GWL Week Wrap: Women Building Influence across Policy & Business

As women increasingly feature in the world’s leading multinationals, banks, government agencies and diverse business sectors, they have assumed an integral position to impact the future of global professional arena. Their increased presence leading to impact in senior and specialized leadership positions indicates evolving attributes towards professional competence and accountability.

Simultaneously, the dialogue on gender equality, inclusivity, sustainability and economic empowerment is impacting organizational strategies worldwide. Banking upon several opportunities, women are forging inclusive paths, impacting perception, and redefining leadership in their respective industries. This in turn allows them to gain relevance in developing effective systems. Women-targeted growth programs are one of the main ways to address the challenges in a sustainable way.

This issue of Global Woman Leader’s Weekly Wrap explores these underlying themes through various leadership stories. To keep the momentum fuelled, new pathways of participation and advances have provided a window into the changing world of women’s leadership around the globe.

Women Take on Key Leadership Roles across Global Corporations

Women have been taking on significant corporate roles in all sectors, contributing expertise and skills in brand strategy, human resource management, sports management, and energy management.

The Children’s Clothing company Carter’s Inc. has announced Sarah Crockett as the company’s Chief Brand Officer, in an attempt to implement a new leadership structure. The company had hired Sarah as the company’s Chief Marketing Officer in June 2025. The new changes were announced on October 30, 2026, in order to increase coordination between the company’s functions such as Product, Commercial, Strategy, and Brand. Additionally, three more leaders will report to CEO and President Sharon Price John, supporting a more coordinated approach to the company’s strategic and commercial objectives.

Anna Scott (Barner) has been appointed Head of HR, Group Technology and Group Functions at Swedbank. Anna leverages over 20 years of extensive experience in Human Resources and Organisational Management. In the course of her professional journey, she gained expertise in the areas of Human Resources function, people strategy, talent management, organisation development, leadership development, workforce planning and change management. Prior to joining Swedbank, Anna held the position of Human Resources Director at AstraZeneca for over 7 years, and managed the People & Culture agenda for the entire Nordic Region.

The Sussex County Cricket Club has appointed Beth Barrett-Wild as the club’s first female CEO from January 1, 2027. After a 13-year stint with the England and Wales Cricket Board, she was chosen for this key role in championing women’s professional cricket. Having joined the ECB in 2013 as Media Manager for the England Women’s team, Beth has been involved in the growth of the sport, especially when it comes to increasing professional participation and engagement by audiences.

Emma Lewis will be taking up as Executive Vice President of Downstream for BP in January 2027, becoming an integral part of the leadership team at the company. Her appointment leads one of the most important divisions of the company includin refineries, terminals, pipelines, mobility, and convenience, aviation, and bioenergy of BP. The division deals with fuel production, delivery and marketing around the world. Emma Lewis is a chemical engineer and has worked for more than 25 years in the energy and industrial business.

Women in Governance, Rights & Community Leadership

Leadership and women’s participation continued to dominate discussions regarding issues of governance and equality of social development throughout the world. These changes are important for demonstrating the significance of women's representation and influence in institutions.

The Women Empowerment Bangladeshi Canadian Organisation (WEBCO) has launched an eight member organisational committee composed of professionals from diverse industries in order to emphasize the organisation’s focus on empowering women and getting more involved in community initiatives in Canada. The organisation was founded by Taniza Reza who is both an IT professional and a community leader and the objective of the organisation is to foster networking amongst women and provide mentorship and leadership opportunities.

Princess Rajwa Al-Hussein infused a hint of classic British style into the Jordanian parliamentary session by wearing the Temperley London dress at the opening of the third ordinary session of the 20th parliament in Amman. She was accompanied by King Abdullah II, Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah for the session. During the event, King Abdullah II delivered the Speech from the Throne to members of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) has addressed the achievements and issues in regards to women rights in Angola, Cabo Verde, the Cook Islands, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Paraguay, the Republic of Moldova, and Togo. In its latest report, which was released following the Committee's review, it has outlined some areas where further work needs to be done in terms of the participation of women in politics, economy, education, reproductive health, and protection from gender-based violence.

Women Make Historic Strides in America’s Political Landscape

Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn has won to become Tennessee governor after emerging victorious in the gubernatorial elections. She attained the victory by defeating her opponent Democrat Jerri Green and other independent contestants. Marsha is also the first female governor of Tennessee. Her campaign focused on conservative leadership, economy, and safety of people, which she would continue to implement during her tenure as a governor. The victory of Marsha has opened up a new page in the political history of women in America.

Keisha Lance Bottoms, a democrat candidate, has won a historic win in the gubernatorial election in Georgia. She has defeated Republican candidate and businessman Rick Jackson to be the first African-American woman governor of a US state. The 56-year-old Keisha will also be the first woman to hold the office of governor in Georgia. She has a lot of experience in politics and public service. Her win is a milestone for women and black politicians who have been underrepresented in executive roles in the United States.

Amy Acton made history by defeating the Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to become the first female governor of Ohio. This win is significant for the Democrats as Acton becomes the first Democrat governor of Ohio in over two decades during which time the Republicans have been gaining traction in the elections in Ohio. A medical doctor by profession, Amy Acton, 60, was earlier the director of Ohio's Department of Health and will now be replacing Mike DeWine who is stepping down after completing two terms.

Melat Kiros, 29, has become one of the latest faces to be noticed in American politics by emerging victorious in the July primaries in Colorado against Democrat Congresswoman Diana DeGette, thereby becoming the first Generation Z congresswoman from the US. This success is indicative of the growing trend of younger politicians making it big in the American political sphere, and it can be seen as an important generational moment for Congress.

Women’s Workplace Equality & Economic Empowerment Opportunities

Attempts to boost women’s professional advancement and economic empowerment are gradually becoming a priority worldwide. These recent developments show a trend towards creating an even more sustainable business landscape.

The Japanese television program ‘The Employee’ aims to examine problems that women encounter in business environments. The story is focused on issues of gender stereotyping, professionalism, and disparity of expectations in the plot line. Developed by NHK, the show covers the struggles women go through as they try to move up the ladder in companies where it is necessary as well as not appropriate to be ambitious and a leader. The show has provoked debate in Japan about the double standards that exist for professional women.

In November 2026, the UN Women report entitled ‘Progress of the World's Women: Gender Equality in the Age of Climate Crisis’ will be presented to the public at the COP31 conference that is scheduled for November 10 in Antalya, Türkiye. The report highlights how the climate crisis is exacerbating the pre-existing gender disparities and putting more women and girls, especially the economically disadvantaged, in danger.

The €15 million financing partnership between the European Investment Bank Group and ADOPEM (Banco de Ahorro y Credito ADOPEM) is expected to enhance prospects for SMEs and women entrepreneurs in the Dominican Republic. This project will center on enhancing financing opportunities for companies employing less than ten people. In addition, the project will promote sustainable business practices, women’s participation in the economy, and employment creation.

International law firm REVERA Law Group is collaborating with SCALE’HER initiative to assist female entrepreneurs set up and grow their businesses in digital and deep technology. The collaboration will enable participants to receive legal assistance to create sustainable businesses and deal with regulatory and business issues, as well as to acquire funding and new markets. The program started in September 2026 and will run for nine months, including six months of acceleration and three months of mentoring.

The Trend Forward:

All of these stories signify the increased involvement of women in making effective changes in workplaces, businesses, and economies all over the world. These initiatives clubbed with ample growth opportunities by governments and organizations fuel the stride for women leaders to continue overcoming barriers for sustainable growth pathways.