Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity.
Happy International Women's Day to you.
Today, we celebrate all women who have taken the lead to becoming major stakeholders in life and business affairs.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN: The Why of IWD
International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women.
International Women's Day (IWD) was first observed in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. Since then, it has grown to become a global event with celebrations, marches, seminars and rallies held in many countries. Each year, IWD has a different theme that focuses on a particular aspect of women's rights and empowerment.
2023 International Women's Day Theme
The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023 (IWD 2023) is, "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality".
This theme is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls".
Using Innovation and Technology in Bridging the Gender Quality Gap in Businesses
Technology has redefined the way companies do business by enabling them to be more visible, more accessible, and helping them improve their internal processes, as well as the services they provide. Strategies surrounding the implementation of digital technologies have gained tremendous popularity over the last few years, due to the perks that businesses have been enjoying as a result of adopting such solutions.
Embracing equity through innovation and technology in business is a great way to create a more inclusive and equitable environment. By taking advantage of the advancements in technology, businesses can create innovative solutions to identify and address any existing inequalities. This could include utilizing technology to create better access to resources, increase diversity among employees and vendors, or create more equitable opportunities for growth. Additionally, businesses should be mindful of the potential for technology to create new disparities and make sure to use it in a way that is fair and equitable for everyone.
Strategies to Promote Innovation and Technology Among Business Women
1. Expanding Awareness Through Digital Advertising
One of the biggest challenges growing businesses face is reaching customers. With digital advertising, women entrepreneurs can more rapidly scale and grow their businesses. Today, it’s possible to reach customers through digital advertising on social networks, PPC ads, and much more. Fast-growing brands can even tap into advertising on emerging television networks. Some of the more innovative marketing strategies that women are using to build businesses right now include:
a. Advertising on social media platforms, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Snapchat.
b. Targeting audiences searching with Google and other engines with pay-per-click advertising that can help quickly grow the scale and reach of their businesses.
2. Kickstarting New Opportunities
Raising the capital to start a new business - or effectively bootstrapping it - presents an important challenge to entrepreneurs. The emergence of platforms like Kickstarter is giving women business leaders new opportunities to find support and fund the growth of their boldest ideas.
3. Access to resources on business growth
From mobile banking ventures that facilitate women's entrepreneurship to e-learning platforms that take classrooms to individuals, social innovations have the potential to serve as a powerful tool to break trends and increase the awareness, access and availability of opportunities for marginalized groups.
Today, we take out time to recognize all African women who have achieved a great name in the business world through diligence, resilience and adequate innovation and technology.
Happy International Women's Day to you!
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