Women's World Banking 338d ago

The 2025 Global Findex is here—and it’s making headlines. In this special episode, Women’s World Banking President & CEO Mary Ellen Iskenderian joins Leora Klapper, Lead Economist at the World Bank and architect of the Findex, for an exclusive first look at what the data reveals about women’s financial inclusion worldwide. From headline-making gains to hidden inequalities, this conversation breaks down the most important findings and why they matter for the future of women’s economic empowerment. Don’t miss this urgent, insightful dialogue on what’s really changing—and where there is still work to do. Guests Leora Klapper, Lead Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank She is a founder of the Global Findex database, co-editor of the World Bank Economic Review, and was Director of the 2022 World Development Report Finance for an Equitable Recovery. She has published widely in refereed journals on corporate and household finance, fintech, banking, and entrepreneurship. Her current research studies the impact of digital financial services, especially for women. Previously, she worked at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and Salomon Smith Barney. She holds a Ph.D. in Financial Economics from New York University Stern School of Business. Host Mary Ellen Iskenderian, President & CEO, Women’s World Banking Mary Ellen Iskenderian is President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, a global nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in financial access for the nearly one billion women excluded from the formal financial sector. Since joining in 2006, she has led its global team in designing innovative financial solutions, shaping policy, and investing in institutions that serve women—advancing both workplace equity and customer inclusion. A passionate advocate for women’s economic empowerment, Mary Ellen urges the financial industry to recognize low-income women as a powerful and underserved market. She is the author of There’s Nothing Micro About a Billion Women (MIT Press), and her thought leadership spans financial inclusion, climate resilience, and economic justice. Previously, she spent 17 years at the International Finance Corporation and worked at Lehman Brothers. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, sits on the Hewlett Foundation Board, and contributes to global councils at the World Economic Forum and Milken Institute. Download the latest 2025 Global Findex: https://www.worldbank.org/en/publication/globalfindex