Supporting women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses is not just the right thing to do socially, it is one of the smartest things that governments, corporations and the finance community could do economically. Yet, around the world, women entrepreneurs still face barriers to starting and growing their businesses. 
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In 2022, we published a Citi GPS report, <a style="text-decoration: underline;" href="https://ir.citi.com/gps/BEmj0x3B9xI9lV1askcQ4i82kPQxePoOBbUjMQcA4UMMKvopj0lLpx5N9SKEpOiBewaKKUK7F7I%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-source="tiny">Women Entrepreneurs: Catalyzing Growth, Innovation, and Equality</a>, which found that closing the gender gap in business growth globally could add up to $2.3 trillion to global GDP (or a 3% increase), create up to 433 million jobs, and unleash an untapped pool of talent and innovation to address global challenges. 
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In this curated series of conversations, we highlight some of the women building successful businesses across sectors and in different regions to learn from their experiences. Our experts will explore the challenges women entrepreneurs still face, what is needed to better support them, and the significant economic opportunity that empowered women entrepreneurs present. 
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Demonstrating and championing the economic case for gender equality in the global workplace has been a consistent feature of the Citi GPS series over many years. In this new report, we have turned our attention to advocating the business case for supporting women entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses. As the world seeks to build back from the pandemic, transition to a low carbon economy, and achieve the potential of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, we believe that building a gender-balanced playing field for entrepreneurs is critical. Supporting women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses is not just the right thing to do socially, it is one of the smartest things that governments, corporations, and the finance community could do economically.

Women Entrepreneurs

Supporting women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses is not just the right thing to do socially, it is one of the smartest things that governments, corporations and the finance community could do economically. Yet, around the world, women entrepreneurs still face barriers to starting and growing their businesses.

Women Entrepreneurs Series

Key topics covered: Her experience building a business as a woman entrepreneur and Ukrainian refugee What home-staging is and how she creates a sense of comfort in the homes she stages How the business community can better support women entrepreneurs Her advice for women entrepreneurs at the start of their journey

Key topics covered:
<ul type="disc">
<li>Her experience building a business as a woman entrepreneur and Ukrainian refugee</li>
<li>What home-staging is and how she creates a sense of comfort in the homes she stages</li>
<li>How the business community can better support women entrepreneurs</li>
<li>Her advice for women entrepreneurs at the start of their journey</li>
</ul>

In conversation with Alisa Akopian, entrepreneur and home-stager.

Backing Women-Led Businesses: In Conversation with Alisa Akopian

Key topics covered: • How Paccari is shaking up the chocolate industry • The opportunity for businesses to have a positive social impact • How companies can embed sustainability into their business practices • What the financial community can do to better support women entrepreneurs

Key topics covered:
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&bull; How Paccari is shaking up the chocolate industry 
&bull; The opportunity for businesses to have a positive social impact 
&bull; How companies can embed sustainability into their business practices
&bull; What the financial community can do to better support women entrepreneurs
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In conversation with Carla Barbotó, Founder and President of Paccari Chocolate.

Backing Women-Led Businesses: In Conversation with Paccari Chocolate

In this curated series of conversations organized by Citi and Lean In Equity & Sustainability, we focus on women building successful businesses in Clean Energy and Climate Solutions. Despite making up 39% of the global labor force, women only account for 16% of the traditional energy sector. Closing this gender gap to fully include women in the Clean Energy sector's technical, scientific, and business development is critical in ensuring a sustainable transition. Lean In Equity & Sustainability is an independent gender diversity and inclusion initiative operating under the LeanIn.Org umbrella.

In this curated series of conversations organized by Citi and Lean In Equity &amp; Sustainability, we focus on women building successful businesses in Clean Energy and Climate Solutions. Despite making up 39% of the global labor force, women only account for 16% of the traditional energy sector. Closing this gender gap to fully include women in the Clean Energy sector's technical, scientific, and business development is critical in ensuring a sustainable transition.
Lean In Equity &amp; Sustainability is an independent gender diversity and inclusion initiative operating under the LeanIn.Org umbrella.

Ndiarka Mbodji, Founder and CEO of Kowry Energy, in conversation with Courtney Lowrance, Head of EMEA Sustainability & Corporate Transitions, Citi.