International Day of Democracy: When Women Have a Voice, Democracy Works Better
By Blossom Ukoha Every year on 15 September, the world marks the International Day of Democracy, a day dedicated to one of the fundamental principles of modern governance: the right of people to participate in shaping the decisions that govern their lives. But democracy is more than elections, political parties and casting ballots. At its heart, it is about participation, representation, human rights, accountability and the ability of citizens to have a meaningful voice in public affairs. If half of the world’s population remains significantly underrepresented in positions where decisions are made, one question remains: Can democracy truly deliver for everyone when women are not equally represented? The United Nations established the International Day of Democracy through General Assembly Resolution A/RES/62/7, adopted by consensus on 8 November 2007, with the first observance taking place in 2008. The date also coincides with the anniversary of the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Universal Declaration on…
Chantal Umutoni Kagame: The Woman Who Turned Phones Into Bank Accounts for Millions
By Blossom Ukoha For millions of people, a mobile phone is simply a device for communication. In Rwanda, under the leadership of Chantal Umutoni…
Meet the Inventors Behind Wearables Designed Just for Women’s Bodies
By Blossom Ukoha For years, women have worn smartwatches that could count their steps, measure their heart rates and analyse their sleep, yet offered…
Campaigning as a Woman: The Costs Nobody Talks About
“Women themselves have not even understood that [violence] is not the cost of participating in politics.”— Sandra Pepera, National Democratic Institute Running for office…
Global Funding Windows Every Female Founder Should Know About
By Laura Jones “The deeper concern isn’t just that women receive only 2 percent of VC funding. It is that this 2 percent still…
International Literacy Day 2026: 60 Years On, the Fight for Women’s Literacy Continues
By Blossom Ukoha At 42, a woman in a rural community in northern Nigeria sits with a notebook on her lap, slowly tracing letters…
From Intern to CEO: Celebrating Karen Carter’s Historic New Chapter
By Blossom Ukoha “I am deeply honored to assume the role of CEO and lead Dow into our next chapter… Our focus remains unwavering:…
Heidi O’Neill Takes the Helm: Inside Lululemon’s New CEO Playbook
By Blossom Ukoha “As I step into the C.E.O. role in September, my job will be to build on that foundation — to accelerate…
The Working Woman’s Guide to a Home That Actually Relaxes You
After a long day of meetings, deadlines, emails, caregiving and countless decisions, coming home should feel like a release. Yet for many working women,…
Charlyne Brumskine: A New Voice for Justice on West Africa’s Regional Bench
By Blossom Ukoha “Today, I speak not as a woman who is a lawyer, I speak as a lawyer who happens to be a…
Ahunna Eziakonwa: The Nigerian Woman Taking Africa’s Voice to the UN’s Top Table
By Blossom Ukoha “Africa is shaped like a question mark, but it has the answer the world is looking for.” For Ahunna Eziakonwa, Africa is…
Destry Damayanti: The Woman Making History at Bank Indonesia
By Blossom Ukoha “I swear that I will carry out the duties and obligations of the BI Governor to the best of my ability…
