The Secret Recipe to Reaching “The ‘I’m Possible’ Goal of Empowering a Billion Women by 2020”

Technology and women go hand in hand. Leveraging the incredible power of technology to inspire women entrepreneurs will lead them along a path to success. 

Empowering a Billion Women by 2020 (EBW2020) is the vision of one woman, Ingrid Vanderveldt, Entrepreneur-In-Residence, Dell Inc. Her life's work — focused on getting the tools, technology, and resources into the hands of women around the world through three channels — business, policy, and media is quite ambitious and to be applauded. I am excited and energized to take part in her mission.

It's this shared vision that I pledge my commitment to women’s success worldwide. It's also because of this that I discovered the wonderful organization, the UN Foundation, with a specific focus on women and girls issues worldwide. 

At the core of EBW2020 is technology: the key enabler, escalator, and connector to success via the accessibility to everything it provides.  The secret to realizing this goal:  getting a smartphone into the hands of every woman. Getting smartphones into the hands of women around the world, we can inspire, educate, connect, and empower women as successful leaders and entrepreneurs. Smartphone access, when combined with education around financial literacy and mentoring is the secret to getting our global economy turned around.

I hope you will think about the ways that you, too, can harness the power of technology to help all women around the world prosper. Below are ways that you can begin, both with technology and also in a practical manner.

You can find out and become part of the EBW2020 vision at www.ebw2020.com.

Support Mobile Currency Vehicles

Mobile money is becoming the method of choice for purchasing and payments globally. Africa is leading the way in mobile payments with the launch of programs like M-Pesa. This Summer, EBW2020.com will be announcing a partnership with an organization that allows people in developed worlds to load, or “top off” phones for those in the developing worlds (ideal for families/diaspora who come to work in the States and send money back to their home countries). Stay tuned at ebw2020.com for more details.

Donate Used Cell Phones

Often times, individuals in developing countries are not able to purchase cell phones to be able to even participate in the types of programs mentioned above. Now, there are solutions to be able to get those old phones into the hands of people needing them the most like medical providers and emergency services. You can support places like hopephones.org AND MedicMobile.org by donating your old phones.

Become a Mentor

With the unrivaled connectability the Internet provides, we have the option to learn and teach with millions at our fingertips. Find a woman entrepreneur—or a group—and set up monthly webinars, hangouts, etc. to open up a global platform for best practice sharing and lessons learned. 

Explore Emerging Markets

Some of the cities with the most technology-heavy, entrepreneurial action are outside Silicon Valley and the U.S. all together. Explore and consider launching your next tech endeavor abroad, including the help of the local, talented women entrepreneurs. You can find programs to be involved with through places including: The UN Foundation, Springboard Enterprises, The Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, and the Kauffman Foundation.

Spread the Word

Media is a tremendously powerful vehicle. With the plethora of news apps, there are numerous articles, blogs, and videos posted daily highlighting some of the most incredible women entrepreneurs and their businesses. Help be a messenger and change-agent by reposting, sharing, and providing them visibility.

Support Women-Owned/Launched Products and Services

Chances are, a combination of software, apps, hardware, and services is the recipe to success in your business. Explore the women-owned/launched options first and make it a point to always diversify your options to truly support women entrepreneurs.

Open Your Resources Up

Chances are your company has an arsenal of resources that can propel small businesses. Create a dialogue and a win-win, focusing on women-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs and see the incredible opportunities it opens up for both.

If you’re inspired to join along on this journey towards a global sustainable future, sign up for updates and stay connected at www.ebw2020.com, and become part of this adventure!

Relevant Numbers

“70% of new businesses are started by women. 91% of women say advertisers don’t understand them”  FORBES 

“When women are aware your company supports women owned businesses, 79% would try your products & services. 80% of women solidify their loyalty to brands that support them.” Trendwatching 

“92% of women pass along information they find about deals to others.” Ogilvy & Mather

Women are the primary buyers for computers, cars, banking, financial services, and a lot of other big-ticket categories. Primetime Women 

“Over the next decade, women will control two thirds of consumer wealth in the United States and be the beneficiaries of the largest transference of wealth in our country’s history. Estimates range from $12 to $40 trillion." FleshmanHillard

In the U.S., women oversee 80% of consumer spending, totaling $3.7 trillion. They control more than $20 trillion or about 70% of global consumer spending. JCDecaux MallScape, Market Week, & Boston Consulting Group

Unbowed In The Protection Of Mother Earth

We all realize that environmental conservation is so much more than a hot topic and requires true global connectivity to help protect and restore our planet’s precious resources.  

Environmental conservation is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and has become especially pertinent in recent years due to concerns about global warming and the necessity for clean, renewable energy resources. The impact (either good or bad) that we have on the environment today is making a big difference on the world of future generations. It’s our responsibility to care for our planet and ensure the future well-being of all living things. If we can get to the point where we are living sustainably and technology is providing the majority of our resource needs, things will be a lot different. There will be fewer wars, fewer poor and starving, less threat of species extinction, and most importantly we’ll be creating a way of life that can continue indefinitely. To me that’s a big prize for acting in an environmentally conscious way; for the betterment of society today and for a strong and sustainable society of the future.

As I think back to my most treasured visit to Africa, specifically Kenya and Tanzania, I often wonder what this world would look like without the majestic animals and the beautiful landscape of sub-saharan Africa along with other ecologies around the world I’ve experienced through my extensive travels. It would be a world I most definitely would not want to live in. 

Climate change is an urgent threat caused by humans that must be addressed immediately before it’s too late. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas, to generate energy has the greatest impact on the atmosphere than any other single human activity. 

To adequately address the climate crisis we must urgently reduce carbon pollution and prepare for the consequences of global warming, which the world is already experiencing. To avoid the worst consequences of climate change, we need to dramatically reduce the world’s carbon emissions. But we must also prepare for the significant changes in weather that the world is presently experiencing because of the pollution already in the atmosphere. Communities and governments need to work together in transitioning toward 100% renewable energy and implement practical measures that improve air quality and protect water supplies.

Protecting our forests, home to many of the world’s most endangered wildlife, is also a significant action that will help fight climate change. If we protect our forests, rather than destroy them, they will protect the planet by absorbing carbon dioxide, which is a major source of pollution that causes climate change. 

Additionally, governments must play a central role in tackling the climate crisis. Governments must invest, support, and encourage clean energy technology, and lead the way by creating environmentally conscious legislation. 

And finally, businesses have a responsibility to reduce their contribution to climate change by incorporating policies and effective ways of doing business that meet goals to reduce carbon emissions while sustaining their core business.

Now on a personal level, in order to help meet the demands of environmental conservation here are a few things we can all do in order to reduce our carbon footprint and in exchange, if enough of us adopt this sustainable way of living, can stop climate change altogether. I know these are ideas we’ve all heard of before but it certainly is a reminder that even small changes in our daily habits can make a positive impact on caring for mother nature.

1. Invest in a car with better fuel economy, purchase a hybrid, electric or hydrogen fuel  cell car.
2. We can simply take public transit, bike more, or walk more. Afterall, this is of course good for our health as well. 
3. We can help with reforestation by planting trees. 
4. Where possible we can use alternative energy, such as solar power, wave power, wind power, hydroelectricity, biofuel, and hydrogen power (just to name a few). In other words we need to conserve our energy – use energy more efficiently and only use it when needed. 
5. Buy appliances that have a good Energy Star rating.
6. Use energy efficient lightbulbs.
7. We can buy food locally and organic food (or both). This is known as a low carbon diet and it not only promotes your health but supports local economies as well.
8. We could reduce our meat consumption and eat more plant-based foods. Large amounts of carbon dioxide are released as a result of the meat industry. This is mainly done through the deforestation of forests in order to create livestock fields, producing the meat itself and transporting it. Switching to a mainly plant-based diet is good for our own health as much as it is for the planet.
9. The 3R’s – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
10. Composting is a great way of helping local farms and gardens while preventing global warming. In fact, compost can be rich in nutrients and is used in landscaping as well. It is also important for organic farming.
11. We are our choices. What we choose to buy is what we choose to support. Be conscious about supporting companies that make and obtain products in ways that help to stabilize the environment not destroy it. Give those organizations your full support.
12. Get involved with your local government asking them to take action on environmental initiatives in your community. Speaking of voting, if a political party does not make climate change one of its top priorities, we should not vote for them.
13. Finally, spread the word. Share information about our planetary crisis. Raise your voice.

For a visually inspiring look at more ways we can help make a difference, here’s a link to a great printable and sharable idea guide that I just love. Place it on your refrigerator and Go Green! http://www.50waystohelp.com

One final thought … when I reflect on the importance of protecting Mother Earth, my thoughts immediately drift to Dr. Wangari Maathai, the first African Woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for the creation of The Greenbelt Movement, an organization that taught Africa’s most impoverished that if we truly care for Mother Earth, she will take care of us. Nobel Laureate Dr. Maathai was unbowed in her conviction to care for our planet. Her insight is one we should all applaud and seek to emulate in our own special and unique way. 

People need nature 

and 

nature needs people to care about it!