In too many places, women and girls still tend to eat last and least, and to learn and earn less. While circumstances vary markedly among countries and markets, there are far too many cases of marginalization and lost potential. The business of empowering women presents a case for why and how the private sector should intensify its engagement in the economic empowerment of women in developing countries. While many private sector organizations may see the economic empowerment of women as a worthy goal in itself, others also need a clear business case for investing in women. This research helps make that case, and offers a roadmap for companies to build a strategic investment portfolio in women’s issues.

> Read the report (PDF – 1MB)

McKinsey is a member organization of the Global Private Sector Leaders Forum (PSLF), an initiative of the World Bank Group’s Gender Action Plan to promote women’s economic empowerment. Our team collaborated with the PSLF’s core staff and a number of member companies to complete this white paper.

McKinsey resources on women:

> McKinsey Quarterly on Women
> Women Matter: Gender diversity, a corporate performance driver (October 2007)
> Women Matter 2: Female leadership, a competitive edge for the future (October 2008)
> Women Matter 3: Women leaders, a competitive edge in and after the crisis (September 2009)
> Centered Leadership: How Remarkable Women Lead

Other useful links:

> The World Bank, Global Private Sector Leaders Forum

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