Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress - A Directive for Global Growth and Innovation
As we approach International Women's Day on March 8, 2024, the United Nations theme, "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress," couldn't be more pertinent. This call to action not only highlights the need for gender equality but also underscores the tangible benefits of empowering women across all sectors of society, particularly in business and technology.
As the Founder & CEO of GoGlobal and a seasoned entrepreneur, my journey from launching Turkey's first e-commerce startup, Deppo, in the '90s to establishing global platforms for women's investment and tech entrepreneurship has been deeply informed by the conviction that investing in women is not just ethical—it's economically astute. At Deppo, we were pioneers in e-commerce and gender equality, with 75% of our employees and 90% of our executive team being women. This wasn't a mere statistic; it was a testament to our belief in the untapped potential of women in the workforce.
In 2019, I founded GoGlobal in Miami with a mission to facilitate access to global financial, human, and social capital for tech startups. From the outset, we committed to allocating 50% of our portfolio to Female Tech Founders. This decision has enriched our portfolio with diverse perspectives and driven superior outcomes. Our investments in women-led startups are not acts of charity; they are strategic decisions grounded in evidence that companies with female leadership often perform better financially and are more innovative.
Moreover, my engagement with the Arya Women Investment Platform, where I founded the International Chapter in 2020 and the Dubai Chapter in March 2024, aims to empower women entrepreneurs and investors by providing them with the resources, network, and support needed to thrive. These chapters serve as beacons of inspiration and action for women looking to make their mark in business, especially in regions where such support is critically needed.
Beyond these initiatives, my role as a mentor in The Select USA Global Women in Tech (SGWIT) Program has been particularly rewarding. This program is designed to promote American competitiveness and technology leadership by attracting talented women leaders in emerging technology sectors. Through the SGWIT Mentorship Network, participants gain access to experienced mentors, exclusive networking platforms, and many educational content and opportunities. It's a comprehensive support system to facilitate the U.S. market entry of international women tech entrepreneurs.
Participants of the SGWIT Program are not just given advice; they are integrated into a supportive community that understands the unique challenges of scaling, promoting, fundraising, and establishing a business in the United States. The program's emphasis on group mentoring and informational support underscores the belief that collective wisdom and shared experiences are invaluable resources for overcoming barriers and achieving success.
The narrative of women in technology and entrepreneurship is not just about overcoming barriers; it's about recognizing and harnessing women's immense potential to drive innovation, economic growth, and societal progress. As we celebrate International Women's Day 2024, let's commit to investing in women and creating an ecosystem where women's contributions are valued, supported, and amplified.
Our collective progress hinges on embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion. By investing in women, we're not merely advocating for gender equality; we're catalyzing a movement toward a more innovative, equitable, and prosperous world. Let this International Women's Day remind us of our shared responsibility and opportunity to accelerate progress by investing in women.