The Making Finance Work for Women Podcast

Crypto is redefining value. But what does this mean for people too often left behind by traditional finance—especially women? In this episode of Making Finance Work for Women, we sit down with Rebecca Carvatt, Partner at EY Financial Services Consulting. With nearly two decades of experience scaling digital banks and launching financial products globally, Rebecca offers an unflinching look at how crypto innovation can drive—or derail—inclusive growth. 
 
We dive into the opportunities and risks of emerging crypto tech by asking the hard questions: Who stands to gain? Who’s being overlooked? And how can we ensure crypto becomes a tool for empowerment, not exclusion? 
 
Whether you're a policymaker, fintech builder, or advocate for inclusive finance, this conversation at the intersection of technology and trust is not to be missed. 

The Global Findex 2025 is here—and it’s making headlines. In this special episode, Women’s World Banking President & CEO Mary Ellen Iskenderian joins Leora Klapper, Lead Economist at the World Bank and architect of the Findex, for an exclusive first look at what the data reveals about women’s financial inclusion worldwide. From headline-making gains to hidden inequalities, this conversation breaks down the most important findings and why they matter for the future of women’s economic empowerment. Don’t miss this urgent, insightful dialogue on what’s really changing and where there is still work to do.

Traditional credit products often ignore the lived realities of women entrepreneurs—requiring collateral they don’t own, loan terms they can’t meet, and scoring models that fail to see their value. In this episode, we unpack groundbreaking findings from Innovations for Poverty Action’s latest evidence review on what it truly takes to make credit work for women’s economic activity. 
From psychometric credit scoring in Ethiopia to mobile disbursements in Uganda, we explore how innovation, bias-busting, and smart design can unlock business growth, resilience, and independence. Whether it’s asset-backed loans, flexible repayment, or gender-informed targeting, these solutions are reshaping what’s possible when women are trusted with the right financial tools. 
If you care about making finance truly inclusive, this episode is packed with insights that challenge the status quo and point the way forward. 

In honor of Mother’s Day, we’re taking a closer ​look at the​​ ​​role of credit access in unlocking economic mobility for women. ​Women contribute an estimated​​ $8 trillion USD of global GDP through unpaid labor—nearly three times more than men—yet they still face a staggering $1.7 trillion gap in access to credit.  
In this episode, we speak with Lucia Villar, SVP of Product Management at PayJoy, about this gap. PayJoy is turning mobile phones into credit lifelines, using them as collateral to expand credit access. We’ll explore how PayJoy designs its pricing strategies to balance social good with sustainable business operations, why transparent pricing and a no-interest penalty model is good for business; and the ripple effects of digital credit on labor force participation and household resilience. 
As we celebrate mothers around the world, this conversation challenges us to rethink who gets access to financial tools—and why it matters. 

Can a credit score be compassionate? What if lenders could see a climate shock coming—and adjust your repayment plan before it hits? In this episode of Making Finance Work for Women, we sit down with Puneet Gupta, CEO of Kaleidofin, to talk about a breakthrough in credit scoring that blends cutting-edge machine learning with human-centered design. Through a recent collaboration with Women’s World Banking, Kaleidofin tested an innovative model that uses climate disaster data to predict repayment risk—leveraging AI to anticipate financial stress before it becomes unmanageable. The goal? Not just to protect lenders, but to shield women borrowers from over-indebtedness before it starts. We explore how this new approach could allow financial service providers to pause or adjust repayment plans in anticipation of shocks, rather than reacting after the damage is done. If the future of finance is digital, this episode proves it can also be deeply empathetic. 

What if your ability to open a bank account determined whether you could survive childbirth? Or if a lack of credit meant you couldn’t access life-saving healthcare? Financial systems and public health might seem like separate worlds, but they’re deeply intertwined—especially for women. In this episode of Making Finance Work for Women, we sit down with Dr.  Mary-Ann Etiebet, President & CEO of Vital Strategies, to explore a game-changing idea: financial inclusion isn’t just about money—it’s a public health issue. From maternal healthcare to chronic care, to crisis resilience, she breaks down how access to financial services can mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving. Tune in to hear why fixing finance could be the key to a healthier world for women everywhere. 

In our 20th episode of The Making Finance Work for Women Podcast and as we approach Women’s History Month, we sit down with Inés, a powerhouse in digital finance, fintech regulation, and financial inclusion, to explore why women’s leadership is essential in shaping the future of financial systems. As the head of Innovation and Financial Inclusion at the Superintendency of Banks in the Dominican Republic, Inés brings cutting-edge insights into how digital transformation, open finance, and behavioral economics can drive inclusive financial ecosystems. We’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities in regulatory innovation, the role of women in decision-making for the fintech revolution, and how financial services can be designed to serve women better—not as an afterthought, but as a strategic imperative.
 
Join us as we unpack the intersection of leadership, technology, and financial empowerment, and why diverse leadership is the key to building a more inclusive financial future. 

Behind the closed doors of many homes, violence is a harsh reality—especially for women in low-income countries. In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Anita Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, founder of the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), to explore the intersection of finance and gender-based violence. With one in three women worldwide experiencing physical or sexual violence—most often at the hands of intimate partners—the conversation delves into the devastating realities women face. In low-income countries, nearly 50% of women experience intimate partner violence, highlighting the urgency of addressing this issue globally. We’ll discuss how financial services can empower survivors, tackle economic violence—which often accompanies 99% of economic abuse cases—and provide pathways to independence and resilience. Drawing on Dr. DaSilva-Ibru's groundbreaking work in Nigeria and innovative survivor-centered approaches, she’ll explore with us the critical role financial institutions play in driving systemic change. Don’t miss this compelling discussion on leveraging finance as a catalyst for safety and empowerment.
If you or someone you know has been affected by gender-based violence, please find some resources below: 
India: 
Women's Helpline 181 
Phone: 181 (24/7 helpline across India) 
Website: https://www.ncw.nic.in/helpline 
Offers emergency support and guidance to women facing violence. 
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Helpline 
Phone: 022-25521111 
Provides crisis intervention and support for women facing domestic violence. 
Sakhi (Support Centre for Women) 
Website: https://www.sakhi.org 
Offers shelter, counseling, legal aid, and support to survivors of domestic violence in different states. 
Nigeria: 
Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF) 
Helpline: (+234)-8009-210-0009 
Email: www.warifng.org 
WARIF offers a comprehensive approach to tackling gender-based violence, including emergency care, legal assistance, and counseling for survivors of IPV. 
The Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) 
Phone: 0701 767 5105 
Website: https://www.dsvrtlagos.org 
Operates in Lagos and offers support, including legal, psychological, and medical assistance for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. 
Nigerian Women's Trust Fund (NWTF) 
Phone: +234 802 116 6089 
Website: https://www.womenfundnigeria.org 
Focuses on the economic empowerment and advocacy of women, including those affected by IPV. 
The Mirabel Centre 
Phone: 0703 103 1245 (Helpline) 
Website: https://www.mirabelcentre.org 
A sexual assault referral centre in Lagos providing free medical and counseling services to survivors of sexual violence, including intimate partner violence. 
United States: 
National Domestic Violence Hotline 
Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 
Text: "START" to 88788 
Website: https://www.thehotline.org 
Offers confidential support, resources, and a live chat feature for survivors of IPV. 
Women’s Law (Legal Resource for Women) 
Website: https://www.womenslaw.org 
Provides information about legal rights, including protection orders and state-specific laws. 
Safe Horizon 
Phone: 1-800-621-HOPE (4673) 
Website: https://www.safehorizon.org 
Offers support services including legal assistance, shelter, and counseling. 
Loveisrespect 
Phone: 1-866-331-9474 
Text: "LOVEIS" to 22522 
Website: https://www.loveisrespect.org 
Provides support for young people and survivors of dating violence. 
 
United Kingdom: 
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (UK) 
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (Free, 24/7 helpline) 
Website: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk 
Provides confidential support and advice for those experiencing domestic abuse. 
Women's Aid Federation (UK) 
Phone: 0808 801 0327 
Website: https://www.womensaid.org.uk 
Offers practical and emotional support for women experiencing abuse, including access to refuges and legal advice. 
Refuge (UK) 
Phone: 0808 2000 247 (National Domestic Abuse Helpline) 
Website: https://www.refuge.org.uk 
Provides emergency shelter, support, and advocacy for women and children experiencing domestic violence. 
The Survivors' Trust (UK) 
Website: https://www.thesurvivorstrust.org 
Provides a network of support services for survivors of sexual violence, including those experiencing IPV. 

As the year comes to a close, join us for a special December episode of the Making Finance Work for Women podcast, "A Moment of Reflection: Insights from the Leaders of Women’s World Banking." In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with the CEO, COO, and Executive VP of Regional Client Services to reflect on the year’s achievements, lessons learned, and the remarkable individuals who drive Women’s World Banking’s mission. From celebrating strides in women’s financial inclusion to exploring resilience in the face of global challenges, this episode offers heartfelt stories, lighthearted moments, and visionary perspectives for the year ahead. Don’t miss this reflective and uplifting conclusion to 2024! 

Research indicates that female leaders are more likely to champion climate action and sustainability, yet perceptions of their leadership have declined in G7 countries, with only 49% comfortable having a woman as CEO and 47% comfortable with women as heads of government. In this episode of Making Finance Work for Women, we explore why we hesitate to embrace female leaders, especially in the context of climate change—a crisis that disproportionately affects women. In climate-vulnerable countries, women MSMEs face challenges to resilience of their businesses and need financial tools to adapt to new climate realities. Join us as we speak with Buhle Goslar, a fintech leader with over two decades of cross-continental experience and a fellow inclusive finance advocate, to discuss the unique insights women bring to leadership, their commitment to sustainability, and the barriers they face. Tune in to challenge stereotypes and envision a future where female leadership drives global solutions.