Gender Equality as Smart EconomicsThe World Bank GroupInternational Finance Corporation

The Global Private Sector Leaders Forum is an initiative of the World Bank Group Gender Action Plan (GAP) to engage private sector leaders in promoting women's economic empowerment. The Forum is one of World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick's six new commitments on gender equality announced on April 11, 2008 at the World Bank Group Spring Meetings. Learn more >

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Forum Leaders

Eduardo Belmont

Lloyd Blankfein

Henryka Bochniarz

Frank J. Brown

John T. Chambers

Kristin Clemet

Samuel A. DiPiazza

Rick Goings

Kevin L. Kelly

Sung-joo Kim

Yang Lan

Wendy Luhabe

Marilyn Carlson Nelson

Hüsnü M. Özyeǧin

Lynn Taliento

Elena Viyella de Paliza

Nitin Paranjpe

Mark Parker

Peter Sands

James S. Turley

Mona Zulficar
Sungjoo Group - Sung-joo Kim
Member Spotlight

Sung-joo Kim

Chairperson & CEO Sungjoo Group/MCM Group

Company: Sungjoo Group (Korea) and MCM Group (Germany)
Web: www.sungjoogroup.com

Sung-joo Kim, Chairperson & CEO Sungjoo Group/MCM Group, has been involved in the fashion industry for more than 20 years. Sung-joo was chosen as one of the '1997 Global Leaders for Tomorrow' by the World Economic Forum; has been named one of the seven most powerful women in Asia by Asiaweek; and one of the 'Top 50 Women to Watch' by the Wall Street Journal. more >
"Gender and women's empowerment is at the core of what we need to do in the field of development. Gender equality is also smart economics. Research demonstrates that progress in the area of women's economic empowerment is still far, far too slow. Whether it is the question of employment, opportunity, pay, or access to finance, there is a tremendous amount of work to do to level the playing field for women."

Robert B. Zoellick
President, World Bank Group

Turning impoverished women in India into businesswomen

For years, we've admired the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) for the good work they do provide income earning opportunities, micro-credit, legal advice and insurance to women across India. The story of one of SEWA's women has now been featured in an article in The New York Times. Kakuben Lalabhai Parmar's inspiring tale involves rising up from an untouchable community of cattle herders to becoming a businesswoman and traveling to New York to sell her embroideries.

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