Women in ETFs Ring the Bell for Gender Equality

Women in ETFs Ring the Bell for Gender Equality For the second year in a row, Women in ETFs ring the bell at stock exchanges around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March).  This year, WE is partnering with five other organizations in a growing momentum behind gender equality.  WE is leading 15 of the 34 stock exchange bell ringings at which WE will also host speakers to present the business case for women’s economic empowerment.

To commemorate International Women’s Day, 34 stock exchanges from around the world joined Women in ETFs, UN Global Compact,  UN Women, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, IFC, and the World Federation of Stock Exchanges, to “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality,” raising awareness about the business case for women’s economic empowerment and the opportunities for the private sector to advance gender equality and sustainable development.

“There is a natural synergy for WE to celebrate International Women’s Day,” said Joanne Hill, Co-Founder and Co-President of WE and Head of Institutional Investment Strategy at ProShares. “Stock exchanges are a key industry partner in the Exchange Traded Fund industry globally with whom WE and its members maintain strong ongoing relationships in our chapters around the globe.  Stock exchanges provide a natural high-visibility platform in which to amplify the gender equality message”, continued Hill.

“Studies such as the new survey by the Peterson Institute for International Economics of 21,980 publicly traded companies in 91 countries demonstrates that the presence of more female leaders in top positions of corporate management correlates with increased profitability of these companies” said Deborah Fuhr, Co-Founder of WE and Managing Partner of ETFGI.

Jill Mavro Co-President of WE, Senior Managing Director at State Street Global Advisors, says Stock exchanges can play a vital role by encouraging gender diversity on the boards and in the management of listed companies, and ensuring accessibility of capital market services to women-owned businesses and female entrepreneurs.

WE is the lead partner on 15 of the 34 bell ringing celebrations noted in yellow below, which will include WE leadership, corporate sponsors, and members, and will take place from March 7-11th.