October 4, 2017; No. CCXLXVI


October 4, 2017; No. CCXLXVI
THIS ISSUE’S HIGHLIGHTS:
I.              AUSTRALIA TO HOST 2018 GLOBAL SUMMIT OF WOMEN
II.         OPENING BUSINESS TRADITIONS TO WOMEN: CWDI OPENS HO CHI MINH AND THAILAND STOCK EXCHANGES
III.           MEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS ON THE RISE IN SILICON VALLEY’S TECH WORLD

I. AUSTRALIA TO HOST 2018 GLOBAL SUMMIT OF WOMEN

In the 2017 report by Corporate Women Directors International on “Women Directors in Asia Pacific’s Largest Companies,” Australia ranked first in the region with the highest percentage of board seats held by women in 20 economies.  The country’s pacesetting initiative in corporate leadership has led to its being selected as Country Host for the 2018 Global Summit of Women in Sydney, Australia on April 26-28, 2018, to which 1,000+ participants are expected from 60-80 countries.  As it has for the past 27 years, the Summit continues to focus on solutions to accelerate women’s economic empowerment globally, while providing skills-building sessions and establishing networks of women leaders in business and government.

“We are pleased to bring this global gathering to Australia,” states Summit President Irene Natividad.  “With a strong cadre of women in leadership positions in both the public and private sectors, beautiful Australia is an ideal Host for the 2018 Summit.”

Some of the reasons Australia and its businesswomen make a fitting location for the 2018 Summit:

  • Australia is the 13th largest economy in the world with per capita GDP higher than the US and Europe;
  • Australia was the 2nd country in the world to allow women to vote;
  • Sydney placed 8th overall globally in a 2017 ranking of best cities for women entrepreneurs and 2nd for its business culture, according to Dell;
  • Australian women have been named “Most Empowered in the World” based on criteria including pay, education, and access to paid paternal leave, according to Booz, Inc; and
  • Initiatives led by the Australian Securities Exchange and the Human Rights Commission to bring more women onto corporate boards have succeeded in increasing percentage of women board directors from 8.3% to 27.4% in just six years.

“Early-bird” registration is now open and discounted rates are available until December 1, 2017, after which registration rates will increase.  With participation expected to be as strong as at previous Summits, prospective delegates are encouraged to guarantee their seat while space remains available and to ensure timely visa access.  To register, visit www.globewomen.org/globalsummit.

II. OPENING BUSINESS TRADITIONS TO WOMEN: CWDI OPENS HO CHI MINH AND THAILAND STOCK EXCHANGES

Corporate Women Directors International (CWDI), the research arm of the Global Summit of Women, marked its 20th Stock Exchange Market Open at the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) on October 2.  The Thai Market Open followed a Market Open at the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange in Vietnam the previous week on September 27.

“I was so pleased to hold our 19th and 20th Market Opens in Vietnam and Thailand, home to so many successful women running major businesses,” said CWDI Chair Irene Natividad.  “These women have had great impact on the economic growth in both economies. We salute their achievements at these Market Open ceremonies.”

In Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Natividad was joined by the former Vice President of Vietnam Truong My Hoa in ringing the bell to open the trading day.  Over 40 women entrepreneurs and executives also took part in the event.  Madame Hoa and Acting Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh Exchange Mr. Li Hai Tra were honored to welcome CWDI and Ms. Natividad to the city’s leading businesswomen.  Ho Chi Minh City’s Vice Mayor also held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Natividad and welcomed her with luncheon banquet attended by the city’s top businesswomen.

CWDI Chair Natividad rings the bell to open the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange

CWDI Chair Natividad with former Vice President of Vietnam Truong My Hoa and Acting Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange Li Hai Tra

Former Vice President Truong My Hoa, Natividad, with Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Party Committee Vo Thi Dung

At the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), President Kesara Manchusree, one of the few women heading up a stock exchange worldwide, welcomed 50 women who came to ring the opening bell at CWDI’s 20th Market Open.  “I am honored that we could mark an important milestone for Thai women and for CWDI at our exchange,” Manchusree said while emphasizing recent increases in opportunities for women in her country.

Natividad stressed the significance of CWDI’s organizing all-women Market Opens around the world. “It’s important that women are seen as part of business traditions such as the ringing of the opening bell at the stock exchange,” she said.  “Women are vital players in economies throughout the world.  We must salute their accomplishments and have their contributions recognized by the public.”

CWDI Chair Natividad rings the bell to open the Stock Exchange of Thailand. To her left is SET President Kesara Manchusree

Participants pointing to the Big Board to show market going up after all-woman Market Open on October 2

CWDI stock exchange openings began at NASDAQ in New York in 2006.  Since then, it has participated in Market Open at the Toronto Stock Exchange, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the Istanbul Stock Exchange, the Madrid Stock Exchange, the Barcelona Stock Exchange, the Warsaw Stock Exchange (twice), the Sao Paolo Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Zurich Stock Exchange, Bursa Malaysia, Deutsche Boerse in Frankfurt, Euronext in Paris, the Australian Securities Exchange, the Philippine Stock Exchange, the Mexican Stock Exchange, and the Tokyo Stock Exchange before the two recent openings in Ho Chi Minh City and Thailand.

For photos and videos of the CWDI Market Opens, please visit, www.globewomen.org/cwdinet

III.  MEN’S RIGHTS GROUPS ON THE RISE IN SILICON VALLEY’S TECH WORLD

Silicon Valley, the tech capital of the US, has been reeling in recent months from high-profile sexual harassment and discrimination claims among more than a few CEOs, executives and investors.  While some high-tech workers have taken those revelations as a sign that the male-dominated industry must change its behavior and rebalance a workforce in which fewer than 25% of technical jobs are held by women, a group of men have seen it as a call for men to take more control in the face of a push for a greater female presence in the industry.

According to a report in the New York Times, more and more men in Silicon Valley are joining “men’s rights” groups that regard gender diversity efforts as an attack on them.  They share beliefs that the harassment claims are unjust and that gender equality in the industry is unattainable due to biological reasons.  The firing of a Google engineer who voiced these views has led to some of the backlash, including one male engineer’s claim that heightened awareness of discrimination against women is actually a “witch hunt” targeting men, spearheaded by “dangerous” human resources departments.

The rise of the “men’s rights” advocates has left supporters of the push for gender equality in the tech industry frustrated. “In just the last 48 hours, I have spoken to a female tech executive who was grabbed by a male CEO at a large event and another female executive who was asked to interview at a venture fund because they feel like they need to hire a woman,” said former Twitter CEO Dick Costolo. “We should worry about whether the women-in-tech movement has gone too far after a couple of these aren’t happening regularly anymore.” (Push for Gender Equality in Tech? Some Men Say It Has Gone Too Far,” New York Times, September 23, 2017)

Australian delegation at the Tokyo Summit in May 2017 announcing Australia as 2018 Host Country

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

2018 GLOBAL SUMMIT OF WOMEN
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
APRIL 26-28, 2018

Sign up early for early-bird rates until December 1 and be part of a raffle for prizes, including an MCM bag.  Registration fees will increase after the deadline.

www.globewomen.org/globalsummit

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