I’ve been researching start-up entrepreneurship eco-systems, especially those with a focus on Smart Cities. These eco-systems seem to be defined by a lack of women: as investors, as business mentors, as entrepreneurs, as business owners. I’ve been wondering what the consequences are for putting ourselves on the 1.5 GHG emissions trajectory[1] through Smart Cities initiatives, if more than half the sky is missing from the problem-solving. Obviously, it means that half the sky is missing from the pipeline that will be creating education, employment and economic wellbeing for all. Surely, it also means less innovation, less creativity, less likelihood of doing what we need to do in 2022, to get us to where we need to be in 2030. That’s more of a statement than a question. What to do? Some of the steps to get there are women-led spaces. The EQUALS-EU programme focuses on creating digital inclusion for women and girls, so that they can engage in education, employment and economic wellbeing. Part of the programme includes Innovation Camps and you can register to take part in the one being led by Dr Claire Somerville and Carolina Earle at The Gender Centre at The Graduate Institute Geneva here: https://form.jotform.com/220375406093351 and find out more about it here https://www.iheid-equals.ch/ I’m delighted to be involved: join us 28th – 30th April 2022 to invent the future. My invitation to you is, that as we approach 8th March – International Women’s Day, that you use gender equity as the lens to look through to imagine solutions, as you interact with students of all ages, as you create conferences and business solutions, as you support start-ups, as you create your start-up product or service…knowing that it’s going to create expansion and return on investment for flourishing futures. It’s not an either/or situation to fix things. It’s an embracing of a plurality of voices and their creativity. No-one loses if the eco-system balances. Here’s a great report from UN Women if you want to learn more about looking through a feminist lens for your education, humanitarian, innovation and entrepreneurship eco-systems: https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2021/09/feminist-plan-for-sustainability-and-social-justice [1] https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-i/ Comments are closed.
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