How can leaders become ambassadors for gender equality? Almas Jiwani, CEO of the Almas Jiwani Foundation and President Emeritus of UN Women Canada; Internationally renowned speaker & Philanthropist, talks to us about why she continues to advocate specifically for women’s equal rights and gives global insights into why the role of women is the best clue to a nation’s growth potential. [8 minute read]
“In every individual living on this earth – whether educated or not, and irrespective of class or creed – there is an entrepreneur waiting to rise and shine.”
Thomson Reuters Sustainability: Please tell us a bit about your journey and your current role?
Almas Jiwani: Well the journey is very interesting. For over fifteen years I have remained the vocal champion of women’s social, economic, and political empowerment locally and globally. Outside my role as a Founder and President of the United Nations Women Canada National Committee (UNWCC) I have travelled to almost every corner of the world, addressed hundreds of parliamentarians from over 42 countries, conversed and interacted with several heads of states and first ladies, addressed millions of women entrepreneurs and students and worked alongside icons like Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Deepak Chopra.
But the more I wandered, the more I got confused about the fact that despite so much effort taking place all around the world, the monster of poverty and inequality was just getting stronger and stronger.
That lead me to believe that we need to have some more out of the box solutions. Hence why myself and my colleagues decided to form the Almas Jiwani Foundation (AJF). AJF is emerging as a next generation institution set to catalyze the paradigm shift needed in shaping a world without poverty, inequality and violence.
TRS: How does your current work help contribute to global sustainability?
AJ: The Almas Jiwani Foundation is an organization set in a new paradigm by people from different walks of life cognizant of the realities, recent failures and challenges ahead. They carry with them a promise of finding a niche for a next generation institution and innovative ideas to solve the world’s problems.