Consider the KPI of increasing the number of women in leadership positions. On paper, this sounds like a step forward. But here are some illustrations of where a lack of systems thinking can stall progress: n Perpetuation of Gender Bias . Promoting women to leadership roles does little if entrenched biases lead to their ideas being undervalued or dismissed. Without challenging these attitudes, women’s presence can become symbolic, where they hold titles but lack real influence. n Confinement to “Women-Norm” Roles. Women are often promoted to roles traditionally seen as “female,” such as HR or communications, limiting their impact and reinforcing stereotypes about women’s competencies. A systems lens would question why women are not advancing in core business areas and would actively seek to disrupt these patterns. n Stalling of Long-Term Change. Minor progress can create the illusion that gender equality has been achieved, reducing the momentum for deeper reforms like addressing unconscious bias, creating inclusive work environments, or reforming policies that disadvantage women. Addressing these issues requires an approach that understands how seemingly small interventions—such as flexible work arrangements or anti-bias training—may have ripple effects throughout an organization and even an industry. Naming women as beneficiaries and consulting with them can change their livelihoods and mindset. 48 After merging with the Ocean Policy Research Foundation in 2015, the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) had one of its five strategic goals to “to stimulate greater socioeconomic progress through women’s empowerment.” 49 While gender-lens investing (GLI) remains relatively underutilized, the SPF has taken bold steps to advance the conversation. For example, in 2019, it published an extensive GLI landscape analysis of East and Southeast Asia, highlighting critical opportunities and challenges in this space. Building on this work, the SPF launched the Asia Women Impact Fund (AWIF) with a commitment to invest up to USD$100 million in women entrepreneurs across Asia. 50 The SPF has been clear in its messaging, stating that “investing for women’s economic empowerment is not only the right investment, but also the smart investment.” 51 This framing underscores the dual potential of gender-focused investments to drive both social impact and financial returns.
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Ten Years in the Making
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