said women had the potential to impact the world in dynamic ways and encouraged female community leaders to join the local arm of the forum.

“Forums like Barbados help us empower our growth because you represent the energy of the new. It is important to remember that two-thirds of our 76 forums are under 100 members and that is where the growth is coming from. They are critically important to our goal of creating a global community of women leaders who can truly change the world,” Carter said.

During the event, President of the Barbados IWF Donna Every said she was delighted to have members of the international board here as the board’s 50th anniversary coincided with Barbados’ fifth anniversary of the establishment of an IWF programme.

She added that she was looking forward to the board’s range of activities while in Barbados, such as developing a strategic plan for the way forward.

The Barbados IWF was selected to host the annual IWF Global Board Meeting and Strategic Retreat which began on Wednesday and will come to a close on Friday.

The local IWF programme has three main focuses: establishing more women on boards of various organisations in Barbados, getting more females involved in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers or businesses, and developing financial empowerment opportunities for women.

The IWF is an invitation-only global network of some of the most accomplished women in the world. Women leaders are given the opportunity to connect with each other in every professional sector, all with a common mission of advancing women’s leadership and championing equality worldwide.

Established in New York City in 1974, today IWF comprises more than 8 000 preeminent women leaders in 33 countries and 76 local forums. The members include inventors, entrepreneurs, CEOs, heads of state, academics, scientists, astronauts, Olympic athletes, artists, filmmakers, financiers, and philanthropists.
(SZB)