Women are still disproportionately excluded from the financial services that let them take control of their lives. We’re working to solve this problem, and we have a diverse team leading the charge. Get to know the women at Accion and our portfolio partners who have dedicated their careers to helping empower women on a global scale.

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Megan Peterson

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Article

Women building a better future

The majority of Kenyans have mobile money accounts; their activity demonstrates digital financial services’ potential. Accion helps Kenyan innovators harness emerging technologies to create new financial services.

The United Nations theme for International Women’s Day this year is <a href="https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality</a>, a celebration of women who are “championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education.” With innovative digital tools, we can reach more women with the financial services they need to strengthen their livelihoods and build a better future. This year’s day of observance also recognizes the impact of the digital gender gaps and their potential to leave women further behind, both economically and socially.

In our <a href="/series/women-of-accion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">annual blog series featuring women leaders of Accion and our partners</a>, we’re highlighting inspiring leaders who bring passion and creativity to their vision of building a better world for all people. Meet some of the women we’re proud to work with:
<h2>Erika Eurkus, Vice President, Resource Development at Accion</h2>
[caption id="attachment_27805" align="alignleft" width="400"]<img class="wp-image-27805" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/erika-eurkus-abf-colleagues-south-africa.jpg" alt="Erika Eurkus and program partners" width="400" height="600" /> <em>Erika (left) with Accion program partners in South Africa</em>[/caption]

<span lang="EN-US" xml:lang="EN-US" data-contrast="auto">Erika Eurkus’ relationship with Accion goes back two decades, spanning both US and global work and several different programmatic efforts — from working with peer loan groups and developing individual loan products to raising loan funds and launching corporate partnerships. Now she works with Accion’s engaged and passionate donors who share our values and propel our mission forward.</span>

<span data-contrast="auto">Erika started her career in her hometown of Boston, Massachusetts. “In my heart, I always knew I would eventually have a career with a purpose, especially one focusing on social justice,” she says. “After graduating from college, I accepted a position as an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for a domestic microcredit organization. And my career working to create economic opportunity was launched far sooner than I had expected — and right in my own backyard.” Erika worked as a loan officer and program manager for small business lenders Working Capital and then Accion USA (now Ascendus). “Working directly with small business owners opened my eyes to the vast disparities that exist in access to capital, and I knew I could have a great impact in harnessing increased resources for our clients.”</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span>

<span data-contrast="auto">In her current role as Vice President for Accion’s Resource Development team, </span><a href="https://www.accion.org/bio/erika-eurkus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><span data-contrast="none">Erika Eurkus</span></a><span data-contrast="auto"> oversees individual philanthropy, helping Accion further our work to bring opportunity to low-income people worldwide. “We must keep building public-private partnerships locally and globally to impact maternal health, early childhood education, and a financial system that works for everyone,” she says.  </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span>

<span data-contrast="auto">While Erika is energized by the rapid pace of digitization in financial services, she recognizes the reality that profound inequalities in society have contributed to fewer opportunities for women and a resulting loss of economic productivity. “To reach equity, we must continuously generate bold ideas, creative thinking, and action. We can’t quiet any voice who has something to say. And, of course, partnerships – shared values and common goals – can achieve so much and are key to our work at Accion,” says Erika, reflecting on some of the partnerships she’s helped develop over the years. For example, the Brewing the American Dream partnership between Samuel Adams and Accion Opportunity Fund, a program designed to provide food and beverage entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed — including many businesses run by women and people of color who are often shut out of the formal financial system.</span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span>

<span data-contrast="auto">To others who are looking to make an impact, Erika says, “Opportunities to have an impact abound in today’s fast-moving economies. When I studied economics, the only mention of social impact was through optional reading, which happened to lead me to a short </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">Economist</span></i><span data-contrast="auto"> piece on microfinance. Today, myriad non-profits, companies of all sizes, and hybrid organizations are focused on some element of impact. The key is to find a connection to a cause that is meaningful to you and seek out an opportunity within that field that provides learning, growth, and the chance to effect change.” </span><span data-ccp-props="{}"> </span>

Women leaders innovate for a more equitable world, part one

The <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/announcement/2021/12/international-womens-day-2022-gender-equality-today-for-a-sustainable-tomorrow">UN Women theme for International Women’s Day</a> this year was, “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of global challenges like climate change, and we must overcome gender gaps to make sure that women aren’t continuously left further behind. We’re working to help all women have the financial services they need to stay resilient in the face of challenges and thrive in the future.

We’re highlighting inspiring leaders who are working to build a more inclusive world in our <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion">annual blog series on the women of Accion and our partners</a>. You can learn about more inspiring women in <a href="/women-leaders-rebuild-a-more-equitable-world-part-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">our first</a> in this series.

Here are a few of the women we’re proud to work with:

Women leaders rebuild a more equitable world, part two

The <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/announcement/2021/12/international-womens-day-2022-gender-equality-today-for-a-sustainable-tomorrow">UN Women theme for International Women’s Day</a> this year is “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow.” Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of global challenges like climate change, and we must overcome gender gaps to make sure that women aren’t continuously left further behind. We’re working to help all women have the financial services they need to stay resilient in the face of challenges and thrive in the future.

We’re highlighting inspiring leaders who are working to build a more inclusive world in our <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion">annual blog series on the women of Accion and our partners</a>. You can learn about more inspiring women in the <a href="https://www.accion.org/women-leaders-rebuild-a-more-equitable-world-part-two">second part</a> of this series.

Here are a few of the women we’re proud to work with:

Women leaders rebuild a more equitable world, part one

All around the world, financial services enable people to open their own businesses, educate their children, and provide for their families, but they aren’t within reach for everyone — including <a href="https://globalfindex.worldbank.org/">980 million women</a> who don’t have a bank account or even the ability to send and receive money on their phones. The COVID-19 pandemic has <a href="https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/the-case-for-a-gender-intelligent-approach-an-opportunity-for-inclusive-fintechs">exacerbated inequalities that women face</a> and exposed how the <a href="https://www.womensworldbanking.org/insights-and-impact/womens-economic-empowerment-doorway-to-economic-recovery/">gender gap in financial inclusion</a> continues to hold women back.

This year, the <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/11/announcer-international-womens-day-2021">UN Women theme for International Women’s Day</a> is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” We’re highlighting women leaders working to open opportunity for women and men through inclusive finance in our <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion">annual International Women’s Day blog series</a>. You can learn about more inspiring women in <a href="https://www.accion.org/women-leaders-open-opportunity-through-inclusive-finance-part-one">our first</a> and <a href="/women-leaders-open-opportunity-through-inclusive-finance-part-two" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">second article</a> for this series.

Meet some of the women we’re inspired by:
<h3>Winnie Blatchford, Founding member of Accion</h3>
[caption id="attachment_23601" align="alignright" width="500"]<img class="wp-image-23601" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/winnie-blatchford-accion-1.jpg" alt="Winnie Blatchford in Venezuela" width="500" height="335" /> <em>Winnie and her Accion colleagues ran a community center in Caracas, Venezuela, that offered classes in literacy, auto mechanics, sewing, and cooking.</em>[/caption]

When Winnie Blatchford (née Marich) was on the cusp of her graduation from UCLA in 1958, she read about volunteer opportunities in her community and around the world in her student paper. One of those opportunities struck a deep chord with her. It was a new, student-run volunteer group called Accion that aimed to improve U.S. relations in Latin America. Founded by Joseph Blatchford — who Winnie later married in 1967 — and other UCLA students, the group sought “<a href="/remembering-accions-founder-joe-blatchford-1934-2020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">people with the audacity to think they can make a difference</a>.” They interviewed candidates and chose Winnie among the initial group of 30 volunteers who traveled to the <em>barrios</em>, or disadvantaged urban neighborhoods, in Caracas, Venezuela, where they had the novel idea to ask the people living there what they needed, and how Accion could help.

[caption id="attachment_23599" align="alignleft" width="450"]<img class="wp-image-23599" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/winnie-blatchford-accion.jpg" alt="Winnie and Joe Blatchford with Bob Williams" width="450" height="353" /> <em>Winnie and Joe Blatchford in Venezuela.</em>[/caption]

Winnie became interested in Latin America and passionate about fighting poverty from a young age after she visited Peru, where her parents were living at the time, and saw firsthand some of the real challenges that families living in poverty faced every day. Her commitment to making the world a better place was borne from that experience and inspired her to go to that interview, get on a plane to Caracas, and become one of the first women of Accion. From installing sewage pipes, to paving streets, to teaching women to sew and make bread, the early Accion team worked side-by-side with their new Venezuelan friends determined to make a difference in the community. Winnie remembers so many talented women who were smart, capable, and true leaders in their communities. “I can't help but think of my two granddaughters when I think of the women and girls in the barrios of Caracas in the early 1960s, and how impressed they would be by all of the women I met all those years ago,” she says.

[caption id="attachment_23602" align="alignright" width="350"]<img class="wp-image-23602" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/winnie-blatchford.jpg" alt="Winnie Blatchford with her granddaughter" width="350" height="467" /> <em>Winnie with her granddaughter Elliette in 2019</em>[/caption]

From the beginning, Winnie and Joe were steadfast in their vision to give those less fortunate the tools they need to improve their lives. Those tools have evolved over the past 60 years since Accion’s founding, but the mission of the first generation of Accion remains the core of our work. And <a href="/topics/women" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">connecting women to the tools they need to grow businesses, provide for their families, and improve their communities</a>, continues to be a crucial way that we drive impact.

Before Winnie left Caracas, she received the <em>Amiga de Venezuela</em> award from the First Lady of Venezuela for her contributions to community development. She treasures that recognition and hopes it inspires her granddaughters and other young women to get involved in doing good. "You don't have to put your feet in the barrios to make a difference. There are opportunities everywhere, and it’s our job to create them if we can’t find them.”

Women leaders open opportunity through inclusive finance, part three

All around the world, basic financial services enable people to open their own businesses, educate their children, and provide for their families, but they aren’t within reach for everyone — including <a href="https://globalfindex.worldbank.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://globalfindex.worldbank.org/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">980 million women</a> who don’t have a bank account or even the ability to send and receive money on their phones. The COVID-19 pandemic has <a href="https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/the-case-for-a-gender-intelligent-approach-an-opportunity-for-inclusive-fintechs">exacerbated inequalities that women face</a> and exposed how the <a href="https://www.womensworldbanking.org/insights-and-impact/womens-economic-empowerment-doorway-to-economic-recovery/">gender gap in financial inclusion</a> continues to hold women back.

This year, the <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/11/announcer-international-womens-day-2021">UN Women theme for International Women’s Day</a> is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” We’re highlighting women leaders who are working to open opportunity for women and men through inclusive finance in our <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion">annual International Women’s Day blog series</a>. You can learn about more inspiring women in <a href="https://www.accion.org/women-leaders-open-opportunity-through-inclusive-finance-part-one" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">our first</a> and <a href="/women-leaders-open-opportunity-through-inclusive-finance-part-three" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">third article</a> in this series.

Meet some of the women we’re inspired by:
<h3>Luz Borchardt, Co-founder of Henry</h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-23551 alignright" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/luz-borchardt-henry.jpg" alt="Luz Borchardt" width="450" height="510" />Luz Borchardt sees her work in Latin America’s education sector as a revolution. “The traditional education system is broken. At Henry, we are disrupting and kicking the paradigm of education as we know it. We challenge the status quo of education. We open opportunity by giving access to people who do not have the material resources, but do have the talent, by allowing them to defer the payment of the cost of their education until the person gets a job and becomes productive.” Luz and her co-founders started <a href="https://soyhenry.com/">Henry</a>, an Accion Venture Lab portfolio company, to make software development training more accessible to people in Latin America by embedding financial services into their education platform. Luz’s passion lies in <a href="https://www.accion.org/making-sure-fintech-is-an-equalizer-for-women-not-another-barrier">unlocking the talent of Latin American women</a> by bringing them into the booming tech industry. “Having more women in STEM would bring benefits for their professional development and economic autonomy, but also their communities and countries urgently require women’s contribution to find new solutions to the problems we face as a society,” she says. “Likewise, it is essential that every user finds their vision of the world represented at each table where a digital product is thought [of], designed, and developed. More women in technology is synonymous with a more egalitarian and inclusive society.”

Despite growing demand for technical skills, coding and software development are still not considered appealing careers for women in the region. “We have the great challenge of breaking down the stereotypes that we consume and creating a horizon of possibilities about what is expected of each gender to reduce the gap between men and women. These stereotypical representations operate from an early age and condition the future of many girls and women who do not believe they are ready to [become developers] in the tech sector.” When women in Latin America embrace tech as a career, more opportunities for jobs and financial stability open up to them. “When women become financially empowered, they invest most likely in education, food, and health, which has an impact on society in general and helps reduce social inequalities and boost economic growth.”

Luz is energized by the impact that she makes through Henry’s work. “I love it, it makes me feel well, we change the lives of a lot of people. And this fills us with pride and encourages us to continue working with great intensity, to be able to invest in more and more people.” She encourages more women to pursue entrepreneurship like she has. “I want to encourage every woman that wants to make an impact to act, to be the protagonist of this world that surrounds us. Entrepreneurship is a matter of attitude. If you find a problem you are passionate about, investigate it in-depth, prototype a solution, talk to many people to validate your idea, and execute it — and the show begins! The best way to start is to implement and navigate your idea. I deeply encourage women to start by doing, even if the idea or solution is not perfect.  I also encourage women to find their own voice in this conversation, too — whether that's in your home, in your workplace, or in your community. We need to expand women’s power and influence all over the world!”

Women leaders open opportunity through inclusive finance, part two

All around the world, financial services like bank accounts, insurance, and credit products, can enable people to open their own businesses, educate their children, and provide for their families. But these basic financial tools aren’t within reach for everyone, including <a href="https://globalfindex.worldbank.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://globalfindex.worldbank.org/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">980 million women</a> who don’t have a bank account or even the ability to send and receive money on their phones. The COVID-19 pandemic has <a href="https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/the-case-for-a-gender-intelligent-approach-an-opportunity-for-inclusive-fintechs" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/the-case-for-a-gender-intelligent-approach-an-opportunity-for-inclusive-fintechs" data-sk="tooltip_parent">exacerbated inequalities that women face</a> and exposed how the <a href="https://www.womensworldbanking.org/insights-and-impact/womens-economic-empowerment-doorway-to-economic-recovery/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.womensworldbanking.org/insights-and-impact/womens-economic-empowerment-doorway-to-economic-recovery/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">gender gap in financial inclusion</a> continues to hold women back.

This year, the <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/11/announcer-international-womens-day-2021" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2020/11/announcer-international-womens-day-2021" data-sk="tooltip_parent">UN Women theme for International Women’s Day</a> is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” We’re <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion" data-sk="tooltip_parent">highlighting women leaders</a> who are working to open opportunity for women and men through inclusive finance, and to rebuild a more equitable world for all.

Meet some of the women we’re inspired by:<span dir="ltr" data-sk="tooltip_parent"> </span>
<h3>Maria Otero, Former Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights, and Former President and CEO of Accion</h3>
<img class="wp-image-23480 alignright" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/maria-otero.jpg" alt="Maria Otero" width="450" height="300" />

“I believe that all women are leaders and that all women can make an impact. And that impact operates not just at their family level, but at their community level, and in some cases, as their national level and internationally.” Maria Otero is adamant in her belief that all women can make a difference, and her own career has been a testament to what a determined and passionate woman can accomplish. Born in La Paz, Bolivia, Maria started her career working in women’s health. As she traveled around the world, she saw how women were held back by a lack of economic empowerment, and she pivoted towards a career in financial inclusion. “I learned a great deal about the women’s movement, about how it is that women were addressed throughout the world, the inequities that existed overall, the inability for women to be treated as citizens like men.”

When she later became President and CEO of Accion, she shifted the focus from microcredit to microfinance to financial inclusion and oversaw the creation of the Center for Financial Inclusion. During her time at Accion, Maria witnessed the remarkable difference that financial services can make in the lives of women: “Financial tools have been the gate through which women have been able to work, to expand their own opportunities, and to become more self-sufficient. There’s just absolutely no question that financial inclusion is one way to truly integrate women into society. It is also one way to help [women] educate their children so that they can grow into a different generation – especially their daughters. You can see this wherever you go.”

Maria believes that women have all around the world tenacity and determination to succeed. “I learned so much about being a confident and fearless woman from my mother who at 94 is still going strong,” she says. With the right tools, women open businesses, provide for their families, and build better futures. “It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about Brooklyn, New York, or Bangkok, Thailand, across the world you see that being able to believe in women and trust in women and give them opportunity allows them to demonstrate that they can pay all their loans back, they can manage their resources, and they can also take on other financial products.”

She brought her passion for social change and her global perspective into her work at the US State Department as Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights. In this role and her many other leadership positions, she’s fought to build an equitable world that creates opportunities for all people, including women.

Maria encourages younger generations to understand the work that has come before them as they continue striving towards gender equality. As digital tools and social media continue to change how we influence thinking, “it is really important to understand that even though we have different means of communicating [across different generations], we are building on the shoulders of much that came before us.”

Women leaders open opportunity through inclusive finance, part one

For financial inclusion to benefit women equally, we need women leading and bringing perspective at every level. At Accion, we’re proud to have many driven women leading the charge as we work to tackle the problem of financial exclusion around the world.

We’re highlighting some of these leaders who are working to build a more inclusive world in our <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion">annual International Women’s Day blog series</a> on the women of Accion and our partners. You can learn about more inspiring women in <a href="https://www.accion.org/women-leaders-are-crucial-for-enabling-sustainable-development-part-one">our previous article</a> for this series.

Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:
<h3>Tharasree Amarnath, Head of Technology, Prayaan Capital</h3>
<img class="alignright wp-image-20579" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Tharasree-Amarnath-805x1024.jpeg" alt="Tharasree Amarnath" width="472" height="600" />Growing up, Tharasree Amarnath was always acutely aware of how much potential is lost when women aren't economically empowered and how much everyone can benefit when women are financially included. "Every woman either works for her family or to contribute to the financial needs of her family," she says. "I grew up in a scenario watching women who had the zeal to do more but lacked the next push towards financial independency. This trait grew within and motivated me to do something which could fulfill my commitments and as well fuel my passion to do something for those financially deprived women. This led me into fintech for inclusion."

To make sure more women are empowered to take control of their finances, Tharasree advocates for a grassroots approach to educating women about financial services and how to use technology to access services. Tharasree looks to technology as a solution because she's seen firsthand what an impact it can have. She's spent 20 years working in IT, and today she's the head of technology for Prayaan Capital, a fintech company serving India's small business owners — and one of our newest portfolio companies at Accion Venture Lab.

Women leaders are crucial for enabling sustainable development, part two

At Accion, we often focus on how <a href="https://www.accion.org/what-does-financial-inclusion-have-to-do-with-the-sustainable-development-goals">financial inclusion enables</a> the <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300">United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals</a>. By helping farmers and shopkeepers succeed, we make strides toward eliminating hunger. When families have the resources they need to pay school fees, quality education is more accessible. And when women can control their finances and get the funding they need to pursue their dreams, we'll be that much closer to achieving true gender equality.

When it comes to gender equality, financial inclusion faces its own challenges. Despite global progress on expanding access to financial services, <a href="https://www.accion.org/how-can-we-close-the-gender-gap-in-financial-services">women still lag behind</a> men when it comes to account ownership. This <a href="https://www.accion.org/want-to-fix-the-financial-inclusion-gender-gap-ask-better-questions">gender gap is a complicated issue</a> to solve. Still, one thing is certain: For financial inclusion to benefit women equally, we need women bringing perspective at every level. At Accion, we’re proud to have many driven women leading the charge as we work to tackle the problem of financial exclusion around the world.

We’re highlighting some of these leaders who are working to build a more inclusive world in our <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion">annual International Women’s Day blog series</a> on the women of Accion and our partners. Check out <a href="https://www.accion.org/women-leaders-are-crucial-for-enabling-sustainable-development-part-two">this additional article</a> to learn about more inspiring women.

Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:

Women leaders are crucial for enabling sustainable development, part one

As we strive to close the<a href="https://www.accion.org/want-to-fix-the-financial-inclusion-gender-gap-ask-better-questions/"> gender gap in access to financial services</a> and build an inclusive financial system, we’re proud to have a diverse team leading the charge. Three in five people who work at Accion are women, and at Accion Venture Lab, more than half of all full-time staff are women.

We’re highlighting some of these leaders who are working to build a more inclusive world in our <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion">annual blog series on the women of Accion and our partners</a>. You can learn about more <a href="https://www.accion.org/these-women-leaders-show-that-balance-is-better-part-one/">inspiring women in our previous article</a> for this series.

Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:
<h3><strong>Kshama Fernandes, Managing Director and CEO, Northern Arc</strong></h3>
<img class="alignleft wp-image-17867" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Kshama-Fernandes_1-1024x683.jpg" alt="Kshama Fernandes" width="500" height="333" />“If a large proportion of the human population is excluded from finance, education, livelihood, medical care, etc., we will never be able to unleash our full potential as human beings. We will only be half as good, half as productive, and half as happy as we could be in a world without the gender gap. Let's strive to become a complete species!” With such a bold statement, it’s no surprise that Kshama Fernandes has committed her career to creating a more equitable world. As the managing director and CEO of Northern Arc in India, she supports companies that are serving people who have been excluded from the benefits of formal financial services, including women. She sees the effects that come when these underserved populations finally get financial services that meet their needs: “Small sums of money can make a big difference to the lives of many. As an illustration, access to a timely loan gives the ability to pay fees and to not have to pull a girl child out of school at the first indication of financial stress. It means having the liquidity to avail medical treatment in a timely manner for the bread earner so her or his family won’t be homeless. For many women, it means an opportunity to avail a dignified livelihood, and the independence and the empowerment that comes with it.”

Driving financial inclusion is a mission Kshama has embraced wholeheartedly. “Those of us who are fortunate to have had access to finance, have the responsibility to give back to the world,” she says. Whatever mission motivates you, she offers this advice for making an impact: “Don't underestimate the power you have to change the world for the better. You have your rightful place under the sun — in your families, at your workplaces, in board rooms, and in the wider financial ecosystem."

These women leaders show that balance is better, part two

According to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/04/female-founders-have-brought-in-just-2-2-of-us-vc-this-year-yes-again/">TechCrunch</a>, fewer than 1 in 10 people making investment decisions at venture capital firms are women, and three-quarters of these firms have zero female investors. Furthermore, there were only 24 companies with female chief executives <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/23/upshot/why-the-number-of-female-chief-executives-is-falling.html">among the Fortune 500 in 2018</a>. There’s a long way to go before we reach gender parity in most industries and societies throughout the world, but it’s crucial that we continue to champion women because, as the slogan for International Women’s Day 2019 points out, balance is better.

Having diverse leadership helps companies increase their understanding of their customers, so they can perform better financially. For businesses focused on social good, this can also translate to making a greater impact. When it comes to financial inclusion, we need women in power as we work to overcome the <a href="https://globalfindex.worldbank.org/">persistent gender gap</a> in access to financial services and ensure that all women have useful financial tools that can help them gain independence and seize more opportunities.

As we strive to close this gap and build an inclusive financial system, we’re proud to have a diverse team leading the charge. Three in five people who work at Accion are women, and at Accion Venture Lab, more than half of all full-time staff are women.

We’re highlighting some of these leaders who are working to build a more inclusive world in our <a href="https://www.accion.org/series/women-of-accion">annual International Women’s Day blog series on the women of Accion and our partners</a>. Check out <a href="https://www.accion.org/these-women-leaders-show-that-balance-is-better-part-two/">this additional article</a> to learn about more inspiring women.

Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:

These women leaders show that balance is better, part one

At Accion, we’re proud to have a diverse team leading the charge as we work to tackle the problem of financial exclusion around the world.

To highlight some of the women leaders working behind the scenes to build a more inclusive and prosperous world, we’re releasing a blog series on <a href="http://www.accion.org/meet-women-leading-way-inclusive-financial-future-part-one/">the women of Accion and our partners</a>.

Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:
<h3><strong>Isabelle Barrès, Global Director, Smart Campaign</strong></h3>
<img class="alignleft wp-image-8245 size-full" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Isabelle-Barres.jpg" alt="Women Leaders: Isabelle Barrès, Global Director, Smart Campaign" width="500" height="500" />Isabelle Barrès always knew she wanted to have a career with a social purpose. She decided to work in international development because of the urgent need to eliminate global poverty. Eventually, her career path led her to financial inclusion, and she’s spent the past two decades tackling the issue from various angles. In her role at the <a href="https://www.smartcampaign.org/">Smart Campaign</a>, she works with a wide range of actors to ensure that inclusive financial services are delivered responsibly and add value for consumers. “Financial inclusion is not about merely providing access to financial services or even making sure that these services are used. It is about having a positive impact on people’s lives, improving their financial health, and opening opportunities that they would otherwise not have had,” says Isabelle. She offers this advice to those who want to dedicate their lives to making a positive change in the world: “Do not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone. Be willing to revisit and test your assumptions. Don’t be wedded to one approach or perspective but always be open to learning from as many different people as possible. Reducing poverty is a complex issue that will require a wide range of innovative solutions and a lot of collaboration, both within the financial inclusion sector and with other sectors.” Isabelle adds, “Make sure that in your busy life you keep some space to think and reflect!”

&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Gowri Mukherjee, Co-Founder and CMO, CreditMantri</strong></h3>
<img class="alignleft wp-image-8244 size-full" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-03-14-at-3.49.40-PM.jpg" alt="Women Leaders: Gowri Mukherjee, Co-Founder and CMO, CreditMantri" width="500" height="500" />“Be sincere, work hard, learn continuously, challenge yourself and the status-quo, and you’ll definitely see the impact,” says Gowri Mukherjee. Trust her — she knows all about making an impact. Gowri co-founded <a href="https://www.creditmantri.com/">CreditMantri</a> to help people learn about their credit scores and improve their financial health. In India, access to credit is crucial for lifting people out of poverty and offering them stability and a chance to thrive. “Seeing that many lack awareness of even what a credit report looks like, I felt there was a huge opportunity to make a difference,” says Gowri. CreditMantri uses an automated web platform and call center to help consumers easily access their credit reports, understand their credit scores, improve their creditworthiness, restructure outstanding debt, and get access to relevant products and services from lenders and financial institutions. With this accessible approach, CreditMantri has been able to serve more than 5 million customers, giving them a chance to build a better credit score and a better life.

&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Amy Stewart, Manager, Global Advisory Solutions at Accion</strong><strong> </strong></h3>
<img class="alignleft wp-image-11215 size-full" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_2925_blog.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="480" />

“Financial inclusion isn’t charity — it’s fixing something that’s broken,” says Amy Stewart. “Well-designed financial systems can and should sustainably serve people across the economic spectrum — providing them with the tools they need to live their lives.” Low-cost digital tools are helping to realize this vision, and in her role at Accion, Amy is helping financial service providers across the globe tap into the power of digitization to reach more people than ever before. In addition to her advisory role, she helps translate insights from our advisory work into knowledge products and strategies. The resources that she develops, like our upcoming <a href="http://www.accion.org/rapidly-changing-landscape-digital-lending/">digital lending</a> guide, support our partner institutions and inform the industry. Amy’s also interested in guiding future leaders who want their career to promote social good. “Be open to experiences, people, and opportunities that you may not have considered — the path to impact isn’t linear,’ she says. “Proactively actively seek opportunities to gain new experience and improve the status quo. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask why things are done a certain way.”

Read <a href="http://www.accion.org/meet-women-leading-way-inclusive-financial-future-part-one/">part one</a>, <a href="http://www.accion.org/women-in-leadership-inclusive-financial-future%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8apart-two/">part two</a>, <a href="http://www.accion.org/women-working-in-financial-inclusion-part-three/">part three</a>, and <a href="http://www.accion.org/meet-the-women-leading-the-way-to-an-inclusive-future-part-four/">part four</a> to learn about more inspiring women leaders who are breaking barriers and building a more inclusive financial system.
<p class="graf graf--p"><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://emarketing.accion.org/page/s/get-updates" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">Subscribe to our newsletter</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em"> to receive stories, podcasts, updates on new Accion initiatives, and more.</em></p>

Meet the women leading the way to an inclusive future — part five

At Accion, we’re proud to have a diverse team leading the charge as we work to tackle the problem of financial exclusion around the world.

To highlight some of the women working behind the scenes to build a more inclusive and prosperous world, we’re releasing a blog series on <a href="http://www.accion.org/meet-women-leading-way-inclusive-financial-future-part-one/">the women of Accion and our partners</a>.

Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:
<h3><strong>Maria Alejandra Gonzalez, Head of Growth, Tienda Pago</strong></h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-8227 alignnone" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/TIENDA-PAGO-27.jpg" alt="Maria Alejandra Gonzalez, Head of Growth, Tienda Pago" width="600" height="450" />

In her role at <a href="http://www.tiendapago.com/en/">Tienda Pago</a>, Maria Alejandra Gonzalez makes it her mission to improve small retailers' lives through <a href="http://www.accion.org/technology-helps-fund-small-businesses-latin-america/">innovative financial solutions</a> in Mexico and Peru. She has seen firsthand how access to financial services can provide social mobility and opportunities. “Fintech for inclusion has allowed me to combine my two passions: creating solutions centered on a deep understanding of users' needs and context, and truly impacting peoples' quality of life,” says Maria Alejandra. This is true at Tienda Pago, where she works on designing and delivering products and experiences that make it easier for shop owners to keep their shelves stocked and support their families. It's not always easy to make a lasting impact in your career, but Maria Alejandra offers up a three-step plan to get started: “Identify what type of problem you want to help solve, find a team that is equally passionate about solving it, and get to it!”

<strong> </strong>
<h3><strong>Sonja Kelly, Director of Research, The Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion</strong></h3>
<img class="alignleft wp-image-8228 size-full" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/fullsizeoutput_123-color-blog.jpg" alt="Sonja Kelly, Director of Research, The Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion" width="450" height="600" />

Sonja Kelly was inspired to make finance work better for low-income people by her first job after college. While traveling the world showcasing the work of microfinance to donors and investors, Sonja was moved by the care that these financial institutions had for their customers. Several jobs and one Ph.D. later, Sonja says, “I’m still driven by this desire to improve the ability of financial institutions to make products work better for clients—bettering their lives.” Working on financial health at <a href="http://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/">the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion</a> has given her a renewed focus on how financial products affect customers’ lives. She wants to make sure people can be more resilient and able to take advantage of opportunities. She believes anyone can join her in <a href="http://www.accion.org/why-we-care-about-the-sdgs-and-what-were-doing-about-it/">building a financially inclusive world</a> if they play to their strengths. “Make sure you bring something to the table,” says Sonja. “We need thoughtful global citizens, yes, but we also need people who understand risk modeling or complex data analysis or crafting a business case. Developing your expertise will help you to succeed beyond the limits of optimism and enthusiasm.”

&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Peace Osangir, COO, Kopo Kopo</strong></h3>
<img class="size-full wp-image-8229 alignleft" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Peace-Headshot-blog.jpg" alt="Peace Osangir, COO, Kopo Kopo" width="450" height="600" />

“Every day you are presented with opportunities to make a difference. Every hurdle that you encounter is a call to step up and be counted,” says Peace Osangir. For women who want to make an impact, she recommends embracing each challenge: “use it as an inspiration to develop practical solutions from your unique perspective as a woman.” As Chief Operating Officer of <a href="http://kopokopo.co.ke/">Kopo Kopo</a>, she knows all about challenges and impact. Kopo Kopo makes it easier for <a href="http://www.accion.org/kopo-kopo-mobile-money-kenya/">small businesses to accept mobile money</a> from customers to purchase goods and services in Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Peace initially stumbled into the fintech for inclusion space through her work in big data analytics. She gained an appreciation for financial inclusion because she saw the power of data and technology to serve the unbanked and underbanked populations in Kenya and Tanzania. And she realized that once people were economically empowered, they could build a better future for themselves, their communities, and even their countries. Understanding this potential inspired Peace to seek more opportunities that would go beyond financial inclusion at an individual level to economic inclusion at a business level. The effects of her work at Kopo Kopo inspire her to keep pushing forward: “The success stories that I continue to hear every day from our customers give me the assurance that I am making a difference in my small sphere of influence and continue to motivate me to innovate in this space.”

&nbsp;
<h3><strong>Victoria White, Managing Director, Global Advisory Solutions at Accion</strong></h3>
<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-8230" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_4341-blog.jpg" alt="Victoria White, Managing Director, Global Advisory Solutions at Accion " width="600" height="450" />

Victoria White first became familiar with the barriers women face in accessing financial services during a grad school internship with the US State Department in Benin. She spent a good part of that summer talking to women business owners in Cotonou, which opened her eyes to the innovative models that could help serve people who had no access to formal financial services. That experience was pivotal to Victoria, stimulating an interest in microcredit and its potential to provide opportunity to families and communities, which ultimately led her to her work with Accion. Today, she serves as a member of Accion’s senior management team and holds responsibility for overseeing our advisory support to our partners throughout Asia, Africa, and Latin America. She also serves as a board director for a number of these partner institutions. For women who strive to be leaders in financial inclusion, Victoria says, “go big now. Don’t be afraid to take risks to make a difference in whatever area you find your passion.” She also stresses the importance of understanding your strengths and finding the right fit for you. “Impact can be made in so many different ways. What I find so stimulating about the financial inclusion industry today is that it draws from so many different areas of expertise,” she says. “The industry is open to so many different entry points, so many perspectives, and so many paths. Be intentional in charting your own, unique path. There are so many different combinations of passion, talent, and capability that are needed to build a better world, through financial services and beyond.”

&nbsp;

Read <a href="http://www.accion.org/meet-women-leading-way-inclusive-financial-future-part-one/">part one</a>, <a href="http://www.accion.org/women-in-leadership-inclusive-financial-future%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8apart-two/">part two</a>, and <a href="http://www.accion.org/women-working-in-financial-inclusion-part-three/">part three</a> to learn about more inspiring women who are breaking barriers and building a more inclusive financial system.

Meet the women leading the way to an inclusive future — part four

<p class="graf graf--p">At Accion, we’re proud to have a diverse team leading the charge as we work to tackle the problem of financial exclusion around the world.</p>
<p class="graf graf--p">To highlight some of the women working behind the scenes to build a more inclusive and prosperous world, we’re releasing a blog series on <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/meet-women-leading-way-inclusive-financial-future-part-one/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the women of Accion and our partners</a>.</p>
<p class="graf graf--p">Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:</p>

<h3 class="graf graf--p"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">Monica Brand Engel, Partner, Quona Capital</strong></h3>
<p class="graf graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote"><img class="alignleft wp-image-8205" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/monica-photo_blog-768x1024.jpg" alt="Monica Brand of Quona Capital is one of the women working in financial inclusion for Accion and our partners" width="450" height="600" />“I’m half-Peruvian, and my multi-ethnic, multi-denominational upbringing instilled in me a deep appreciation of the threads in our society that sometimes get overlooked,” says Monica Brand. She’s worked in financial inclusion for her entire career because she views it as “a powerful way to give agency to those who have been marginalized or underserved and provide tools for them to meaningfully improve their lives.” She’s also a pragmatist who believes deeply in the power of markets to generate change. These beliefs have been a driving force for her throughout her career. Before co-founding <a href="https://quona.com/">Quona Capital</a>, Monica was the founder and managing director of Accion’s Frontier Investments Group, supporting inclusive financial companies as they grow and become more established. For Monica, being a strong leader has been about weaving together seemingly disparate threads — like her work in inclusion. Early in her career, she found that leadership traits that are often characterized as “masculine” — being assertive, outspoken, confident, logical — made her successful. But as she’s advanced professionally, she sees that her traits that may be labeled as “feminine” — empathy, patience, vulnerability, intuition — are most critical to her success as a leader. For women who want to lead the charge and make an impact, she offers this advice: “Look for mentors whose leadership style you respect, and spend time introspectively finding your own voice and special super power(s).”</p>

<h3 class="graf graf--p"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">Sharlene Brown, Executive Director, Partnership for Responsible Financial Inclusion</strong></h3>
<p class="graf graf--p"><img class="alignnone wp-image-8206" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SB-in-Uganda2_blog-1024x768.jpg" alt="Sharlene Brown of the Partnership for Responsible Financial Inclusion is one of the women working in financial inclusion for Accion and our partners" width="800" height="600" />Sharlene Brown’s journey, and that of her mother, sisters, and grandmother, remind her every day what women and their families can achieve when a woman gains access to work, health care, education, and other opportunities. Born in Jamaica and raised in New York, Sharlene knows women “back home” who continue to struggle to find regular employment, pay school fees, and have access to running water. “My commitment to financial inclusion is because of my very personal knowledge of these realities — be it in Jamaica or elsewhere,” Sharlene says. She believes that other women who want to take the lead and make a difference can find strength in numbers: “Learn to network early in your career, build quality relationships, and find a good mentor.”</p>

<h3 class="graf graf--p"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">Katharine Budd, Co-Founder, NOW Money</strong></h3>
<p class="graf graf--p"><img class="alignnone wp-image-8207" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/katbudd_blog-1024x768.jpg" alt="Katharine Budd of NOW Money is one of the women working in financial inclusion for Accion and our partners" width="800" height="600" />Katharine Budd is a problem solver. When she was working in consumer finance in the Gulf, she saw how few people were able to access formal financial services in an area where 7 in 10 residents earn less than $1,000 a month. However, since 98 percent of people carry smartphones, Katharine also saw a solution. She co-founded <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://nowmoney.me/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NOW Money</a> in hopes that the digital platform would give people the opportunity to manage their money. Customers can operate their account from a smartphone to <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/invested-in-now-money/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">remit money overseas</a>, as well as buy phone credit and pay bills. One key factor in NOW Money’s success is its diverse team. “The NOW Money team is small, but spans six nationalities and seven languages,” says Katharine. Without a single dominant group, there’s less likelihood of particular cultural biases or traits establishing themselves in the company, she says, and instead, employees can focus on building the company’s own personality.</p>

<h3 class="graf graf--p"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">Amee Parbhoo, Director of Investments, Accion Venture Lab</strong></h3>
<p class="graf graf--p"><img class="alignleft wp-image-8208" src="http://blogs.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/amee_blog-768x1024.jpg" alt="Amee Parbhoo of Accion Venture Lab is one of the women working in financial inclusion for Accion and our partners" width="450" height="600" />Tech is transforming our world, and Amee Parbhoo works to harness that power for good. “I have worked with fintech for inclusion startups in India, Kenya, and the US and discovered that the only way we could truly scale financial inclusion is by leveraging technology,” she says. Amee’s always had an interest in companies that can help the world’s poor and turn a profit, which is why she decided to work with early-stage financial inclusion companies. She knew these companies could provide underserved communities with the financial tools and stability that would let people take control of their own lives and support themselves, their families, and their businesses. When faced with the question of how companies can tackle financial exclusion at scale, Amee saw that fintech could provide an answer. Today, Amee channels her passion for fintech and social innovation into her role supporting Accion Venture Lab’s investments globally, leading deal activity and governance in Africa, and managing new projects, including the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/extraordinary-people-needed-start-a-tech-company-to-bring-financial-services-to-all-nigerians/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Company Builder</a> initiative. In this position, she gets to know the fintech startup landscape all around the world — knowledge she can use to predict the coming <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/7-fintech-trends-to-watch-in-2018/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">trends in fintech for inclusion</a>. One unfortunate trend she’s noticed? “There are far too few women in fintech for inclusion, and we need more entrepreneurs who understand the needs of customers and who are looking to build the next generation of innovations.” But she’s working to help close this gender gap and always seeking out woman-led companies. To the female entrepreneurs who dream of making an impact, she offers this simple advice: “Take the leap and start something!”</p>
<p class="graf graf--p">Read <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/meet-women-leading-way-inclusive-financial-future-part-one/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">part one</a> and <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/women-in-leadership-inclusive-financial-future%e2%80%8a-%e2%80%8apart-two/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">part two</a> to learn about more inspiring women working in financial inclusion who are breaking barriers and building a more inclusive financial system.</p>
<p class="graf graf--p"><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://emarketing.accion.org/page/s/get-updates" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">Subscribe to our newsletter</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em"> to receive stories, podcasts, updates on new Accion initiatives, and more.</em></p>

Meet the women leading the way to an inclusive future — part three

<p class="graf graf--p">At Accion, we’re proud to have a diverse team leading the charge as we work to tackle the problem of financial exclusion around the world.</p>
<p class="graf graf--p">To highlight some of the women in leadership working behind the scenes to build a more inclusive and prosperous world, we’re releasing a blog series on <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/meet-women-leading-way-inclusive-financial-future-part-one/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the women of Accion and our partners</a>.</p>
<p class="graf graf--p">Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:</p>

<h3 class="graf graf--p"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">Deborah Drake, Vice President, Investing in Inclusive Finance, Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion</strong></h3>
<p class="graf graf--p"><img class="wp-image-9288 size-full alignleft" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Deborah.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" /></p>
<p class="graf graf--p">Deborah had a lifelong interest in international development and Latin American, which drew her to Accion. She found the concept of microfinance compelling, liked Accion’s private sector approach, and saw firsthand the impact of its work. As Vice President of <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion</a>’s <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/programs-a-projects/investing-in-inclusive-finance" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Investing in Inclusive Finance Program</a>, Deborah leads the <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.centerforfinancialinclusion.org/programs-a-projects/abf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Africa Board Fellowship Program</a> as well as the Financial Inclusion Equity Council (FIEC). To those just starting out, Deborah recommends getting out into the field and getting a sense of what you want to change and how to do it. She also asserts the importance of persistence and flexibility. “The path to making an impact through your job may not be direct or come about the way you envision so be open to opportunities that at first glance may not fit your short-term objectives.”</p>
&nbsp;
<h3 class="graf graf--p"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">Andrea Echavarría, Co-Founder, Escala Educación</strong></h3>
<img class="wp-image-9298 size-full alignleft" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Andrea.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="600" />
<p class="graf graf--p">Andrea Echavarría worked in Colombia’s nonprofit sector for 13 years before she decided to take a different approach to tackle the challenge of poverty. She co-founded <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="https://www.escalaeducacion.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Escala Educación</a> to help remove the barriers families — and especially women — face in accessing financial services and education. “Using fintech and the power of micro-savings, I bring <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/why-we-invested-in-escala-educacion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">access to college education</a> and have become a powerful agent of social mobility,” she says. By giving people the financial tools to take control of their own lives, ESCALA helps ignite economic empowerment for vulnerable communities and builds toward shared prosperity. “Don’t wait for the world to change,” she advises others who want to make a difference, “always pursue your purpose, and believe in your crazy ideas while committing 100 percent of your spirit, courage, and perseverance to achieve them.”</p>

<h3></h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3 class="graf graf--p"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">Veena Mankar, Founder and Chairperson of the Board, Swadhaar</strong></h3>
<img class="wp-image-9302 size-full alignleft" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Veena.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="450" />
<p class="graf graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote">“I grew up in a privileged household, and my parents always told us that whilst everyone had innate abilities, many did not have the opportunities to realize their full potential. We, therefore, had an obligation to open doors for those less fortunate than us,” says Veena Mankar. She still takes that obligation seriously today. At <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.swadhaar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Swadhaar</a>, she helps low-income, urban Indians<a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/swadhaar-giving-all-indians-tools-to-build-better-life/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> access small loans</a> that they can use to improve their lives. She doesn’t just want people to have resources to make it through the next week or the next month — she wants to have a sustained impact on people’s lives. And this kind of lasting impact is starting to become more attainable. Veena observes that India’s digital infrastructure and fintech developments make it possible to finally provide every household and small business with affordable financial services suited to their needs. Looking to the future, she says, “Traditional financial institutions and fintech partnerships can deliver the best solutions for financial inclusion.” Individuals can also play a part in building a more inclusive future. If you’re driven to help, Veena advises choosing a mission that leverages “your 3 Es — expertise, education, and experience.” Once you have that mission in mind? “Believe in yourself, and make your goal your dream.”</p>

<h3></h3>
<h3 class="graf graf--p"><strong class="markup--strong markup--p-strong">Radhika Shroff, Deputy Chief Investment Officer, Gateway Fund at Accion</strong></h3>
<img class="alignleft wp-image-9303 size-full" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Radhika.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="600" />
<p class="graf graf--p graf--startsWithDoubleQuote">“Impact has always been a part of my life, both personally and professionally — and it permeates so much of what we do, without being called ‘impact’,” says Radhika Shroff. As the daughter of Indian immigrants, she grew up traveling to India, visiting women’s empowerment and education initiatives in Gujarat and seeing social change in action. While Radhika started her career in the private sector, she repeatedly saw that companies could both fill a social need and deliver market returns. At Accion, she brings commercial discipline to companies that can change the course of people’s lives for the better and works to attract the funds and attention impact investing needs to thrive. For those who want to follow in her footsteps, she recommends making sound investments that show market returns while making an impact and also establishing concrete metrics so you can measure that impact. She also emphasizes the importance of taking the work seriously: “Impact investing should have the same level of discipline, if not more, as all investing — which will attract more investors to impact.”</p>
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<p class="graf graf--p">Keep following this series to learn about more inspiring women in leadership who are breaking barriers and building a more inclusive financial system. If you missed part one of the series, <a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://www.accion.org/meet-women-leading-way-inclusive-financial-future-part-one/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">read it now.</a></p>
<p class="graf graf--p"><a class="markup--anchor markup--p-anchor" href="http://emarketing.accion.org/page/s/get-updates" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><em class="markup--em markup--p-em">Subscribe to our newsletter</em></a><em class="markup--em markup--p-em"> to receive stories, podcasts, updates on new Accion initiatives, and more.</em></p>

Meet the women leading the way to an inclusive future — part two

When women are <a href="http://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures">economically empowered</a>, children benefit from better household spending, companies thrive with diverse leadership, and economies are boosted by the extra cash flow. But we’re not there yet. Women in developing economies are <a href="http://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2013/04/01/banking-on-women-extending-womens-access-to-financial-services">20 percent less likely</a> than men to have an account at a formal financial institution. And because of difficulties finding jobs and accessing economic opportunities, women are disproportionately <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/02/14/women-poorer-and-hungrier-than-men-across-the-world-u-n-report-says/?utm_term=.acc0bc8dd2c0">poorer than men</a>.  We’re working to help all women have the financial services they need to thrive.

At Accion, we’re proud to have a diverse team leading the charge as we work to tackle the problem of financial exclusion around the world.  Three in five people who work at Accion are women, and at Accion Venture Lab, more than half of all full-time staff are women — a rarity in the male-dominated world of venture funding.

To highlight some of the women working behind the scenes to build a more inclusive and prosperous world, we’re releasing a blog series on the women of Accion and our partners.

Here are a few of the leaders we’re proud to work with:
<h4>Tahira Dosani, Managing Director, Accion Venture Lab</h4>
<img class="alignnone" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Tahira-Dosani-headshot.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="600" />
<p style="text-align: left;">“I hear a lot of people say that they are interested in an impact career or impact investing. The sector is really broad; if you want to find a role within the space, you need to understand what kind of impact you want to make and how your experience and skill set position you to succeed in that role,” Tahira Dosani says. For Tahira, making a sustainable impact means aligning social good and financial returns. At Accion Venture Lab, she’s able to achieve this goal by supporting startups that are leveraging fintech to advance financial inclusion. She leads the fund’s work on portfolio engagement. This hands-on strategic and operational support helps <a href="https://www.accion.org/content/venture-lab-portfolio">Venture Lab’s portfolio companies</a> grow and scale, and it helps us continue learning as investors. In addition to this engagement work, Tahira supports investment decisions, manages portfolio relationships, and drives the strategy and growth of Venture Lab. As a leader in her field, she makes sure to support other women, and she encourages everyone to do the same: “Once you’re where you want to be, help other women get there too.”</p>

<h4>Bunmi Lawson, Former Managing Director and CEO, Accion Microfinance Bank</h4>
<img class="alignnone" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/bunmi-iwd-web.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="600" />
“Women who want to make an impact should have a clear focus on the nature and segment they want to change. Sometimes in a bid to improve the world we live in, we try to do too many things. Focus ensures we achieve significant impact and drive the positive change we want to see,” says Bunmi Lawson. And she should know — Bunmi has spent her career <a href="http://www.accion.org/one-womans-effort-to-end-financial-services-inequality-in-nigeria/">promoting opportunity and equality in Nigeria</a>. Before retiring from the role in December, she spent a decade as Managing Director and CEO of Accion Microfinance Bank. Under her direction, the institution grew from one branch to nearly 50 and helped close the gap in access to financial services in Nigeria. While at Accion Microfinance Bank, Bunmi made sure account officers were gender balanced in order to better serve their customers — 68 percent of whom are women.
<h4>Elisabeth Rhyne, Managing Director, Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion</h4>
<img class="alignnone" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/beth-iwd-web.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="600" />
“Get out to the field, spend time with the people you want to make a difference to, learn how the institutions and industries work, and get a few hard skills,” advises Elisabeth Rhyne to those looking to make an impact. Elisabeth worked in microfinance for 20 years, including in Kenya and Mozambique, before focusing on financial inclusion more broadly. While microfinance had focused on credit, she saw that people needed a full range of financial services and recognized the increased feasibility of new business models. Shifting her focus to financial inclusion more broadly was a response to these industry changes. Elisabeth first joined Accion as Senior Vice President, leading Accion’s initial entry into Africa and India.
<h4>Kathleen Yaworsky, Manager, Global Advisory Solutions at Accion</h4>
<img class="alignnone" src="https://content.accion.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/katheleen-iwd-web.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="600" />
How can you have the biggest impact on the most people? That’s been the driving question for Kathleen throughout her career, and it eventually <a href="http://www.accion.org/what-does-financial-inclusion-have-to-do-with-the-sustainable-development-goals/">led her to Accion</a>. She sees financial services as the enabling infrastructure for other international development goals — from clean water to quality education to gender equality. At Accion, she offers advisory services for financial service providers worldwide. Her focus is on solutions that help deliver financial tools at scale, including digitization, <a href="http://www.accion.org/implementing-big-data-10-tips-financial-service-providers/">big data applications</a> for financial inclusion, customer engagement, and more. For other people who are driven to make a difference, she advises leaning into your strengths. There are many ways to achieve your goals, through different roles or different organizations. “The key is to find the right fit to really leverage your skill set,” says Kathleen. And don’t forget to pace yourself, she adds: “A career in international development is a marathon, not a sprint — it requires a sustained passion for social impact.”