Held on February 28, 2024, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s 14th annual International Women’s Day Forum served as a powerful lead-in to Women’s History Month and emphasized the influential role the business community plays in driving progress for women and girls globally. Notably, the forum extended a dedicated lens towards the challenges faced by women and children in Ukraine and other regions experiencing crisis.
Rooted in the Foundation's commitment to catalyzing powerful private-public partnership opportunities, this annual event featured thought-provoking and actionable insights from esteemed speakers paving the way to a more empowered future for women and girls.
Seeking solutions for a better tomorrow? Explore the five key insights from the 14th Annual International Women’s Day Forum that are driving change.
“As an engineer, I'm very data focused. But one of the things that I learned in this journey is that when you're focused on communities, it's not just about the numbers. It is a balance of that human impact that you're making in communities.”
– Asha Varghese, President, Caterpillar Foundation
- Childcare pitfalls in the United States disproportionately affect women's workforce participation, economic output, and the overall economy. Women leaders across industries stressed the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors, encouraging data sharing and employer pilot programs to address the diverse childcare needs of employees with community-specific solutions.
- Collective effort is required to close gender-related gaps in medical research, childcare, and mental health. Action-driven discussions emphasized the role of business in supporting initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for women. Insights shared by industry experts delved into the importance of collaboration and partnership in collectively uplifting communities with the social and professional benefits that come when we invest in women’s health.
- Women make unprecedented contributions to national defense and economies through entrepreneurship, embodying resilience, strength, and determination in times of crisis. Despite facing immense challenges during the conflict, women and girls have emerged as pillars of strength. The American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine has played a pivotal role in championing Ukraine's evolution into a competitive market and now actively supports women entrepreneurs, who are at the forefront of driving economic growth and building a more robust future.
- Building a professional network helps to overcome obstacles. Intentional and supportive environments, representation, and mentorship are essential for the future of community building, workforce development, and creating a workplace culture that promotes opportunities for women to succeed.
- Women leaders are optimistic about what the future holds with a new generation of empowered women in workplaces, business, and beyond. Insightful discussion proposed empowering young women leaders by identifying opportunities to engage more youth in STEM; and supporting women to reach their full potential in the workforce.
“If you invest in women, the family benefits, the community benefits. Everybody rises together. And no one of us can do it alone.”
– Lisa Travatello, Chief Marketing Officer, GENYOUth
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Aaliyah Perry
Aaliyah Perry is a senior undergraduate student at Stevenson University in Owings Mills, Maryland. She is completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration while minoring in Graphic Design. Her skillset and background include marketing and fine art. Working alongside the Communications team, she began her role at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation as the Graphic Design Intern in September 2023. She is slated to complete her degree program in May of 2024.
