GWL Week Wrap: Women Leaders Break Barriers & Drive Global Growth

This week, global business landscape emphasized the rising importance of women in leadership, governance, innovation, and enterprise. Women leaders from all sectors continued to strike a difference building upon their vision, leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, and grassroots efforts.

From new leadership appointments to programs that promote women entrepreneurs and the recognition of women making a difference in their communities, this week shows the many ways that women are leading businesses and making their mark in society.

One of the highlights has been Narelle Zanker, an Australian dairy farmer and educator who was selected as the national winner of the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for her “Dairy Adventures” program. The program seeks to foster the connection between rural industries and urban communities through agricultural educational activities.

Below are top stories complied together in this week’s GWL Week Wrap, highlighting some of the notable events and growing women’ influence in diverse fields. As women take up more senior leadership positions, engage in entrepreneurship, and shatter glass ceilings in sectors dominated by men, their efforts have become increasingly influential.

Women Rising to Leadership across Industries

Women appointed to positions of power in global infrastructure, politics, business, and communications are indicative of their increasing presence in decision making and leadership landscape.

Breaking historic barrier, Ilya Espino de Marotta was appointed as the first-ever female administrator of the Panama Canal, and took office on September 7 for tenure of seven years. She started her career at the Panama Canal in 1985 as a marine engineer has allowed her to serve many technical and executive positions at the organization. Ilya has worked with the Panama Canal for over 40 years focusing on efficiency, transparency, ethics, sustainability, and water infrastructure. 

Recently established Charedi Public party in Israel has appointed Dr. Nechumi Yaffe to be the party’s first-ever woman candidate for the Knesset. Dr. Nechumi is an expert on political psychology who is a senior lecturer at Tel Aviv University and whose field of expertise includes the study of Haredi society in Israel. Before this, she has worked as a special adviser to the Haredi affairs in the National Security Council, and her job responsibilities have been mostly poverty-related issues.

Strengthening women’s representation in corporate leadership, Ipsos has announced Trinh Tu as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of its operations in the UK & Ireland region, signifying the next move in her over 30 years of tenure with the company. Trinh has been successful in transforming organizations commercially and technologically, developing new services and improving business performance. She is Vice Chair of the UK for UNHCR and chairs its Remuneration Committee.

Expanding women’s leadership in corporate communications, Stellantis named two female executives to communications posts in Europe, as the company places emphasis on the digital media platform and integrated brand communication strategy. Andrea Laura Siro-Brigiano will hold the post of Director of Lifestyle, Digital PR and New Media for Enlarged Europe. In addition, Simona Magnarelli has become the Press Communications for FIAT and Abarth, replacing Andrea, and will also manage Lancia Communications & Events in Europe.

Expanding Financial Access for Women Entrepreneurs

Funding, digital technology, and accessibility to other forms of assistance for female entrepreneurs worldwide have contributed to growth of women-owned businesses.

In an endeavor to expand financial inclusion, Citi and DEG have increased financial inclusion among disadvantaged Filipino women entrepreneurs with P1.5 billion worth of financing to OnePuhunan. The funds are projected to boost microfinance loans, especially those for women-led micro-enterprises who have difficulty accessing the conventional financial system. The funds will assist women business owners in expanding their businesses, increasing sales, generating employment, and earning a steady income. The deal also signifies DEG’s first time investing in Philippine inclusive financing.

In order to enhance digital payment acceptance in Lebanon, Mastercard has joined hands with Banque du Liban along with other industry players to facilitate the same through the involvement of SMEs and women-owned businesses. Through this partnership, small businesses will be able to adopt digital payments and get involved in the digital economy to a greater extent. By supporting women-led businesses alongside SMEs, the collaboration seeks to create stronger opportunities for entrepreneurship, business development, and participation in Lebanon’s evolving digital economy.

Opening new avenues for migrant women, the 2026 Startup Refugees Entrepreneurship Awards for Women invites nominations from migrant and refugee women entrepreneurs residing in Finland. Through The Foundher Table, this initiative seeks to empower women through financial and professional resources to enable them to establish, enhance and grow sustainable enterprises. The winners will be provided with investments ranging from €5,000 to €10,000 along with mentorship, entrepreneurial network, business support and help with idea development. The initiative considers difficulties faced by migrant and refugee women in accessing funds, mentorship and professional networks.

To overcome the financing obstacles faced by female-owned and female-managed MSMEs face, Tonga is implementing the WE-LIFT Project with the assistance from the Asian Development Bank. This project will be implemented using the grant of $9 million which was approved back in December 2025. The purpose of the project is to improve women entrepreneurs' access to credit and to enhance their business and digital skills. Also, an enablement fund will be created to provide grants to the informal micro and small businesses that lack the criteria required for borrowing.

Women Leading through Enterprise, Collaboration and Community

New forums emerge for women to connect, lead, and increase their influence within their communities and industries. These efforts give women chances to move forward in areas of entrepreneurship, professional development, and indigenous leadership.

Bringing women entrepreneurs together, the 15th Arabian Women Exhibition was successfully held in Doha, drawing more than 20,000 visitors during the six-day long period. Organized at the Doha Exhibition & Convention Centre, the exhibition saw participation of 200 stalls by 140 women entrepreneurs from Qatar, along with designers and businessmen from Gulf Cooperation Council nations and worldwide. The exhibition aimed at fostering cooperation and growth through networking. It was an indication of how much the women-owned enterprises have contributed to the private sector in Qatar.

Investing in the next generation of leaders, the second Hindu Women Conference of New Zealand attracted over 250 Hindu women from all over New Zealand (Aotearoa), meeting in Auckland under the theme ‘Women Entrepreneurs – Leaders in Progress and Power of Prosperity’. Sponsored by the Hindu Women Forum, this conference was centered on the theme of entrepreneurship, leadership, professional growth, and community services. The conference deliberated on topics relating to entrepreneurship, public leadership and professional growth with examples of business opportunities and networking within communities.

The Land is Life fellowship programme is calling for applications to the Indigenous Women’s Program Fellowship of 2027. This is an annual one year programme that seeks to help cultivate leadership among young indigenous women from Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The program provides selected participants with up to $3,000 in project funding and a $3,600 stipend. Fellows will get mentorship and training along with funds to implement community led initiatives related to land rights, biodiversity, climate change, food sovereignty and economic development.

Women Set New Milestones across Sports and Communities

Women continue to make strides in sports performance, professional success and entrepreneurship at international games, professional cricket, or rural businesses.

Shimada Mao made an impressive transition to senior international competition by winning the Kinoshita Group Cup in Tokyo with a personal-best score of 231.32. 17-year-old Japanese figure skater placed above two Olympic medal winners Alexandra Ignatova and Nakai Ami to secure the first senior international win. Shimada competed in the senior category after dominating the junior circuit without a single defeat in 39 junior events. She earned accolades for performing extremely well technically by pulling off the rare feat of successfully completing the triple Axel and quadruple toeloop jumps in a single program, thus becoming the first Japanese woman to achieve this.

South Australian dairy farmer and teacher turned rural entrepreneur Narelle Zanker has received the national ‘AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award’ for her efforts made as the founder of the ‘Dairy Adventures agri-tourism and agricultural education project’ at her family farm near Mannum. Narelle leverages her background as an educator and the activities of the farm to offer educational experiences to students, families, and retired persons. The project will use a $35,000 cumulative Westpac development grant to increase the physical access of the working farm pathways to make it accessible for all physical capabilities.

Glamorgan County Cricket Club has made history by signing its first-ever professional female player, Lauren Parfitt, on a professional contract at the time when the club is preparing for its journey to become a Tier 1 club from 2027. Lauren has over 20 years of experience in Welsh cricket and she captained the Wales women's side since she was 18 years old. Additionally, she played for Western Storm in the Kia Super League and later on in the Rachel Heyhoe-Flint Trophy and Charlotte Edwards Cup.

Conclusion

This week's events illustrate the importance of women’s inclusion for creating better businesses, communities and economies. Women have been paving their way into various areas of society from leading roles in big international corporations, to business, technology, finance, sports and community projects. However, real inclusion goes beyond greater representation and involves access to funding, professional connections, technologies and leadership. On the other hand, the increasing participation of women in leadership roles and in male-dominated areas emphasizes the need to provide an equal path for career development.