Investing in women is essential for creating a better tomorrow. Empowering women and girls has a multiplier effect, leading to positive outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and society as a whole.
As we celebrate the International Women’s Day 2025, Lady Tee Thompson shares her position on why and ways to invest in women.
By the time the sun rises, a woman is already at work—whether in the boardroom, the classroom, the marketplace, or the home. Women are the architects of progress, yet the global economy has long undervalued their contributions. As we commemorate International Women’s Day 2025, we must confront a fundamental truth: investing in women is not just an ethical imperative; it is an economic necessity.
The Business Case for Gender Investment
A growing body of research confirms what advocates have long known—gender equality drives economic growth. The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that advancing gender parity could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025. Yet, barriers persist at an alarming rate:
Women-led businesses receive only 2% of venture capital funding. (Harvard Business Review, 2024)
More than 1 billion women remain excluded from formal financial systems. (World Bank, 2024)
Women perform 76% of unpaid care work globally, limiting their economic participation. (ILO, 2023)
Closing the gender pay gap could increase global economic output by 26%. (World Economic Forum, 2024)
The failure to invest in women is not just a moral failure—it is a missed economic opportunity. The data speaks volumes: when women thrive, economies grow, poverty declines, and businesses outperform.
The Urgent Need for Action
The world cannot afford incremental progress. We must accelerate action through targeted investments in women’s economic empowerment. This includes:
* Financing Women Entrepreneurs: Women-led startups deliver higher revenue per dollar invested, yet they remain underfunded. Expanding access to capital for female founders must be a priority.
*Equal Pay and Workplace Equity: Women continue to earn 20% less than men globally. Pay transparency laws, parental leave policies, and corporate accountability are essential for closing the wage gap.
* Financial Inclusion: In 108 countries, financial institutions can legally restrict women’s access to credit. Investing in women requires dismantling these barriers to capital and banking services.
* Legal Reforms: In 72 countries, women are still barred from specific jobs. In 41 nations, daughters cannot inherit property on equal terms with sons. Legal and policy reforms must eradicate these outdated and discriminatory practices.
* Education as a Game-Changer: Every additional year of schooling increases a woman’s earnings by 10-20%. Yet, 130 million girls remain out of school. Governments and private sectors must work together to ensure free, quality education for every girl.
The Role of Cities and Businesses in Driving Change
While international treaties lay the groundwork, local and corporate leadership are crucial in turning commitments into reality.
* Cities for CEDAW: Cities worldwide are stepping up to enforce gender equity policies where national governments have stalled. This movement is a preemptive and necessary model for ensuring legal protections and workplace inclusivity at the municipal level.
* Private Sector Accountability: Companies must implement diverse hiring practices, gender-balanced leadership, and inclusive supply chains. Data shows that companies with more women in executive leadership outperform those without by 21% in profitability. (McKinsey, 2024)
A Call to Action: Rising Together
As we mark International Women’s Day 2025, the message is clear: gender equality is not a favor, it is an investment in a better tomorrow. The economic and social dividends of investing in women are undeniable. But for transformation to happen, action must replace rhetoric.
To my sisters, male allies, and fellow change makers: we must demand change, invest in solutions, and champion equality at every level.
Advocate for policy reforms. Challenge laws and workplace policies that perpetuate gender disparities.
Support women-owned businesses. Invest in female entrepreneurs and demand financial institutions do the same.
Hold corporations accountable. Push for gender equity in hiring, leadership, and pay.
Mentor and educate. Ensure young women and men see equality as a non-negotiable standard.
We do not rise politely. We do not rise quietly.
We rise together—for justice, for opportunity, for the world we deserve.
The future is not something we wait for; it is something we create. Let’s create it by investing in women—because when women rise, we all rise.
Lady Tee Thompson, a renowned global advocate and CEO of AgroBiz, is celebrated for her extensive work in human rights, labor trafficking prevention, and women and youth empowerment. With over 34 years of experience, Tee has driven economic growth and entrepreneurship in over 17 countries, directly impacting over a million women and youth and nurturing firms valued at $60 million USD. Her strategic prowess in fostering cross-sector collaboration has solidified her status as a key influencer on the global stage.
A distinguished speaker, Lady Thompson leverages her expertise to facilitate training sessions worldwide, focusing on bridging financial independence and combating human trafficking. Her leadership roles include serving as the 2023-2025 Human Trafficking Fellow under the United States Department of Human and Health Services, National Human Trafficking Technical Assistance Program. She actively champions the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and has played a pivotal role in promoting the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
In her capacity as a former Global Goals Ambassador and Chairperson of the Women Affinity Group and CEDAW Committee with the United Nations Association USA, Tee has contributed to critical global dialogues, including the U.S. Consultation to the 105th Convention to Eliminate Racial Discrimination (CERD). She is a stalwart delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and engages actively in forums dedicated to the people of African descent aiding in the second installation of the Second Decade for People of African Descent.
Her honors include a Black History Achievement Award and recognitions from entities such as the Women Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) for her transformative mentorship. A former proactive member of the City of Detroit Human Trafficking Task Force, Tee Thompson also serves as an Ambassador with the International Society of Diplomats, underscoring her dedication to fostering global partnerships and empowering underrepresented communities. Through her vibrant leadership and strategic vision, Tee Thompson continues to inspire and catalyze change across the globe, making her an influential voice in international development and social justice.
