08 - From Access to Agency: Rethinking Women’s Financial Empowerment in Asia

08 - From Access to Agency: Rethinking Women’s Financial Empowerment in Asia

For many women in Asia, accessing a bank account is still the first and hardest step. Yet, even when access is granted, the systems around them often fail to recognise women as decision-makers, entrepreneurs, or agents of change. In this episode, Halima Iqbal, founder and CEO of Oraan in Pakistan, and Veronica Colondam, founder and CEO of YCAB Foundation in Indonesia, explore how gender-responsive financial models can unlock intergenerational impact. From reimagining savings through tech to linking microloans with school attendance, they unpack what financial empowerment really looks like — and the blind spots that still remain in traditional inclusion efforts. We also hear how they’ve navigated gender bias, redefined who capital should serve, and what gives them hope about the future of women-led innovation in Asia.

07 - Designing Better Systems for Women’s Health: From Silence to Solutions

Women’s health is essential — so why is it still an afterthought in public health systems? In this episode, we sit down with Olivia Cotes-James, founder of Good Period, LUÜNA and AVPN Gender Equality Ambassador, and Shruti Lohia Hora, healthcare leader and member of the Asia Gender Network, to unpack the persistent gaps in how healthcare systems across Asia serve women. Together, they explore the stigma, system design flaws, and cultural blind spots that continue to undermine access to basic care — from menstruation to maternal health. Drawing from their own work and lived experiences, Olivia and Shruti offer insight into what real change looks like on the ground, and what it will take to make women’s health a true public health priority.

06 - Gender Equality as Systems Transformation: From Isolated Efforts to Integrated Impact

Gender inequality is a systems issue. Across Asia, women continue to face structural barriers shaped by disparities in health, education, digital access, caregiving, economic participation, and cultural norms. Yet across the region, leaders are working to reimagine these systems so women can thrive, participate meaningfully, and lead change within their communities and companies. In this episode, we speak with Patricia Dwyer, Founder of The Purpose Business and Gender Equality Ambassador at AVPN, and Shaifalika Panda, Founder & CEO of the Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation and Convener of the G-20 EMPOWER Working Group on Mentorship during India’s G-20 Presidency in 2023. Together, they explore how gender equality requires integrated solutions — from corporate strategy and purpose-driven leadership to community development, health, education, and digital inclusion. How can companies embed gender inclusion into long-term strategy rather than treat it as a standalone initiative? Why does community-driven development matter for women’s workforce participation? What makes mentorship ecosystems powerful tools for future readiness? And how can organisations design systems that lift women across the entire value chain? This episode dives into what it truly takes to move from fragmented efforts to generational change and why systems transformation is essential for meaningful and sustained gender equality.

05 - What’s Next?

In our bid to make as much progress as possible, it’s worth reminding ourselves that gender equality is a long-term quest. After all, given that it’s projected to take 131 years to close the global gender gap, legacy planning is key. Guests Mercedes Lopez Vargas, Marianna Vargas-Morada, and Rabea Nawaz join us to talk about next generation philanthropy and trends that will shape giving in the future.

04 - Who Sets These Rules?

The abolishment of child marriage. Equal representation in national parliaments. The end of discriminatory laws. These goals may seem like impossible dreams, so we’re doing a check-in to see how much progress we’ve made. Guests Radha Goenka, Mona Sinha and Kathleen Chew share their experience from working on the ground, and analyze the role policy has played in helping and hindering their work, drawing on key highlights from the recently released paper “The State of Gender Inclusion in Asia-Pacific’s Regulatory Landscape”.