Baroness Goudie Blog - October Update

As the summer drew to a close, women across the globe continued their tireless work—uplifting one another and championing those most in need.

I’ve had the honour of attending several inspiring events and initiatives recently, and I would like to share a few stories that highlight the incredible impact women are having worldwide:

Georgetown Institiute for Women, Peace and Security

High-level political leaders came together with grassroots peacebuilders at The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center in June. There, the leaders discussed climate change, women’s political leadership, and standing with and supporting peacebuilders on the frontlines of conflict in a discussion co-hosted by GIWPS and The Rockefeller Foundation and chaired by Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton.

“It brought together women from the frontlines of conflict with global leaders to really dig in depth into the issues plaguing women in conflict zones around the world,” said GIWPS Managing Director Carla Koppell. “That connection between the two was really unique, special, and added dimensionality to this partnership.”

Diane von Furstenberg Awards

August 29 saw the 15th Annual DVF Awards. Established by the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation and Diane von Furstenberg herself, these awards have been celebrating and empowering extraordinary women for over a decade. Their mission is to elevate the voices of those who dedicate themselves to improving the lives of others.

The women honoured at the DVF Awards have shown immense courage, resilience, and leadership. Over the years, the awards have recognised women from more than thirty nations, supporting their critical efforts in areas such as climate action, immigration reform, human trafficking, gender equality, and violence prevention.

This year’s recipients were equally remarkable: Her Excellency Mrs. Graça Machel, The Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern, Dr. Yael Admi, Reem Al-Hajajreh, Xiye Bastida, and Alessandra Kustermann. Their contributions continue to inspire us all, and you can read more about their incredible work [here].

Global Women Asia

I was pleased to attend a gathering of Global Women Asia (GWA)’s London Community, an inspiring network of global leaders with Asian perspectives. Founded by Wenchi Yu, GWA aims to bridge the gap between Asia and the rest of the world by fostering a community of future female leaders and their allies who are working to bring about positive global change.

GWA’s Fellowship Program is particularly inspiring. This program brings together promising female leaders from around the world, helping them develop their leadership skills, build strong networks, and engage in problem-solving on critical global issues. This year, the focus is on Women in STEM—a crucial area for the future.

At the event, Founder and Chairwoman Wenchi Yu introduced two of GWA’s current Fellows: Larissa Sidarto, a sustainability entrepreneur, and Tee Ganbold, an AI entrepreneur. Tee’s remarks were especially thought-provoking:

"Automation is transforming our cities, as well as our civilization. It is, therefore, important to gather together women to think about generative AI to ensure female voices and perspectives are at the forefront of this technological revolution. Generative AI has become a game changer, and the largest users are currently in India, Indonesia, and the Philippines, only after the US. Generative AI in these regions has helped to level the playing field by allowing more women to research like a PhD with four years of training and write like an English PhD."

It was a stimulating morning of discussion on the crucial role women play in the STEM sector, particularly as we enter a new era of generative AI. GWA is doing remarkable work in fostering a global mindset, with a deeper understanding of Asia, and I look forward to seeing the success of its Fellows in the future.

Inner Wings

On September 17, I had the pleasure of hosting the launch of Inner Wings’ Advisory Council at the House of Lords—a wonderful initiative aimed at building confidence in primary-aged children across the UK.

Inner Wings was co-founded by my dear friend Melissa Di Donato and her husband Darren Roos, with the mission of providing children with the support and tools they need to build confidence, make their voices heard, and carve their own paths in the world. Their confidence-building resources, available for free, are aimed at pre-teens and are being used by teachers across the UK.

To date, over 20,000 children have graduated from Inner Wings’ programs, and teachers are reporting a positive change in their students. This work is especially timely, as children’s mental health has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, and increased smartphone and social media use.

We were fortunate to be joined at the Lords by the brilliant children of St Joseph’s and Sunny Hill Primary Schools, who have participated in Inner Wings’ programs. Their enthusiasm and intelligence underscored why this work is so essential. These children deserve to have their voices heard and the confidence to achieve their full potential.

Investing in our children is investing in our future. These young people are the UK’s future CEOs, policymakers, and decision-makers, and how we support them today will shape the strength and success of the UK tomorrow.