Crossposted from the Worldwatch Institute's Nourishing the Planet.
Nourishing the Planet is collaborating with Women Deliver to highlight the important role of women, youth, and reproductive and sexual rights in sustainable development at the upcoming Rio+20 conference. Women's participation at Rio+20 is imperative due to the proven link between sustainable development and women's empowerment, health, and wellbeing.
Name : Tess Mateo
Affiliation : Managing Director and Founder of CXCatalysts
Bio : Tess has served as director in the office of the CEO at PricewaterhouseCoopers , the strategic advisor to the Joint US China Collaboration on Clean Energy , and has launched a real estate group, technology company, and innovative specialty clothing line. Tess is also a member of the New York chapter of the Business and Professional Women's Foundation . Tess will be a panelist at the Innovative Collaborations Driving Inclusive Sustainable Growth event at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development. The program is organized in part by CXCatalysts and BPW and will focus on women empowerment and clean water and clean energy business for sustainable growth.
What motivated you to get involved with BPW International and why is developing professional and leadership potential in women important?
People join organizations for all sorts of
reasons but given the number of invitations I get, it comes down to the
organization's members I meet. I recently got to know Freda Miriklis, the
current President of the BPW International, and after learning about her vision
for BPW and seeing how I both can contribute to and learn from the
organization, I joined the New York chapter.
It is important to develop the professional
and leadership potential in women because despite being nearly half of all new
hires in most industry sectors, women's representation in senior positions in
the private and public sectors is relatively low. Men and women think, operate
and manage differently and this diversity of thought and action makes companies
and organizations stronger.
Why do you think we should focus development
on public-private partnerships and why is engaging women an essential piece to
creating these partnerships?
The global financial crisis showed how
interconnected we are across sectors and borders. It also showed us why more
diversity is needed to balance perspectives and risk taking. In addition, in a
future where collaboration is needed, because resources are increasingly
limited given the demands of our booming global population, women are natural
collaborators.
In caring for our families, women are the ones
who typically seek others to share the work and resources.
What is your favorite part about coordinating
with HabiHut on your current project?
We are helping create a new model for
development. HabiHut and CXCatalysts are both start ups but we are partnering
with large MNCs to create real economic opportunities for women who will
reinvest their earnings in their businesses. These opportunities that are
focused on clean energy, clean water, waste management and sustainable food are
also helping emerging countries address basic needs while leap frogging the
wasteful growth path.
What topics related to women and business
development will you be speaking about at the Rio +20 conference?
The private and public sectors are
increasingly recognizing the multiplier effects of investing in women,
particularly in emerging markets. Collaborative action to not only help women
address their current challenges but also create new economic opportunities for
them can change the face of development. Directing women towards
activities and opportunities that promote and or support green economic growth,
can further accelerate sustainable development.
I started CXCatalysts to connect the dots of
an ecosystem that includes businesses, governments, multilateral institutions,
investors, academia and NGOs. CXCatalysts is a collaboration accelerator that
develops and manages innovative programs that help companies profitably reach
underserved markets and governments and multilateral institutions achieve their
environmental and development goals. For example, we work with multinational
companies and governments to leverage their "green economy" products, services
and technologies to create opportunities for women and to scale these
opportunities to multiple countries. Working with our "ecosystem of partners"
we develop and manage innovative collaborations that ensure "soft and hard"
infrastructure -- like training, childcare and financing- are in place to
support the entrepreneurs.
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