Originally published in Mary Kay's 2024 Sustainability Report

In 2019, Mary Kay joined forces with six United Nations agencies to form a groundbreaking multi-stakeholder partnership: the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator also known as “WEA” with a mission focused on alleviating the barriers to women’s entrepreneurship. Learn more.

IMPACT OF THE WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACCELERATOR 

Since the launch, WEA has engaged:

• 600,000+ WOMEN through 32 programs, trainings and activities and sensitized over seven million people to its mission.
• 110+ PARTNERS in global and regional high-level events and programs.

Did you know?
In March 2019, Mary Kay took the first step in its Women’s Empowerment Principles journey, becoming a global signatory during the Commission on Status of Women (CSW63).

MARY KAY JOINS WEPS IN THE ASIA PACIFIC

On 2023 International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, Mary Kay Asia Pacific region joined the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). The WEPs provide a holistic framework for companies to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community and drive positive outcomes for society and business. In celebration, Mary Kay China released its first-ever WEPs report titled, “Thinking Like a Woman.”

Recognition: In November 2023, Mary Kay received a Gender Equality Award from the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) for the SDG Pilot Village Project in Waipula, China, launched in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in 2017.

WEA DIGITAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE

The objective of the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge was to build an enabling context for women entrepreneurs by addressing the barriers to women’s entrepreneurship, including the digital gender divide, complementing the theme of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) on innovation and technology from a gender perspective.

In March 2023, on the sidelines of CSW67, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Mary Kay Global, announced the ten winning companies of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA) Digital Innovation Challenge at a packed event hosted at the New York City MetLife headquarters.

In attendance were representatives of the United Nations, the private sector, investors, and civil society organizations.

By the numbers:

• 250 submissions from women-owned and -led startups received by International Telecommunication Union
• 54 countries represented
• 10 digital best practices selected
• Three special winners announced by Mary Kay during the Commission on Status of Women (CSW67)

Three startups, Tiny Totos, Gwiji for Women, and Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), were awarded Special Recognition status for their best-practice innovations.

“Tiny Totos is a Kenyan social enterprise solving Africa's childcare crisis by turning informal babysitters into profitable childcare entrepreneurs. The recognition and platform provided by the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge provides us with invaluable endorsement of our business model at the highest levels of global community practice. As female founders, membership of a community of like-minded digital entrepreneurs fuels our creativity and drive to transform Africa's informal childcare market, achieve exponential growth in our network of low-income childcare entrepreneurs and help working women lift themselves out of poverty.”
Emma Caddy, CEO and Founder, Tiny Totos

“The WEA Digital Innovation Challenge is a great platform to showcase our work towards female empowerment and to help women entrepreneurs expand their knowledge and networking opportunities. This is particularly needed in the health arena, since still today 1 in 2 people, or half the world, lack access to essential health care, and less than 2 percent of venture capital funding globally goes to women, despite the evidence that their ventures generate stronger returns. Women-owned/led startups face several barriers to success, including limited access to funding, networking opportunities, gender bias, and work-life balance issues. However, the rise of digital entrepreneurship presents real opportunities for women innovators to overcome such barriers, including access to global markets, support networks, and increasing awareness and recognition.”
Paula Navajas, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Health Innovation and Investment Exchange (HIEx)

“The WEA Digital Innovation Challenge gives women-led ventures a voice in a male-dominated space. The program is practical and tailor-made to suit the needs of early-stage ventures that address our society’s most pressing challenges. With every session, I feel more confident in my abilities as an entrepreneur and as a woman.”
Elizabeth Mwangi, Founder and Director, Gwiji for Women

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WEA DIGITAL CHALLENGE

Mary Kay

Mary Kay

One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty brand in Texas in 1963 with one goal: to enrich women’s lives. That dream has blossomed into a global company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 40 markets. For over 60 years, the Mary Kay opportunity has empowered women to define their own futures through education, mentorship, advocacy, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in preserving our planet for future generations, protecting women impacted by cancer and domestic abuse, and encouraging youth to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or follow us on X. 

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