Financial Empowerment for Brown Women

Everyday, I count myself extremely lucky to be associated with organisations like READ India. Here's a story out of the 100s we hear everyday. Faced with the devastating death of her brother during Covid19, and loss of financial resources, Sandhya Shrikrushna Salte, joined a READ India course on Food Processing in Kathoda village, Yavatmal, India. She soon launched her own home-based business, "Gopi Gruh Udyog", learnt how to use social media to promote her products, earning currently over Rs. 50,000/pm. Her success story is an inspiration to her other colleagues from the same centre. READ India recognises that women often face special barriers to education, formal employment, economic independence, perpetuating gender inequity and inequality. Which is why they have paid special attention to curating their trainings to focus on close-to-home, centre-based ones that can be provided online - the resultant activities can be completed either at the centre or at home. By equipping women with marketable skills and resources, these programs catalyse a process to break the cycle of poverty & empower women to actively participate in economic activities, promoting their social and economic wellbeing. Greater attention has been paid to women from minority communities & differently abled women so that solutions are created for a diverse group of women. READ India's skilling programs empowers women like Sandhya with necessary tools and knowledge to secure gainful employment or start their own micro-enterprises, in sectors with significant opportunities for self-employability. The impact has been profound and multifaceted: - Economic Empowerment: Partners gain skills and knowledge to access sustainable employment or start businesses, leading to increased income and financial independence. - Enhanced Social Status: New skills and economic independence improve the women's social standing, making them role models and leaders in their communities. - Improved Self-Confidence: Acquiring and applying new skills boosts women’s' self-esteem and empowers them to take on challenges. - Community Development: The program fosters self-reliance and economic empowerment, leading to individual success and broader community development initiatives. READ India put this model into practice in 2007, 17 years ago, and have created over 60 Community Library and Resource Centres (CLRCs) nationwide reaching more than 170,000 unique individuals. Lead by Geeta Malhotra and ably assisted by Smita Rai, READ has stood with 50,000+ women. The impact of Read India has been evaluated by their corporate partners, Accenture and Culvar Max. Their evaluation noted that the slow change in economic status or the growth of women’s participation in economic activities is further responsible for more respect for women, both in the community and household. On International Women's Day we stand in solidarity with all the women from READ. #skilling #womenempowerment #genderequality #IWD2025

Women should never have to choose between their health and their future—true empowerment means they don’t have to. Dr . Stellah Wairimu Bosire's work in Kenya shows the deep connection between economic power and women’s health. She witnessed firsthand how financial dependence forced women into impossible choices—skipping medical care to earn a day’s wage, delaying treatment due to transportation costs, or having their financial freedom restricted by cultural norms. Dr. Bosire knew a complex problem needed a comprehensive solution—so she built one. Through microcredit loans, financial education, skill building, and advocacy, she created a system where financial stability improves health. Her work shows that when women have the resources to invest in themselves, entire communities thrive. Dr. Bosire is now helping her community go digital, building a software platform where women can save, access their money, and create a credit profile—paving the way for them to use formal banking systems and gain greater financial autonomy. The best part? Her solution is working. What started with 100 women has grown to over 5,000—and she’s just getting started. Her goal is to reach one million women across the entire African continent, and I'm confident she can get there! Dr. Bosire reminds us that sustainable change happens when women have the power to shape their own lives—when they can thrive, not just survive. Read more about Dr. Bosire’s work: https://lnkd.in/g_WJBPzy

Today, I’m addressing a subject that rarely gets discussed when it comes to wealth-building but needs to be considered and that is the “Black Tax”. Essentially, the “Black Tax” is defined as the money that Black professionals give to their families to support them financially as they become more successful. As mentioned in the article entitled “The Hidden “Black tax” that some Professionals of Color Struggle with”, “Black households annually earning between $100,000 and $150,000 provided informal financial assistance in a given year at more than double the rate of their White peers.” - Quote from In The Meantime: Own Your Financial Narrative That’s huge! And you’re not alone! I’m sharing 𝟲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 tailored for mid-career Black women STEM professionals looking to build wealth while supporting your loved ones: ➊. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 Empower yourself and your family with financial literacy. Don’t just give money without providing an opportunity to educate them on the importance and impact of their request. By understanding savings, investments, money mindset, cash flow planning, retirement, etc, you can make informed decisions that benefit everyone in the long run. ➋. 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 Create a separate account dedicated to supporting family members. Set up automatic transfers to ensure consistency in building this fund over time. This level of intentionality leads to less stress and anxiety thus alleviating the “element of surprise” associated with an “out of the blue” request from your loved one. ➌. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 Surround yourself with like-minded individuals who understand the unique challenges you face. A supportive community can provide valuable advice and encouragement along the way. ➍. 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 Consider seeking professional guidance from a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional who understands your goals and can help you create a solid financial strategy. ➎. 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐲 "𝐍𝐨" It's important to establish boundaries and prioritize your own financial well-being. Sometimes, saying "no" is necessary, and having a financial planner to lean on can provide a valid reason for declining requests. I have often told my clients who create a plan that it’s ok to “blame me” for why you have to decline their request this time. ➏. 𝐄𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 Take the time to review beneficiaries, as well as, life insurance needs and ensure your estate plan aligns with your wishes. After speaking with an estate planning attorney, you may realize you need a will or a trust. Planning ahead can provide peace of mind for both you and your loved ones. Understand this, building wealth is a journey, and it's essential to find the balance between supporting your family and securing your own financial future. Agree?

This is what good Indian women do. When I was in my early 20s, all of us were sold a story. The story of: - Growing up while learning cooking and all household chores. - Having an arranged marriage with the perfect one chosen for you. - Starting a family with that perfect one. - Maybe work (but be ready to quit for family) That was what society planned for me. That's what a "good Indian woman" was supposed to do. But guess what? I decided to write my own story. Instead of following that script: - I built a career that gives me financial freedom - I got promoted 4 times in 3 years to become a Director at University of Washington - I saved money and created passive income streams - I quit my 6-figure job to start my own business in USA - I chose to be both a mom and entrepreneur at the same time (Hello Mompreneurship!) - And yes, I buy my own jewelry! 💍 The best part? I'm helping other women break free from these old stories too. Every day, I work with women who are: - Stepping out of the "traditional role" box - Building careers they're proud of - Creating financial independence - Making their own choices You know what's fantastic? When you break one limiting belief, you start seeing all the other "rules" that were just stories someone else wrote for you. Here's what I learned: • Your dreams don't have to match society's expectations • Financial independence gives you the power to choose • You can be both a great mom and a successful leader • Traditional roles are suggestions, not rules • The best fairytale is the one you write yourself To every woman reading this: What old story are you ready to rewrite? #womenempowerment #careergrowth #indianwomenintech #mompreneurship

Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Mujeres 2,000 in Argentina 🇦🇷 Meeting Belén Burgstaller from Mujeres 2000 was so inspiring. ✨Their mission? Economic independence for women in vulnerable communities and they’re making it happen in a way that’s both transformative and sustainable. They go into popular barrios, villas, asentamientos, places where opportunities are hard to find but talent and resilience are abundant. Every Saturday morning, they create a space for entrepreneurial women to learn, grow, and build their businesses. Here’s how they do it: 1️⃣ Education: Courses on “How to Start My Business” to equip women with the knowledge to take the first step. 2️⃣ Mentorship & Microcredit: Personalized guidance and financial support to bring their ideas to life. 3️⃣ Visibility & Access: They don’t just teach them how to sell, they open doors, giving them the opportunity to showcase their products in companies across Buenos Aires. This year, they’ll train 200 women, 200 stories of resilience, empowerment, and new possibilities. These women are not just starting businesses; 🌟they’re breaking generational cycles, creating financial freedom, and proving that talent has no zip code🌟 Empowerment is not just about resources, it’s about access, belief, and community. Mujeres 2,000 is not just changing lives; they’re expanding horizons. To every woman pushing past barriers: Your talent deserves the world. Keep building. Keep growing. Keep going 💜 De-Ann Abraham 🌟🚀 #EmpowerWomen #Entrepreneurship #FinancialFreedom #Mujeres2000 #BreakingBarriers