Over the five years Goldman has provided $100 million for its program ‘10,000 Women’. The program helps women to structure a business plan, learn accounting, market research, e-commerce, fund-raising and other necessary components of business.
The strategy of the program changes in line with the region. There are countries where attending school can be dangerous, e.g. Afghanistan. The Thunderbird School of Management, using Goldman funds, brings Afghan women to its Phoenix campus for five weeks of training. The bank also finances the training of local professors to teach business courses to women in Kabul.
Despite current financial slowdown Goldman continues to bring business education to 10,000 qualified women who own businesses in developing countries. According to Goldman’s research better women’s entrepreneurial and management skills could raise emerging markets by as much as 14%.
“This is still a small part of what we do,” says Laura Sanford, the foundation’s president. “But it’s an area that’s going to grow as it becomes more recognized that women are part of the economic landscape, and as business owners, they contribute to the economic welfare of their country.”
L.D.