Instituted for the very first time this year, CNI Women’s Leadership Forum will hold the Women’s Leadership Summit 23 from March 24 to 26, 2023 to address, deliberate and find solutions to three key areas of women’s leadership in the
aftermath of the Covid 19 pandemic. It is an opportunity for gender equality champions and women leaders to exchange ideas, share strategies, celebrate successes, be encouraged, and learn from each other in a three-day summit that
is designed to challenge and inspire.
The WLS23 isn’t about seeking recognition for women’s leadership potential, it is about educating, enabling and empowering women leaders for transformative impact. The power-packed
sessions, keynote addresses and fireside dialogues will feature multigeneration experts who understand this transformative process.
We are at a time when the world cannot ignore the advantages of women’s leadership as equal partners in development and innovation. Peace agreements are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years if women are engaged in its creation and execution. Comprising
only some 8% of political leaders globally, women have accounted for an estimated 40% of the most successful responses to Covid-19.
What has been different in women’s leadership? Emphasis on consultation and collaboration, consistent communication and encouraging values of cooperation and empathy. All leaders have some measure of power in that they
can influence and determine priorities for other individuals, but leadership cannot be a synonym for holding power.
We are still operating with models of leadership designed primarily by and for men. But as more women ascend to significant leadership positions globally and we overcome barriers to female leadership, there will be a
paradigm shift towards more equal, inclusive, gender neutral and progressive environments. Melinda Gates has eloquently asserted: Women are not just victims of a broken world; they can be architects of a better one. To embrace
transformative leadership requires that shift in perspective and conversations that hold the power to create change.
will debate on aspects of engendering democracy and the need for more women in political and business leadership, decision making and institution building, We will also deliberate on why more women in leadership roles will build a stronger post pandemic world and how we can undo systemic inequality and eliminating gender gap in the workplace. The panelists will talk about the leadership purpose of women, advancing women’s leadership, and the pillars to empowered leadership for women in politics, economics and social change.
Gender balance is not solely a women’s issue, but also an economic issue. When women hold leadership positions, their companies are more profitable: companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams are 21% more likely to outperform the national average. While women have been hardest hit by Covid 19, they are also often leading the way in “building forward better.” Many women entrepreneurs have responded to the incredible challenges with both grit and innovation, pivoting rapidly to cope with the impact of the crisis and help create better futures. The panelists will deliberate on how economic shocks impact women and men led businesses differently, the resilience factor of how women should prepare for business in the post pandemic world, the importance of financial and digital literacy for women led MSMEs, what is gender lens investing, and the policy interventions required to promote women’s economic empowerment.
Attitudes towards gender equality vary vastly from country to country. Women changemakers continue to catalyse urgent and sustained action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. From the climate crisis to ending violence against women, from economic empowerment to seeking political participation and ending discrimination, women continue to lead the way for a more gender-neutral world. Our panel of experts will force you to think about why leadership is about being a good human being first, why gender equality and inclusion are essential to the success of sustainable energy initiatives, why social change matters and why we should care. Our experts will also delve into topics of the trials and triumphs of being women in arts, how our current education and health models can become more accessible to all, what is the true nature of philanthropy, the shadow pandemic which saw an increase in violence against women, and an insight into what the world would look like without activists and agents of change.
These conversations have been curated to learn and engage with some of the world’s best minds from diverse fields. They are people who have overcome fear, walked the extra mile, and created extraordinary impact in their areas of expertise. They have captivated audiences with their incredible life. They will talk about the choices they have had to make to own their life journey and give us insight into what leadership means to them, their work, how they stand committed to advancing the ideals they believe in and the impact they want to create in the world.
Experience an onsite exhibition curated specifically for women handicrafts from different parts of Nepal. From handwoven textiles, handmade Nepali white papers to ceramics, pashminas, metalworks and more. The marketplace brings together diverse group of women enterprenuers in the handicraft business.
The Summit will recognize an inspirational woman for 2023 for her achievements, impact, and leadership prowess.
The outcome of the Summit beyond being a space for great learning and networking is also to present a set of declarations to the Government of Nepal, development partners and to partner organizations of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries in various countries to adopt its values.
Be it across boardrooms, politics, or the media, leadership should not make women feel that they need to be more “masculine” to succeed, or men fear showing “feminine” traits. Leadership should be about having certain universal key principles. Women represent
only 1 in 4 members of parliament worldwide and are just 34% of those elected to local governments. And higher up the echelons of power, women are fewer in numbers. They are less than 10% of Heads of State and Government. And more
than 100 countries have never had a woman executive. While the goal is to increase women’s leadership at local, national, regional, and global levels, the summit is also about building meaningful engagement and partnerships that
advocate a better world for all. Gender equal societies are more peaceful and more prosperous and balanced leadership is the key to unlock our common challenges.
CNI Women’s Leadership Forum invites
you to join us in our commitment to build female leadership and equality.
A special evening has been designed for the delegates to experience the rich traditional culture and diversity of the country. Nepal is known
for its food and this evening will offer a taste of the some of the very best of Nepalese cuisine and our warm hospitality
If you want to join the summit, please Register Now.
What you'll discover at
Women’s Leadership Summit 2023
Many power-packed sessions to choose from leaders across generation.
This session explores the global movement towards increasing women’s participation in entrepreneurship and ownership of business: can we achieve 50-50 representation by 2030?
This session will explore the current landscape when it comes to equitable gender representation in the political sphere, investigating the structural barriers that limit women’s meaningful participation, and what substantive representation actually looks like.
In this session, we will explore all things CSR while investigating how it can be leveraged to create a more gender-equitable world, and the challenges that exist in ensuring this.
On one hand, women tend to be the most vulnerable to climate-related disasters, and on the other, they play a crucial role in mitigating and adapting to climate change. This session will explore why it is so crucial to meaningfully engage the voices of women in dialogues around climate change.
This session will explore the inequalities women and gender minorities still face within showbiz, such as pay gaps, storylines, and screen time, and why it is so important that stories are told from diverse perspectives, and women are empowered in their narratives
This session highlights the work of the change agents who are driving crucial changes for the betterment of society. It details the work change agents are doing globally, the challenges they face, and the opportunities for forging a more equitable and inclusive future.
The digital realm is an unavoidable part of contemporary society, however, gender inequalities exist in access to devices, the internet, data, and online education. This session will discuss the digital gender divide and the challenges it poses for gender equality.
This session will discuss the importance of ensuring all genders have the same access to quality education, and how removing barriers for girls in this space is crucial for global development and gender equality.
Power-packed sessions, keynote addresses and dialogues with leaders across generation.
First Lady (Sri Lanka)
Maithree Wickremesinghe is a Sri Lankan academic, writer, and professor of English at the University of Kelaniya specializing in gender and women"s studies. She is the current First Lady of Sri Lanka and the founding director of the Centre for Gender Studies at the University of Kelaniya.
Actor (Indian Cinema)
Huma Saleem Qureshi is an Indian actress and model who primarily appears in Indian Cinema. She has also received three Filmfare Award nominations. She received the Filmfare OTT award of her work in web series Maharani and debuted in an American film, Army of the Dead.
Director, Philanthropy (Singapore)
Melissa Petros is the Director of Philanthropy and Programs at the Milken Institute, Asia Center. She was the former Executive Director of Hagar International (Hong Kong), an international NGO dedicated to the recovery of women and children who have endured extreme abuses.
Founder, ECOWARE (India)
Rhea Mazumdar Singhal is the founder and CEO of Ecoware, India’s first and largest sustainable packaging company. Rhea has been appointed A World Economic Forum ‘Young Global Leader’, and recently been commended with The Nari Shakti Puraskar, the highest civilian honor for women in India.
Actor (Indian Cinema)
Sonakshi Sinha is an Indian actress who works in Hindi films. Sinha is a professed animal lover, and she had posed for a PETA campaign advocating the adoption and sterilization of dogs and cats. She also promotes breaking the stereotypes of typical body size.
Global Lead / Philanthropic Partnership / Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (India)
Arnav Kapoor is a Global Lead at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, concentrating on Philanthropic Partnerships and Policy in India and Asia. Arnav previously worked with the India Global Growth and Opportunity team and also as a Consultant with Deloitte.
Managing Director, NAFA Capital (India)
Ameya Prabhu is an entrepreneur and the Managing Director of NAFA Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd,. He also is a Partner in UAP Advisors LLP. UAP Advisors is a financial services, principal investment and sustainability & renewable energy strategic advisory firm focused on India and other emerging markets.
Executive Director, PricewaterouseCoopers Foundation (India)
Jaivir Singh is currently driving Corporate Responsibility for PricewaterhouseCoopers in India through the PwC India Foundation, additional responsibility as Executive Director in the India Chairman Office. He serves on the global corporate responsibility board of the PwC network.
Co- Founder, Zerodha, True Beacon (India)
Nikhil Kamath is an astute and experienced investor, who is the co-founder and heads financial planning at Zerodha. Youngest Billionaire of India, he is famous for his startups, he is the founder of Zerodha (Stack Trading Company), & True Beacon (Asset Management Company), he also Writes articles and Columns for Times of India and Mint.
Indian Model / Miss World 2017 (India)
Manushi Chhillar is an Indian actress and model, who was the winner of the Miss World 2017 pageant. She won Femina Miss India 2017 pageant, went on to become the sixth representative from India to be crowned Miss World.
Model / Actor (Indian Cinema)
Zaheer Iqbal, also known as Zaheer Ratansi, is a budding face in Indian cinema. He has worked in movies like Notebook.
Footballer, Politician (Bangladesh)
Tabith Md. Awal is a Bangladeshi Footballer and Politician. He was formerly a footballer of Feni SC. He also stood for mayor in 2015 Dhaka North City Corporation election and 2020 Dhaka North City Corporation election, both time he came second.
Managing Director, DARAZ (Nepal)
Aanchal Kunwar, first female Managing Director of Nepal’s leading online marketplace, Daraz Nepal. During her 13+ years in the US corporate sector, she worked for various leading companies such as Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) and e-commerce pioneer, Amazon, where she worked in establishing the company in new markets like Sweden, Poland, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
Co- Founder/ CEO, Teach for Nepal (Nepal)
Swastika Shrestha is the Co-founder and CEO at Teach for Nepal, a movement of outstanding university graduates and young professionals who are committed to ending education inequality in Nepal. Swastika has facilitated youth leadership, life-skill development, service learning, and experiential learning projects for more than 12 years.
Founder, SastoDeal (Nepal)
Amun Thapa is the founder of SastoDeal.com, one of the most popular eCommerce sites in Nepal. He is an entrepreneur juggler who is the owner/co-owner of the other four ventures Sasto Book, Irish Pub, Chhahari Production, and Anthropose and is also associated with Khalisisi.
Director of Research and Development at Samriddhi- The Prosperity Foundation (Nepal)
Arpita Nepal is the Co-founder and Director of Research and Development at Samriddhi, The Prosperity Foundation. She also oversees curriculum design of the Foundation’s education and training programs along with strategizing advocacy campaigns.
Dutch Princess (Netherlands)
She is active in human rights activities such as co-founding War Child Netherlands, the European Council on Foreign Relations, and Girls Not Brides: The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage. She served as the first Chief Executive Officer of The Elders, a group founded by Nelson Mandela and chaired by Kofi Annan.
Co-Founder and Chief Executive, Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society(United States of America)
Dr. Ruth A. Shapiro is an American author and academic who is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive of the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society. Shapiro is the author of Pragmatic Philanthropy: Asian Charity Explained and editor of The Real Problem Solvers, a book about social entrepreneurship in America.
Actor, Filmmaker (Nepal)
Pradeep Khadka is a Nepali actor, model, scriptwriter, and filmmaker. His first film was Thulo Manchhe. He made his film debut in the 2015 film Escape. After the huge success of Prem Geet, he became a star of Nepali film industry. He is the highest paid actor in the Nepalese film industry.
Director Media Partnerships, Former Chair APAC , Pacific Asia Travel Association, Trip advisor
Sarah is Tripadvisor’s insight-clopedia. With her background, Sarah has a deep understanding on how to leverage data, insights and digital platforms to develop impactful traveler-centered campaigns that drive marketing success, making sure clients are talking to the right audience, the right way.
Founder and Global Managing Partner-Thinkthrough Consulting (India)
Parul Soni is Founder and Global Managing Partner of Thinkthrough Consulting. He is a consummate professional with over 25 years of experience and expertise in international investment, bilateral and multilateral trade, cross-border policies, regional trade agreements and negotiations at national and international levels.
Editor, Deshsanchar (Nepal)
Yubaraj Ghimire is currently the editor of Deshsanchar. A journalistic multimedia venture in Nepal. Previously, he worked as a journalist in prestigious Indian media like India Today, Outlook, The Telegraph and Indian Express.
Professor (Switzerland)
Ursula Renold is Professor of Education Systems at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich.
Co-Founder Freedom Speakers Int'l (USA)
Casey is the American co-founder and co-president of Freedom Speakers International along with South Korean researcher Lee Eunkoo. He is co-author with North Korean refugee Songmi Han of the book Greenlight to Freedom.
REGISTRATION
OPENING OF WLS23
Fireside 1
Panel 1
Emcee closes with information about Inaugural Event
Guest Arrival
National Anthem | Ganesh Vandana | Performance
Digital Video
Welcome Remarks
Video Message
Chief Guest Address
Performance by Shiwani Verma
Speech
Keynote Address
Closing Remarks
Dinner & Drinks
REGISTRATION
Opening Remarks
Opening Keynote for the day
Panel 1
Panel 2
Fireside 1
Panel 3
Lunch Break & Networking
Panel 4
Fireside 2
Panel 5
Fireside 3
Guest Arrival
Welcome Remarks
Speech
Cultural Performances
Dinner
*200 invitees only
REGISTRATION
Opening Remarks
Keynote
Panel 6
Panel 7
Fireside 4
Panel 8
Lunch Break & Networking
Panel 9
Fireside 5
Panel 10
Opening Remarks
Keynote
Summit Declaration
Closing Keynote
Remarks
Vote of Thanks
Vote of Thanks
*Closing Dinner Reception
Great speakers, meaningful conversations and an opportunity to ignite change.
Ticket for the summit will be handled by EventMX.
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Showcasing message from members, speakers and highlights from WLS 2023