The Making Finance Work for Women Podcast

Ep. 6: Touchpoints for Transformation - The Phygital Revolution

This episode delves into the pivotal role of physical touchpoints in the digital age, exploring their significance in engaging women customers and enhancing their financial inclusion. This topic has particular relevance to financial sector supervisors as technology changes access for vulnerable customers.
Sonja Kelly (Global Vice President, Research & Advocacy, Women's World Banking) and Simone di Castri, PhD (Co-Head & Co-Founder, Cambridge Suptech Labs) discuss the intersection of fintech innovations, the role of banking agents, financial capability, and the effectiveness of digital financial solutions in reaching the last-mile customer and ensure a holistic approach to women's financial empowerment.

Ep. 5: Gender Lens Investing - A Gateway to ESG Excellence

This episode explores the potential of a gender-focused investment strategy and its viability as an entry point into ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing, specifically through the “S.” We will uncoverstrategies for effectively measuring the impact and scope of gender lens investing.
Additionally, Sonja Kelly (Global Vice President, Research & Advocacy, Women's World Banking) and Ivan Chew, CFA  (Director of Impact, BrightLight Group) discuss the transformative potential of investments in women's economic empowerment, a significant avenue towards realizing our social investment objectives, which in turn has a discernible influence on environmental and governance goals.

Ep. 4: Beyond Borders - Women's Financial Empowerment in Times of Crises

In this episode, we shed light on the often-overlooked connection between finance and displacement, exploring how women are disproportionately affected by economic crises, global conflicts, and more. Drawing from Women’s World Banking’s groundbreaking research conducted in Ukraine, thanks to the support of MetLife Foundation, we unravel the challenges that women worldwide face in maintaining financial stability during times of displacement.
Join Sonja Kelly (Global Vice President, Research & Advocacy, Women's World Banking) and Inna Bielianska (General Manager, MetLife, Ukraine) as they uncover inspiring solutions for women’s financial inclusion in crisis situations and share empowering calls to action for policymakers and financial services providers supporting women navigating these complex challenges.
Whether you're an advocate or simply curious about making a positive impact, this episode will leave you informed and motivated to contribute to the financial resilience of women enduring displacement crises worldwide.

Ep. 3: The Role of Mobile Network Operators in Women’s Digital Financial Inclusion

We know usage of mobile internet is not keeping pace with connectivity. Host Sonja Kelly (Global Vice President, Research & Advocacy, Women's World Banking) and guest Aniqa Sandhu (CEO, Digital Financial Services, Digicel Group) spotlight the role of mobile network companies in driving women’s usage of mobile internet, and consider how effective digital financial capability building can help drive usage for women.
 
According to the GSMA, although mobile operators’ investments in network infrastructure have helped to shrink the ‘coverage gap’ from 1.4 billion people in 2015 to 400 million people in 2022, there are still 3.2 billion people around the world covered by networks who are not using nor reaping the benefits of this connectivity. Women are disproportionately affected by this issue, with the gap around usage of the mobile internet increasing in 2022 to 16%, translating to 264 million fewer women than men using mobile internet.

Ep 2: Blockchain & Crypto – A Dynamic Duo for Faster Financial Inclusion?

Blockchain and crypto have barely cemented themselves into our global society and there are already hundreds of use cases, testing it as a viable mechanism to lay a fast foundation for financial inclusion, especially for those traditionally limited by patriarchal financial systems. Today, women are often blocked from traditional financial services due to systemic issues like earning income in more informal sectors, lack of identification, insufficient collateral, mobility constraints and limited financial literacy. So, can this new tech beeline to the woman customer and help overwrite her typical barriers?
Join Sonja Kelly, Global Vice President of Women’s World Banking proprietary research division, as she speaks with best-selling author and blockchain guru, Conor Svensson, about if blockchain can enable women’s financial autonomy, as well as the promise of cryptocurrency and if it is truly a smart business investment.

Ep. 1: The Rise of the Ethical Machines in Women’s Financial Inclusion

The promise of artificial intelligence for financial services providers is automated decision-making at scale, but that means AI also automates risk at scale. Take women business owners for example – historically, they have been the victims of unconscious bias in lending decisions. Algorithm- enabled credit decisions have the potential to create a level playing field for female customers worldwide—but only if we find and mitigate biases emerging through technology inputs and processes.
Join Sonja Kelly, Global Vice President of Women’s World Banking proprietary research division, as she speaks with author, advisor and ethicist, Reid Blackman, about how you can ensure your AI is ethical and create an onramp to financial inclusion for women everywhere.