Beijing – Apr. 12, 2017 A first-of-its-kind initiative was successfully delivered today to showcase expert perspectives on women’s economic empowerment and the positive impact of women’s leadership in the global economy. Co-hosted by AmCham China and SCHSAsia, powered by WEConnect International in China, as well as collaborating with leading women’s organizations, the “女 Economy Summit” – employing the Chinese character for “woman,” which is pronounced in Mandarin like “new”– discussed the best frameworks for developing gender-responsive policies and corporate practices that can effectively support women’s leadership and entrepreneurship in the future.

Accomplished speakers at the summit included David Fu, Senior VP of Corporate Affairs at Walmart China; Sharif Khan, Geography General Manager, Human Resources, Greater China; Frances Yu, CMO of Amway Greater China Region, Director-General of Amway Charity Foundation; Sophie Guerin, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Asia Pacific and Japan, Dell; Alice Yuan, Global Procurement Center Business Control Manager, IBM China; Ye Li, Vice President of Government Affairs and Policy, Merck Biopharma China; Wayne Chang, CFO at NBA China; Mu Hong, Director-General, Liaison Department of the All-China Women’s Federation; Julie Broussard, Country Programme Manager at UN Women China Office; Marja Rislakki, Ambassador of Finland to China; Anne Marion-Bouchacourt, Group Chief Country Officer for China, Chairman of Société Générale (China); Lucy Zhuang, Purchasing Director in Great Asian Region at Intel Corporation; Simon Andrews, IFC Country Manager for China, Korea and Mongolia; Cheng Lei, CGTN Anchor; and Fu Xiaotian, Host of Phoniex TV's signature talkshow Talks with the World Leaders. Topics included the unconscious gender biases in the workplace, supplier diversity, male advocacy, women’s economic empowerment best practices, women’s leadership, and effective mentorship.

“We hope that participants thoroughly enjoy today and find the event insightful and invaluable. Your participation in today’s discussions is greatly appreciated and will help us take one step closer to a new economy that is inclusive and hopeful for women,” said Alan Beebe, President of AmCham China. “With opportunities to hear from, and network with, officials from top global companies, governments, non-profit organizations, research institutions, and over 240 guests, AmCham China and SCHSAsia hope to inspire new knowledge and innovation.”

The concept of the event is a brain child of co-Chairs of AmCham China’s Women’s Professional Committee: Su Cheng Harris-Simpson, Gao Lin, Louise Liu and Frances Yu, the newest co-Chair of the committee and CMO of Amway Greater China Region as well as Director-General of Amway Charity Foundation. It also stems from the idea that the future of a strong economy lies in the hands of women. Advancing women’s equality could add up to US$ 12 trillion to global growth by 2025. Despite this, women’s talents are still substantially underutilized in the corporate world. Although there are many barriers hindering women from breaking through the glass ceiling, more and more women are becoming billionaires, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

However, more work needs to be done to ensure the full economic empowerment of the world’s women. The “女Economy” is representative of a new economic era characterized by the full participation of women, whereby women’s entrepreneurial potential, leadership skills, and business acumen could be recognized, deployed, and celebrated to the benefit of all.

“When talking about the Women Economy, it’s no longer about charity, work-life balance, or other soft issues – it’s about hard dollar values. If we act on that, the economy is going to grow and everyone will benefit,” said Su Cheng Harris-Simpson, Founder & CEO, of SCHSAsia, Executive Director of WEConnect International, Greater China, and co-Chair of AmCham China’s Women’s Professional Committee.

The discussions today will build a series of best practices that will be included in AmCham China’s American Business in China White Paper, one of the chamber's most studied reports among governments, members, and media as a part of AmCham China’s business advocacy efforts.

 

For more information, please contact:

Lin Lin

AmCham China

Tel: +86 10 8519 0831

llin@amchamchina.org