Women's Forum for the Economy & Society

Women's Forum for the Economy & Society
Name	Women's Forum for the Economy & Society
Founded	2005
Founder	Aude de Thuin
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Paris, France
Region served	Global

Women's Forum for the Economy & Society is an international non‑profit organization founded in 2005 that convenes women leaders, policymakers, business executives, activists, and thinkers from across the world to discuss leadership, inclusion, and public policy. The Forum organizes an annual summit and a year‑round program of initiatives that link corporate networks, international institutions, and civil society to promote women's leadership and gender parity. It operates at the intersection of global conferences, transnational advocacy, and sectoral partnerships.

History

The Forum was established against the backdrop of early‑21st century multilateral gatherings such as the World Economic Forum, United Nations General Assembly, G20 summit, European Commission policy debates, and the legacy of frameworks like the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Its founding involved figures from the European Parliament milieu and private sector leaders influenced by initiatives from the World Bank, International Labour Organization, and philanthropic networks linked to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In the 2000s and 2010s the organization expanded ties with institutions including the United Nations Development Programme, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Council of Europe, and national bodies such as the French Republic's ministries. The Forum's development paralleled movements led by public figures associated with Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, Christine Lagarde, and corporate chairs from Goldman Sachs, McKinsey & Company, Accenture, or HSBC. Its history intersects with campaigns like HeForShe and events such as the Women in the World Summit and the Skoll World Forum.

Mission and Objectives

The organization's stated mission aligns with agendas promoted by the United Nations, World Health Organization, and multilateral projects addressing sustainable development advanced under the Sustainable Development Goals. Objectives include advancing women's leadership in arenas represented by bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, European Central Bank, African Union, and ASEAN. It seeks to influence policy areas debated at the United Nations Security Council, corporate boards of firms listed on exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange or Euronext, and multistakeholder initiatives convened by groups including Business Roundtable and WEF. The Forum also aims to catalyze initiatives resonant with awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize laureates' advocacy and to amplify voices associated with movements like Black Lives Matter and Me Too where they intersect with gender leadership debates.

Activities and Programs

Programming includes leadership development, research collaborations, mentorship initiatives, and sectoral task forces interacting with organizations like McKinsey Global Institute, Harvard Kennedy School, London School of Economics, and think tanks such as Brookings Institution, Chatham House, and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Programs have convened speakers from institutions including Goldman Sachs, International Finance Corporation, European Investment Bank, and NGOs such as Oxfam, Amnesty International, and CARE International. The Forum runs acceleration tracks that mirror accelerators associated with TechCrunch Disrupt and corporate social responsibility projects seen at Microsoft, Google, Apple, or Facebook. It has launched research partnerships that cite reports from OECD, UN Women, World Bank Group, and academic centers like Stanford University.

Structure and Governance

Governance combines an international board, advisory councils, and executive leadership similar to models used by organizations like Amnesty International, International Rescue Committee, and Human Rights Watch. Boards have included corporate chairs, former ministers from cabinets such as those of United Kingdom, France, and United States, and executives drawn from firms like CitiGroup, Deloitte, and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Advisory panels convene academics affiliated with Columbia University, University of Oxford, and Sorbonne University, as well as leaders from foundations like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Administrative headquarters are based in Paris with regional offices and partnerships spanning New York City, Brussels, Dubai, and São Paulo.

Membership and Participation

Participation involves corporate partners, institutional sponsors, individual delegates, and civic organizations, mirroring membership models seen at World Economic Forum, Clinton Global Initiative, and Aspen Institute. Corporate partners have included multinational firms listed on exchanges like NASDAQ and Tokyo Stock Exchange and members drawn from sectors represented by International Air Transport Association, World Travel & Tourism Council, and trade bodies such as BusinessEurope. Individual participants have included cabinet ministers, legislators from bodies like the U.S. Congress and National Assembly (France), CEOs from Unilever, L'Oréal, and founders of startups promoted in accelerators such as Y Combinator.

Events and Annual Summit

The Forum's flagship Annual Summit brings together delegates, speakers, and partners in a format comparable to sessions at the Davos meetings of the World Economic Forum, the plenaries of the United Nations General Assembly, and thematic festivals like SXSW. Summits have hosted panels featuring leaders from institutions such as the International Criminal Court, European Parliament, African Development Bank, and corporate leaders from Samsung, Siemens, and Toyota Motor Corporation. Satellite events and regional editions have been held in cities including New Delhi, Tokyo, Johannesburg, and Mexico City with partnerships involving festivals like TED and policy forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings.

Impact and Criticism

Supporters point to partnerships with multilateral institutions including UN Women and measurable initiatives referenced by reports from OECD and World Bank as evidence of influence on corporate board diversity, public procurement, and leadership pipelines. Critics compare debates about efficacy to critiques leveled at gatherings like the World Economic Forum and the Clinton Global Initiative, arguing that convening elites from firms such as McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, or BlackRock risks emphasizing networking over structural reform. Academic commentators from Harvard University, London School of Economics, and Sciences Po have questioned policy outcomes, while activist groups aligned with Equality Now and Global Fund for Women call for deeper accountability and grassroots prioritization.

Category:International non-profit organizations