Katie Hyson, Director of Thought Leadership at Business Fights Poverty interviews Helen McEachern, CEO, Cherie Blair Foundation.
This week our spotlight interview meets with Helen McEachern, CEO of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Listen to this podcast to find out the latest developments in gender equality and what businesses can do to encourage greater women’s economic empowerment and why it’s hard to keep Cherie Blair’s attention.
With over 20 years’ experience working for international NGOs including Greenpeace, ActionAid UK and ActionAid International, Helen has increasingly focused her energy on the gender agenda.
On leading the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Helen says: “We’re on a mission to change the world for women – make it more equal and economically just.”
We hear Helen’s insights on important questions such as: What are men’s roles in encouraging women’s economic empowerment? How can business take action? And, what can we do when nationalistic geo-political agendas are on so many occasions moving against women’s rights?
During this interview you will hear Helen’s thoughts on the future trends affecting women’s equality.
Helen explores why the digital revolution and the access to information could be the greatest equaliser for women, but with 12% more men than women online; 200 million women currently excluded from mobile phone access; and predominantly men writing and creating the code behind decision making algorithms that drive the digital revolution there is a distinct risk to women’s economic empowerment if not tackled.
Helen reveals what it is like working with Cherie Blair – how she has to stay on her game to keep up with the former UK Prime Minister’s wife and internationally renowned human rights barrister. And why Cherie gives such good career advice.
Before wrapping with her own advice to those working on their development and impact careers: “Be open and ready to learn, try new things that aren’t necessarily in plan [and] understand what your contribution is.”
