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The Rise of Women in Finance: 9 Lessons from the United Kingdom

The Rise of Women in Finance: 9 Lessons from the United Kingdom

By Blossom Ukoha For decades, women have been an important part of the financial services workforce, yet their presence has not always translated into equal access to senior leadership. The United Kingdom offers a compelling case study of what can happen when gender representation becomes a measurable business priority. Over the past decade, voluntary targets, public reporting and sustained institutional pressure have helped move more women into senior roles. But the progress is measured rather than complete. The latest HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter Annual Review, published in March 2026, and the FTSE Women Leaders Review 2026 show both the gains achieved and the gaps that remain. Here are nine lessons from the UK experience. Voluntary Targets Can Deliver Steady Progress The Women in Finance Charter, launched in 2016, has demonstrated that voluntary commitments can produce measurable results when they are backed by transparency and accountability. According to HM…

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Amazonpreneur

How Women Entrepreneurs Are Reshaping Singapore’s Business Landscape

How Women Entrepreneurs Are Reshaping Singapore’s Business Landscape

By Blossom Ukoha Singapore’s entrepreneurial landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, and women are increasingly at the centre of it. What was once a smaller segment of the business community has grown into a substantial economic force, creating companies, generating billions in revenue and employing hundreds of thousands of people. The growth is not simply anecdotal. Singapore Department of Statistics data, released in 2024 and subsequently cited by Singapore government officials, provides a clear picture of how far women’s entrepreneurship has advanced. At the same time, data from ACCA, OCBC and HSBC shows that the next challenge is no longer simply encouraging women to start businesses, but helping more of them scale. A Growing Force in Singapore’s Economy The most striking evidence is the number of women-owned companies. According to the Singapore Department of Statistics, the number of women-owned companies more than doubled from 16,300 in 2010 to 36,000 in…

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Amazonpreneur

12 Industries Where Women Entrepreneurs Are Creating New Opportunities

12 Industries Where Women Entrepreneurs Are Creating New Opportunities

What happens when women stop waiting for opportunities and start building the industries of tomorrow? Across the world, women entrepreneurs are answering that question through businesses that are transforming healthcare, education, technology, finance, consumer products, construction and sustainability. Their growing presence is not simply about starting more companies; it is about identifying unmet needs, creating new markets and bringing different perspectives into sectors that have traditionally overlooked them. In the United States, women accounted for a significant share of new business formation in recent years, while younger women are increasingly embracing entrepreneurship. At the same time, women continue to receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital, showing that entrepreneurial ambition is rising faster than access to growth capital. From healthcare and education to artificial intelligence and construction, here are 12 industries where women entrepreneurs are creating new opportunities. Healthcare, Social Assistance and FemTech Healthcare and social assistance remain among…

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Featured

Angélique Kidjo Makes History with Hollywood Walk of Fame Star: The Journey Behind a Historic Moment

Angélique Kidjo Makes History with Hollywood Walk of Fame Star: The Journey Behind a Historic Moment

By Blossom Ukoha “It’s not just my star, it’s our star.” — Angélique Kidjo There are some honours that recognise an individual, and then there are moments that seem to carry the hopes, history and identity of an entire continent. For Angélique Kidjo, the five-time Grammy-winning Beninese singer, songwriter and humanitarian, her Hollywood Walk of Fame star is both. On 18 August 2026, Kidjo became the first African artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with the 2,854th star unveiled in the Recording category at 7011 Hollywood Boulevard. The historic recognition marked another extraordinary milestone in a career spanning more than four decades. But the significance of that star cannot be understood by looking only at the ceremony. It begins much earlier, with a young girl growing up in Cotonou, Benin, in a household where creativity was part of everyday life. Before the Global Spotlight, There…

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Featured

Are African Institutions Ready for Women at the Top?

Are African Institutions Ready for Women at the Top?

Blossom Ukoha A woman can sit in parliament, earn a university degree, build a successful career and still find that the final door to power is the hardest one to open. Across Africa, women are increasingly visible in politics, business and public institutions, yet their presence often declines sharply as they move closer to the highest levels of decision-making. The picture is therefore neither one of failure nor of full progress. African institutions are becoming more ready for women at the top, but they are not there yet. The numbers tell a complicated story. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), women held 27.1% of parliamentary seats in Sub-Saharan Africa as of January 2026, almost identical to the global figure of 27.5%. East Africa leads the region at 32.0%, followed by Southern Africa at 30.9%, while West Africa stands at only 19.2%. The regional average, however, hides extraordinary differences between countries.…

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UN Day

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating Women Who Serve on Humanity’s Front Lines

World Humanitarian Day: Celebrating Women Who Serve on Humanity’s Front Lines

By Blossom Ukoha At a time when the world is witnessing wars, displacement, hunger and humanitarian emergencies on an unprecedented scale, there are women walking directly into the places others are trying desperately to escape. They are doctors treating patients in damaged hospitals, nurses working through shortages, social workers supporting survivors, community organisers protecting girls, aid workers distributing food and local leaders keeping families connected to essential services. They do not always make international headlines, but for the communities they serve, their presence can mean the difference between despair and hope. This World Humanitarian Day, 19 August, Amazons Watch Magazine celebrates these women. We acknowledge the risks they take, the sacrifices they make and the extraordinary leadership they demonstrate every day. The United Nations’ 2026 campaign calls on the world to #ActForHumanity, at a time when humanitarian workers themselves are increasingly under attack. According to the United Nations Office for…

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Featured

Women, Technology and the Future of a Smarter Mine

Women, Technology and the Future of a Smarter Mine

For generations, mining has been defined by physical strength, heavy machinery and demanding work in remote and underground environments. That image has influenced not only how mining is perceived, but also who is encouraged to pursue a career in the sector. Yet the industry is changing. Automation, artificial intelligence, remote operations, robotics and data analytics are creating a new mining environment in which technical expertise and digital skills are becoming just as important as physical strength. For women, this transformation could open doors to roles that were once difficult to access. As Alex Atkins, a Mining and Geotechnical Engineer and Non-Executive Director, observed: “Digital transformation is going to enable the greater inclusion of women and to give them more choice over how they can keep working in the industry once they have families.” Her observation points to a much bigger shift. The question is no longer whether women can work…

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