Global Leadership in Achieving the UN SDGs: WE Empower UN SDG Challenge

• In Event: Interactive Roundtable Discussion Session

Short Description

In 2017 ILA members assisted with the design of a global competition to promote women entrepreneurs as leaders in achieving the UN SDGs through their business endeavors. Through a true SDG17 multistakeholder partnership, five winners were celebrated at the UN General Assembly in 2018, led by the UN Secretary-General. Women's leadership and the multiplier impact created through role models actively supporting other women as leaders were recognized as pivotal for creating the momentum needed to fulfill the 2030 Global Development Agenda.

Detailed Abstract

The Women Entrepreneur (WE) Empower UN SDG Challenge is the first of its kind global business competition designed to showcase the critical importance of women's collaborative leadership styles in achieving the world we want by 2030. In 2017 ILA members assisted with the design of the competition to promote women entrepreneurs as leaders in achieving the UN SDGs through their business endeavours.
The application highlighted each woman's individual vision in achieving collective outcomes for the greater good, how her business supports up to 3 Sustainable Development Goals, how she promotes other women into leadership experience and roles, addresses violence against women in the workplace and the community and finally, what she would say to heads of state and senior UN officials needs to change to remove legislative and structural barriers to women's full economic participation. WE Empower aims to honor, to invest in women through a myriad of learning and leadership opportunities and to ignite others to follow suit as they are inspired by stories from around the globe.
A true SDG17 multistakeholder partnership, 5 winners were celebrated at the UN General Assembly in September 2018 at an event co-hosted with the Council of Women World Leaders and led by uN Secretary General Gutteres, World Bank President Jim Kim, and new Human Rights Commissioner Michelle Bachelet (formerly head of UN Women). Women's leadership and the deliberate multiplier impact through a range of outreach techniques were recognized as pivotal for creating the momentum needed to fulfil the 2030 Global Development Agenda. ILA President Cynthia Cherrey delivered leadership training during the week in New York and each UN regional winner has been provided with an ILA leadership mentor.
This session will highlight the individual winners and their experiences, including with the ILA training and mentorship, and seek further guidance on how to take this very successful initial pilot to the next level for maximum impact.

Presenters

• Amanda Natalie Ellis, Arizona State University

• Hadeel M.SH. Anabtawi, The Alchemist Lab/Jordan