GENEVA WOMEN IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE – ENLIGHTENING, EMPOWERING, ENERGIZING

SUZANNE YATES

GWIT was founded to enable professional women to meet and expand their networks and is affiliated to the worldwide Organisation of Women in International Trade (www.owit.org). In 2000, the former Irish president and High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, spoke at the inaugural meeting about trade and human rights. It was the first time that women working in Geneva’s private and public sector had been able to get together to discuss trade.

Gry Tina Tinde is special adviser on gender issues to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. She says she’s made new friends and professional contacts through GWIT.
“To me, GWIT events demonstrate the diversity, warmth and amazing competencies of women in the Geneva area. GWIT engages women from the private and public sector in discussions of mutual interest. I’m happy that men are also welcome, and believe that both men and women become sensitised about diversity and gender issues thanks to GWIT.”

Tina has found GWIT to be a perfect match and networking arena for the new fundraising project she’s developed with colleagues at UNHCR. “Women Leading for Livelihoods” builds partnerships between business women and refugee women around the globe. “We’re a stimulating mix of people representing the private and public sector,” says GWIT President, Ania Jakubowski.

GWIT is different things to different people. Some members see it as a source of personal and professional development, others join for business contacts, or to seek out job opportunities and explore options for career change. Some simply want a social outlet, to meet dynamic women outside their current social or professional circles.

“However we are all motivated not only by the opportunities to network but also because we want to have an impact on our personal, workplace or community environments.”

Many members begin their experience with GWIT through attending an event.
“But it is so much more than events!” says Ania. “Our interactive website offers members the opportunity to connect with each other on-line and find useful links and information on subjects relating to business and trade, women’s empowerment and living in Switzerland. There’s also a job bank service, Hotjobs. GWIT continually offers new benefits, all led by the members themselves who volunteer to share their expertise.”

As for the events, they are varied, with a focus on topics relating to business and entrepreneurship, international trade policy, personal and professional development and women’s empowerment. The formats include evening and lunchtime seminars, workshops and visits to international organisations. GWIT meetings are conducted in English, which makes the group accessible to a large cross cultural mix of people.

Michiko Hayashi, whose role at UNCTAD is to support developing countries in trade negotiations, tries to get along to as many GWIT events as she can.
“I go to be enlightened by people who are passionate and trying to make difference in whatever they are doing. So far, I have attended talks and workshops about UNAIDS, the World Economic Forum, Women in Particle Physics, How to Develop Your Professional Image – and I’ve enjoyed them all.”

An invitation to GWIT members to visit Du Pont’s HQ in Geneva was an example of how GWIT brings together people from different groups with common interests – in this case women working across a range of environmental projects. A panel of Du Pont’s senior management team for the Middle East, Africa and Europe presented the company’s strategies on gender diversity and sustainability.
“In a world where the concept of corporate social responsibility and UN Global Compact bring business and the UN closer together, GWIT provides the perfect place for the cross fertilisation and realisation of ideas,” says Meg Jones, who was GWIT’s first president.

Meg is Managing Director of Constructive Connections, a firm that assists businesses to make money through investing in the economic empowerment of local communities. ”Women are key contributors to trade. Supporting them so they can realise their economic potential is central to development,” she says.

This was clearly brought to light at the first ever panel on gender and trade at the WTO symposium, organised by GWIT, and through successive events in honour of International Women’s Day. Hosted by the Canadian Ambassador to the WTO, these events have highlighted the benefits of engaging women in trade missions and policy discussions, and in fostering their managerial and entrepreneurial talent.

Through GWIT, the newly appointed UNHCR country representative for Burundi, Bo Schack was introduced to Annick Nzambimana, a GWIT member and community development expert. She advises development institutions and private enterprises on strategies to involve local communities where they have projects.

“Bo is being posted to Burundi, my country of origin,”says Annick. “I was delighted to be able to give him information about the country, the political environments and the issues that he might encounter there.”

UN women have contributed as panelists at many GWIT events. For example, this year Yuefen Li, senior Economic Affairs Officer, UN Conference on Trade and Development, spoke at a seminar on the future of business in China. Currently, a panel discussion on the emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China is being put together.
Jo Butler was a panelist at the Success Dialogue – an intellectual work-out over brunch at the Hotel du Parc des Eaux Vives one Saturday morning in April.

Jo is head, Intergovernmental Affairs and Outreach Service and Secretary of the Trade and Development Board, UNCTAD. “The event was extremely well prepared and thought-out. The panellists were all superb. We were in awe of one another and we all learned so much and want to keep in touch. In fact, we found respective advisors and mentors amongst each other,” she says.

Sally Storr, a technical officer in HR for WHO’s polio eradication initiative, was in the audience. “It was wonderful. I enjoyed it because there were people from very diverse backgrounds. They all had something interesting to say about the meaning of success to them.”

Sally plans to get involved with another of GWIT’s initiatives – exploring the development of mentoring opportunities. GWIT organizes Career Panel discussions – helping young women think about career options and career progression. Not only will Sally be sharing expertise in HR but she will also be contributing to her own personal and professional development because it will help her achieve her masters in counselling.

It all sounds high powered but the atmosphere is always warm and supportive. For those new to Geneva the friendliness of GWIT members has been a lifeline in those early months. If these experiences have whetted your appetite, why not come along to the next GWIT event and be inspired? You can obtain more information about GWIT, its networking potential for you and its events calendar at www.gwit.ch. Annual membership costs CHF 95 which entitles you to complete access to the GWIT website and reduced event fees.
Non members are also welcome.

Some forthcoming events:
January 17th – Geneva Networking Happy Hour + Annual General Meeting
January 24th – “Be an Entrepreneur” Panel Discussion
February 9th – Gala “Venetian Ball”
February 12th – “Inaugural” Lausanne Networking Happy Hour
February 21st – Geneva Networking Happy Hour
March 11th – Lausanne Networking Happy Hour
March 13th – Nestle opens its doors to GWIT (visit to Nestle HQ – Vevey)
March 20th – Geneva Networking Happy Hour

Suzanne Yates
Tel: +41 78 901 88 25
suzanne@20secondsmedia.com
www.20secondsmedia.com