Smriti Irani leads Transformative Force for Gender Equality & Equity at WEF Davos

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 28 January 2025

• Smriti Irani led key initiatives for Women’s Empowerment at the 2025 WEF Davos
• She led a Transformative Force for Gender Equity and Equality
• Gender Equity is More than Societal Aspiration – Its Economic Necessity

Smriti Irani, Chairperson of the Alliance for Global Good Gender Equity and Equality, led several initiatives on the sidelines of the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. She emerged as a transformative force for Gender Equity and Equality championing gender equity as a key driver of global economic growth and social progress.

The former WCD Minister emphasized gender equity as a societal and economic necessity, advocating for its integration into global economic frameworks. She met with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam to discuss innovative frameworks, including gender-responsive trade agreements and integrating women entrepreneurs into global value chains. She also met Bill Gates exploring collaborative approaches to dismantle barriers in healthcare, digital skilling, and leadership. Ms. Smriti had conversations with a number of key leaders, industry giants, and media influencers advocating for gender equity.

Irani had a clear narrative: Gender Equity is more than a societal aspiration; it is an economic necessity capable of unlocking trillions in global GDP. She moderated the WEF session "Women at the Fulcrum of Global Economies" co-hosted by the Mill and Melinda Gates Foundation, highlighting women's control of 50 per cent of global wealth by 2030 and the importance of integrating them into the workforce. She convened global stakeholders to address leadership gaps in technology, healthcare, and sustainability at the alliance's flagship "We-Lead Lounge", leading to commitments to skilling initiatives and gender-inclusive policies.

Irani met WEF President Borge Brende, highlighting the Alliance's achievements, including the Commonwealth Partnership and the SAWIE initiative, and promoting gender-inclusive programs and women's leadership in the energy sector.

Smriti Irani collaborated with organizations like GAVI and CHIC to expand healthcare access for underserved women globally and collaborated with TIME Magazine's Viktoria Degtar to amplify women's leadership stories, shifting narratives and creating inclusive platforms.