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Sustainability leaders must balance big picture, aspirational goals with practical solutions that meet customers’ needs. Remarkably, one of the most consistent needs from customers is clean, available water. So what role should water play in sustainability strategy?

In this episode of the Healthy Spaces podcast, Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Ecolab, joins host Scott Tew for a conversation about the impact of climate change on our water, the importance of including water stewardship in sustainability targets and the ways in which industries can collaborate to deliver innovative solutions that are good for business, people and the planet. 

Listen to the full episode to learn more about how the power of technology and collaboration are helping build a cleaner and more resilient global water supply – and why it matters.

Episode Guests 

Host: Dominique Silva, Marketing Leader EMEA, Trane Technologies 
Host: Scott Tew, VP Sustainability, Trane Technologies 
Guest: Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Ecolab

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Transcript

[00:00:06] Dominique: 2023 was the hottest year on record, according to NASA. And if we don’t reduce carbon emissions, we will experience more and more record-breaking temperatures. But heat waves are not the only phenomena caused by climate change.

[00:00:22] Dominique: It has wider ranging effects, too.

[00:00:25] Emilio: Climate change is happening, but it’s also being expressed through water. In many ways, we don’t raise water up the ladder of challenges that we need to manage or mitigate or adapt to. And so, I feel that this has broad implications for businesses and communities that we live in.

[00:00:43] Dominique: You just heard from Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Ecolab. And I’m Dominique Silva, and you’re listening to Healthy Spaces, the podcast exploring how technology and innovation are transforming the spaces where we live, learn, work, and play.

[00:01:02] Dominique: In this episode, co-host Scott Tew sits down with Emilio to discuss why water scarcity is such a threat. And how Ecolab is forming coalitions to find solutions and improve resiliency. We’ll find out how companies are challenging their industries and policy makers to hold more accountability and adopt scalable solutions for our climate.

AUDIO PROMPT – MUSIC FADE OUT

[00:01:33] Dominique: First, let’s hear from Emilio on what he does and how Ecolab is drawing attention to the connection between climate and water.

[00:01:42] Emilio: I spent the last 13 years focused on building our sustainability and impact at Ecolab and our strategy really around how we operationalize climate and water around the company which is obviously a core part of our strategy. But for Ecolab our purpose of the company is really to protect what is vital to life. And so, for us a lot of the work that I do is focused on not only the traditional things that we do as chief sustainability officers within our operations and enterprise, but also working with customers because our business strategy focuses on the water and climate and hygiene impact that we can have with our customers. So, I do spend quite a bit of time really focused on working with some of the biggest brands in the world really helping them achieve their business and sustainability goals. And last point, so the Ecolab foundation and community giving team is also part of sustainability. And I think it’s important for our audience to know that part of the climate and water discussion is also about understanding the social value of water and climate stewardship, right? And I think that’s a big part of where we’ve gone with the foundation to really drive that going beyond environmental, but how does the environmental enable social benefits with communities around the world.

[00:03:09] Scott: You’ve mentioned several phrases that I want to explore a bit in more depth. One of those is you keep mentioning climate and water, and I’m not sure that the audience quite understands or sees a connection there. I read something recently, the World Economic Forum, WEF, put out a paper that said that 80 percent of publicly listed companies have a climate goal, but 5 percent have biodiversity goals, and I know you keep mentioning a phrase, climate and water. Can you make the connection for the audience?

[00:03:41] Emilio: We keep seeing the climate is changing rapidly, and the impacts are felt around the world. And in many ways, the way we’re feeling that impact is really expressed through water. If you think about the extreme weather events, droughts, heat waves we’ve had in Europe, the flooding challenges, and a number of other issues that we see that really are representative of the fact that climate change is happening, but it’s also being expressed through water. In many ways, we don’t raise water up the ladder of challenges that we need to manage or mitigate or adapt to. And so, I feel that this has broad implications for businesses and communities that we live in. And so, we at Ecolab, like Trane, have set bold, ambitious climate targets in line with the science-based target initiative. A 1.5-degree pathway. And in many ways, we’ve also are experiencing along the way, the challenges that we face around water quality, quantity, and access. And so, the world, according to the World Resource Institute, we’ll have a 56 percent water deficit, supply deficit if we keep at business as usual. That has really big implications. Today, 3 billion people live in water stress conditions and one in ten lack access to clean water and sanitation. So, what does this all mean is that we’re really, if we’re going to attack a climate strategy and have a very robust strategy around what we need to do to mitigate and adapt to climate, it’s really about also implementing a water stewardship strategy that namely, I often talk about this, Scott, that when you think of manufacturing 75 percent of the energy that flows through a manufacturer, depending on that type of industry, is connected to their water systems. You have to pump, treat, cool, heat water and that takes energy. And so, in many ways, we feel that in order to have a robust climate strategy you really need to implement a water stewardship strategy that also has broad implications in a community where you operate because obviously you mentioned the word nature. There’s also the degradation that we’re seeing because of the water challenges where nature is actually impacted and the ecosystems that we depend on for our feedstock, if you’re in the food and beverage industry or in pharma or life sciences, they’re at risk. And then, that also is a risk for those organizations where water is a dependency. So, water obviously being used to make in this case for Ecolab the products that in technology and solutions we sell to our customers every day.

AUDIO PROMPT – MUSIC FADE IN

[00:06:26] Dominique: These solutions which Ecolab is exploring aren’t just for internal use. Their plan is much broader, and it aims to get businesses and industries rethinking their own water usage so that they can build resilience and have a net positive effect on the environment. And one way Ecolab is promoting this conversation is through the Water Resilience Coalition.

AUDIO PROMPT – MUSIC FADE OUT

[00:06:56] Emilio: There’s three things. We have the technology of today. You don’t have to go to the moon to solve the water and climate crisis. The second is water and climate are linked as we just talked about, and the third is you can’t do it alone. Ecolab is a founding member, and we’re proud of this, of the Water Resilience Coalition. And we also helped launch this past year, the California Water Resilience Initiative, which will be another opportunity, I think, for another podcast. But what we’re saying by doing this is really saying that the Water Resilience Coalition is an industry to really drive the priority of the corporate agenda for CEOs who have risk that they’re facing related to water based on global operations. And so, there’s 37 member companies with a market cap of about 4.7 trillion. And these companies are committed to achieving what they refer to as a Net positive water impact by 2030, which essentially is this, it’s giving back to the watershed that we’re operating in more than we’re taking from it. And that’s important because water being hyper localized, we’re working in watersheds where water stress would be quantity, quality, or access is a big issue. And so, we have a part to play in the private sector to join forces with the UN global compact, who’s the organization that actually facilitates the Water Resilience Coalition, and the open call to action, which really was announced in 2023 at the first UN water conference in nearly 50 years, by the way. But one of the things they talked about is we need an open call to action for increased public private partnerships to converge in 100 priority basins around the world that are contributing to water security for 3 billion people. That is a big, big, big deal. And I think one that we need to really leverage the power of collaboration to solve. And that’s why the goal of the Water Resilience Coalition being at 37 companies today is to get to 150 companies where we found that if you get to the 150 largest water users and their supply chain, that’ll impact one third of the freshwater use on the planet. So, as you can see, industry has a big role to play.

[00:09:17] Scott: And part of your role, Emilio, has been to get the word out and to build these avenues of information. I have not read the study yet, but I want to ask you about it. The Ecolab Watermark Study. You issued it, I think, last year, and it’s another example of your work to help others understand the issue of access to fresh and clean water. Why would Ecolab and your team work on a study like this one?

[00:9:43] Emilio: Well, you and I, I think have for years worked together about different stakeholders that we’re trying to reach, one being investors for example. That has been obviously a big focus for many companies. And so, we get to learn more and more about what are the things that they really care about to keeps some up at night. What we found is that for consumer companies and B2C companies that there is a consumer, an end user here, that also really is getting concerned about the challenges they’re seeing around the environmental issues around the world, namely climate pollution. And in this case, water, and we were interested in getting kind of a what is the sentiment of consumers today. And in 2023, we launched this study that showed that water impacts really three key points. I’ll just share them. One is that through these thousands of interviews that were done in nine markets around the world that what we found is that clean available water was paramount to consumers above, are you ready for this? Climate and pollution. Now part of why we think that is because we think that climate change, as you know, even though we’re seeing the effects in some regions more than others, is a bit of a slow drip right? And so, with clean water, it’s immediate. And we’ve seen this in places around the world where they face these immediate challenges. The second was they hold businesses and government responsible for addressing water conservation. And then the third is something you and I’ve talked about is that consumers are a bit cynical, right? The fact that companies are setting these bold ambitious goals, but do they really have a plan to achieve them? And I think these are the three really key points that came out of that study, and we’re going to continue. It’ll be a perennial survey that we do that really reflects on what is that consumer sentiment when it comes to these issues that we care about related to climate and water.

[00:11:51] Scott: And I guess you’ll use a study like this, Emilio, to sort of map out your actions going forward, right?

[00:11:58] Emilio: That is correct. It really supports, well, as you know, we have our 2030 impact goals that are focused on our ability to commercially develop solutions that own not only propel our business strategy and growth, but also how we impact the planet and the implications to society. And so, to us, this is at the heart of that. And I feel like it’s really important to our work as a company.

[00:12:27] Dominique: As we just heard, Ecolab and the Water Resilience Coalition are making waves and changing attitudes towards water usage. We conclude this episode by finding out what other collaborations Emilio is working on.

[00:12:44] Emilio: The Water Resilience Coalition, we mentioned the California Water Resilience Initiative, the only reason I somewhat go there is because it is one that is about a year old, Scott, and we’ve launched it namely because the state of California and the governor, Governor Newsom’s, water plan in California, which was launched in 2022 and they just had an update about a year ago. There’s a 10 percent water deficit that the science is telling us that will be experienced in California by 2040. So no longer the puts and takes are going to balance. And so, that is a big deal. And so, we’ve launched this California Water Resilience Initiative with many other big brands, General Mills being one of the other co-leads. We’ve got Amazon and others, Walmart involved. The reason we’re bringing this to the forefront is because, again, the private sector and the public sector need to work together to really solve this. And many of us have operations in what is the number one economy in the U.S., right? Number five globally. So, it’s an economic powerhouse and we’re hosting an annual meeting in Sacramento. There’ll be about well over a hundred attendees in Sacramento to really talk about the roadmap in terms of the plans and the projects that we’re implementing in the state of California with the state government.

[00:14:05] Scott: And how can listeners find out more about that? Is it on a website somewhere?

[00:14:10] Emilio: Yeah, if you go to California Water Resilience Initiative.com. You’ll find it. We are excited about this, Scott. It is one that I think will have a big impact, especially when you think about the economic powerhouse that California is.

[00:14:28] Dominique: A big thank you to Emilio for joining us on today’s episode, where we learned about the relationship between the changing climate and water scarcity. At Trane Technologies, we believe that every job is a sustainability job, and every role provides an opportunity for impact. That’s why each week on the podcast, we’ll feature how someone is building healthy spaces in their organization or community.

[00:14:55] Dominique: This week, we’re sharing a submission from Barbara Andreassend, Tax Manager at Trane Technologies in Brussels. Barbara is making her workplace more sustainable by leading efforts to cut down on plastic and paper waste at the office, and she’s encouraging everyone to join in through fun awareness campaigns.

[00:15:17] Dominique: She’s also organized neighborhood cleanup events where coworkers and their families come together to make a difference. More recently, Barbara teamed up with a local non-profit which supports youth refugees called SB Overseas. Together, they planted hundreds of trees in the outskirts of Brussels.

[00:15:37] Dominique: Barbara, thank you for all the energy you bring into making your workplace and community a healthier place to work and live.

[00:15:46] Dominique: Would you like to share how you’re building healthy spaces too? Well, to share your story, you can visit us at tranetechnologies.com/healthyspacespodcast. Thank you for listening in to the Healthy Spaces podcast, where we explore how climate technology and innovation are transforming the spaces where we live, work, learn, and play.

[00:16:08] Dominique: If you want to find out more about our conversation today make sure you check out the show notes and remember to rate and review us in your favorite podcast app. That’s it for today’s episode. We’ll see you next time.

AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG, OAKLAND, Calif., September 10, 2024 /3BL/ – Colin Browne, new CEO of the global nonprofit alliance Cascale, today unveiled critical insights to help the industry take a more targeted approach to decarbonization. Addressing over 600 leaders across the textile, apparel, and wider consumer goods industry, Browne used his first Annual Meeting as CEO to set out practical, strategic data-driven solutions – including an intensified focus on “industry hotspots” where major reductions can be achieved.

Browne presented new analysis from Cascale’s partner, RESET Carbon, which used data from Cascale’s Higg Index, exclusively available on Worldly, to show that 1,500 manufacturing facilities in nine countries account for 80 percent of the textile and apparel industry’s carbon emissions.

Cascale has already set a 45 percent reduction target for the textile, apparel, and footwear industry by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement. With the industry behind on progress to achieve this, Browne called for an intensified focus on critical areas the data uncovers:

“The reality is that the consumer goods industry is not doing enough to combat climate change. With new data demonstrating a stark concentration of climate impact, we must direct action to where it matters most. We have to focus on the Industry Strategic Supplier hotspots. There is no path to achieving our 45 percent reduction target that doesn’t involve these 1,500 facilities.”

To help accelerate data-driven change, Cascale is working with its partners Apparel Impact Institute and RESET Carbon to build an Industry Decarbonization Roadmap, supporting suppliers to reduce their emissions in a targeted way.

Now four months into his role, Browne spoke of his ambition and confidence: “I’m more optimistic today than I was 120 days ago. We have the technical knowledge, the capability and the tools to ensure a much more sustainable industry. But do we have the courage, the capacity and the commitment to follow through? I’m confident we do, and I urge every leader across the industry to step up. If not now then when? While we support our members with practical tools and techniques to help them decarbonize, we also constantly challenge them to do better.”

Browne acknowledged that Cascale has work to do to drive the scale of change it wants to see among its members. As part of Cascale’s membership requirements, corporate members must now join the organization’s Decarbonization Program and set science-based targets (SBTs) or science-aligned targets (SATs). In 2023, 59.7 percent of Cascale corporate members had either set or begun the process of setting SBTs or SATs – a 28.9 percent increase from the previous year.

Browne continued: “Cascale data shows there is a long road ahead. We found that within our membership, 33 percent of brands and 54 percent of manufacturers haven’t set Science-Based Targets. That needs to change. More importantly, brands and suppliers need to work in tandem to transform their Tier 2, which is the single most important source of carbon emissions. Setting an SBT without close consultation with one’s supply chain is unacceptable and irresponsible given the near-term deadline of 2030. But, with the right actionable data and mutual support, there is hope – as we uncover at this Annual Meeting.”

Today’s speeches form part of two days of action-orientated programming to help achieve a more sustainable and equitable future. The first Annual Meeting since Cascale – previously the Sustainable Apparel Coalition – rebranded in February 2024, it marks a major milestone in the organisation’s evolution.

Themed “A New Era of Unified Impact,” the event unites over 600 attendees from around the world, who will hear from more than 80 global industry experts. To learn more and view the program for Cascale’s Annual Meeting 2024 sponsored by Nike, VF Corporation, Zalando, Sympatex, Lululemon, TÜV Rheinland, Haelixa, TrusTrace, Puma, CottonConnect, GSCS International, IDFL, Artistic Milliners, Made2Flow and REN energy, click here.

– Ends –

Cascale Press Contact

Email: cascaleforster@forster.co.uk

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Spanning over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe, we are united by a singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index and a unified strategy for industry transformation.

LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG, OAKLAND, Calif., September 10, 2024 /3BL/ – Colin Browne, new CEO of the global nonprofit alliance Cascale, today unveiled critical insights to help the industry take a more targeted approach to decarbonization. Addressing over 600 leaders across the textile, apparel, and wider consumer goods industry, Browne used his first Annual Meeting as CEO to set out practical, strategic data-driven solutions – including an intensified focus on “industry hotspots” where major reductions can be achieved.

Browne presented new analysis from Cascale’s partner, RESET Carbon, which used data from Cascale’s Higg Index, exclusively available on Worldly, to show that 1,500 manufacturing facilities in nine countries account for 80 percent of the textile and apparel industry’s carbon emissions.

Cascale has already set a 45 percent reduction target for the textile, apparel, and footwear industry by 2030, in line with the Paris Agreement. With the industry behind on progress to achieve this, Browne called for an intensified focus on critical areas the data uncovers:

“The reality is that the consumer goods industry is not doing enough to combat climate change. With new data demonstrating a stark concentration of climate impact, we must direct action to where it matters most. We have to focus on the Industry Strategic Supplier hotspots. There is no path to achieving our 45 percent reduction target that doesn’t involve these 1,500 facilities.”

To help accelerate data-driven change, Cascale is working with its partners Apparel Impact Institute and RESET Carbon to build an Industry Decarbonization Roadmap, supporting suppliers to reduce their emissions in a targeted way.

Now four months into his role, Browne spoke of his ambition and confidence: “I’m more optimistic today than I was 120 days ago. We have the technical knowledge, the capability and the tools to ensure a much more sustainable industry. But do we have the courage, the capacity and the commitment to follow through? I’m confident we do, and I urge every leader across the industry to step up. If not now then when? While we support our members with practical tools and techniques to help them decarbonize, we also constantly challenge them to do better.”

Browne acknowledged that Cascale has work to do to drive the scale of change it wants to see among its members. As part of Cascale’s membership requirements, corporate members must now join the organization’s Decarbonization Program and set science-based targets (SBTs) or science-aligned targets (SATs). In 2023, 59.7 percent of Cascale corporate members had either set or begun the process of setting SBTs or SATs – a 28.9 percent increase from the previous year.

Browne continued: “Cascale data shows there is a long road ahead. We found that within our membership, 33 percent of brands and 54 percent of manufacturers haven’t set Science-Based Targets. That needs to change. More importantly, brands and suppliers need to work in tandem to transform their Tier 2, which is the single most important source of carbon emissions. Setting an SBT without close consultation with one’s supply chain is unacceptable and irresponsible given the near-term deadline of 2030. But, with the right actionable data and mutual support, there is hope – as we uncover at this Annual Meeting.”

Today’s speeches form part of two days of action-orientated programming to help achieve a more sustainable and equitable future. The first Annual Meeting since Cascale – previously the Sustainable Apparel Coalition – rebranded in February 2024, it marks a major milestone in the organisation’s evolution.

Themed “A New Era of Unified Impact,” the event unites over 600 attendees from around the world, who will hear from more than 80 global industry experts. To learn more and view the program for Cascale’s Annual Meeting 2024 sponsored by Nike, VF Corporation, Zalando, Sympatex, Lululemon, TÜV Rheinland, Haelixa, TrusTrace, Puma, CottonConnect, GSCS International, IDFL, Artistic Milliners, Made2Flow and REN energy, click here.

– Ends –

Cascale Press Contact

Email: cascaleforster@forster.co.uk

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering collaboration to drive equitable and restorative business practices in the consumer goods industry. Spanning over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe, we are united by a singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale owns and develops the Higg Index and a unified strategy for industry transformation.

LinkedIn | X | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

Register Here

A meningitis outbreak in an under-served neighborhood left Sylvia Acevedo’s family forever altered. As she struggled in the aftermath of loss, young Sylvia was at a crossroads. Joining the Brownies transformed her life. Through the Girl Scouts, she found empowerment as her love of numbers and science was nurtured and she learned how to take control of her world.

Sylvia became one of the first Hispanics to graduate with a master’s degree in engineering from Stanford University. She went on to become a rocket scientist.

The path to success is rarely smooth. Sylvia’s was filled with humbling experiences, stumbles, and invaluable lessons. Hear Sylvia’s remarkable journey from the dirt streets of New Mexico to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the executive ranks of technology leaders including Apple, Dell, and IBM.

Join PNC for this special Hispanic Heritage Month event and hear about Sylvia’s experience in technology, entrepreneurship, Girl Scouts, STEM, innovation, leadership and the pursuit of excellence.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

1–2 PM ET | 12 CT | 11 MT | 10 PT

Presenter

Sylvia Acevedo 
Rocket Scientist 
Former CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA

Sylvia Acevedo is an eminent leader who has made an enduring impact across diverse industries, excelling in both corporate and public sectors as a pioneering trailblazer.

Beginning her career as a rocket scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Sylvia’s journey took her through executive roles at renowned companies such as Apple, Autodesk, Dell, and IBM. From 2016 to 2020, she was the CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA, modernizing the organization with over 146 new badges and programs in STEM, outdoors, entrepreneurship, and civics. Under her leadership, over 1 million STEM badges were earned by girls across diverse communities.

Sylvia authored the bestselling memoir, ‘Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist,’ promoting perseverance and self-determination.

She holds a bachelor’s degree with Honors in Industrial Engineering from New Mexico State University and a master’s engineering graduate degree from Stanford University, where she was one of the first Hispanics, to earn such a degree. Sylvia was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Washington College, and in 2022, Duke University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Science.

Opening Remarks

Luisa Gaviño-Martinez 
PNC Commercial Banking 
Austin Market Leader

Luisa Gaviño-Martinez is a Commercial Banking Market Leader with PNC. She is a financial services industry veteran, serving the local community for over 20 years. In her current role, Luisa oversees the Commercial Banking team which serves businesses in Central Texas with revenues between $5 million and $50 million. The team delivers PNC’s full suite of services and provides insight into the technologies, products, and processes that support customers’ financial priorities.

Luisa holds a B.A. in Sociology and in U.S. Latino Studies and an M.A. in Organizational Studies from Stanford University. She is a graduate of Leadership Austin, Hispanic Austin Leadership & Wells Fargo Latino Leaders Program. Luisa has held various leadership roles within the Austin community including serving on the board of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Girl Scouts of Central Texas, El Buen Samaritano, Peoplefund, Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) and the Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas (HWNT Austin). She also currently serves as Treasurer of PNC’s Austin Latino EBRG and is a member of the regional D&I Council.

Luisa is originally from Guadalajara, Mexico. She is married to Carlos Martinez who is a native Texan and also a Stanford grad. They have 2 children, Tyler, 15, and Akano,13. The family enjoys going to the movies and traveling together.

Moderator

JP Ramirez 
PNC Client & Community Relations Director 
Houston Market

JP Ramirez is the Client & Community Relations Director for PNC in Houston. In this role, JP oversees the PNC’s marketing, branding and philanthropic efforts while leading the Client and Community Relations team across Greater Houston. JP has over 17 years of marketing, sponsorship, and community engagement experience in financial services. Previously, JP was the Marketing Director for Northern Trust in Houston, where he also served as marketing team leader for the Texas region.

JP serves on the board of Children’s Museum Houston and Discovery Green Conservancy, a 12-acre park in the middle of Downtown Houston created by a public-private partnership.

JP has previously served as the Chapter Leader and Board Member for the Beverly Hills Literary Society. He also served on the board of St. Barnabas Senior Services in Los Angeles, which serves a diverse community of older adults to Live Well, Feel Well and Age Well in the community. In 2022, JP was a member of the American Heart Association Houston’s Leaders for Life program in support of the Houston Heart Ball.

JP earned his B.S. in management from National University in San Diego and his certificate in Digital Marketing from UCLA Extension in Los Angeles.

JP and his partner Chris live in the Woodcrest neighborhood near Memorial Park in Houston since 2021. When not working they enjoy spending time at Houston’s incredible parks, bike trails and cultural institutions.

Closing Remarks

Fidelma Leonor Fariñas-Cobas 
Senior Vice President 
Head of PNC Private Bank Multinational Client Strategy

Fidelma Leonor Fariñas-Cobas is a senior vice president and Head of Multinational Client Strategy for PNC Private Bank, Hawthorn. She oversees a team of professionals that support clients with multinational concerns ranging from foreign business ownership to pre-immigration planning and estate planning across global tax jurisdictions.

Through Fidelma’s leadership and commitment, she helps ensure PNC’s clients benefit from a full complement of banking and investment solutions. Alongside her cross-disciplinary team, they deliver investment, trust, financial planning, and private banking services to support their clients’ growth through every stage of their global business and personal financial goals. She previously served as Market Leader for the Miami International Private Bank office.

Prior to joining PNC, Fidelma was a senior investment consultant at City National Rochdale. In that role, she engaged independent advisors in the South Florida and Puerto Rico markets in the analysis, design, and implementation of customized portfolios for their high-net-worth investors.

Fidelma graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and literature of Latin America from Harvard University and with a Master of Business Administration degree in international finance from The University of Miami.

She is passionate about working with students in her community and volunteers at schools to educate students about careers in the financial services industry. She is active with the Harvard Club, conducting alumni-interviews for undergraduate candidates, and volunteers as a cantor at St. Agnes Catholic Church.

WASHINGTON, September 9, 2024 /3BL/ – The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) is pleased to announce the semifinalists for its first round of awards. This diverse group of twenty entities represents a range of exceptional work being done in sixteen countries around the world to address gender digital inequities and connect women with technology in meaningful and sustainable ways.

“These semifinalists represent the future: putting resources and support in the hands of the local organizations best placed to define and deliver lasting solutions. By supporting locally-led efforts, we hope WiDEF not only significantly improves women’s inclusion in the digital economy but also provides a model for putting localization at the center of digital inclusion efforts more broadly.” said Dr. Revi Sterling, WiDEF Technical Director.

The call for proposals received over 1350 applications from 98 countries, showcasing the urgency of addressing digital inclusion and the remarkable efforts being made in local communities. In the semifinalist list, 85 percent are women-led organizations, reflecting WiDEF’s commitment to support women-led and gender transformative solutions and ensure the voices and institutions closest to the gender digital divide are central to the effort. The semifinalists work to tackle major barriers to equitable digital inclusion such as access to affordable devices and online experiences; availability of relevant products and tools; digital literacy and skills; safety and security; and restrictive social norms. The group was selected through a rigorous, multi-stage process including an external selection panel of industry experts. Each semifinalist rose to the top based on the clarity of the solution they proposed, the potential for impact at scale and the evidence of previous impact of their approaches.

Dr. Karen Smit, Accessibility Lead at Vodacom and WiDEF Advisory Council member noted, “we are delighted about this range of projects and programs as they will enhance women’s participation in digital society and in doing so, narrow the gender digital divide.”

The WiDEF Round 1 Semifinalists are:

BASAbali Wiki (Indonesia): BASABali is closing the gender digital divide through civic engagement via the BASAbali wiki. The BASABali “wikithons” aim to draw young women and marginalized populations into policy discussions. The program has already reached 4 million youth users.

CITAD (Nigeria): CITAD is tackling the gender digital divide in northern Nigeria by enhancing young people’s digital skills, expanding their access to the Internet, and advocating for policies and practices that promote gender equality and inclusive civic engagement.

CIRCLE Women’s Association (Pakistan): CIRCLE is focused on deploying Generative AI solutions and IVR-based digital training. Their approach includes delivering personalized, voice-based GenAI solutions in Urdu via basic mobile phones, increasing accessibility for women who do not own smartphones.

DEMO (Pakistan): DEMO is addressing Pakistan’s gender digital divide by providing digital entrepreneurial training to 10,000 female university students in remote and underserved regions, aiming to empower women and ensure financial independence.

DOT Kenya (Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda): Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), Kenya’s “Digital Skills at Scale” initiative, aims to empower 10,000 young women in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda with digital and entrepreneurial skills, addressing socioeconomic barriers and safety concerns, as well as fostering leadership through “Digital Champions” to drive community change.

Ensibuuko (Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana): Ensibuuko will digitize Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana by creating 5,000 digital savings groups led by young women with aspirations to empower 125,000 members with improved financial management and opportunities through digital innovation.

Gerege Systems (Mongolia): Gerege Systems LLC’s Digital Nomad Platform aims to empower women-led businesses in Mongolia by bridging the digital gender divide and formalizing informal labor. The platform, accessible via app, website, kiosks, and POS systems nationwide, offers features like B2B networking, digital and financial literacy training, mental health support, and financial inventory management.

Hacey Health Initiatives (Nigeria): HACEY Health Initiative’s FEED intervention empowers marginalized women in Nigeria’s Niger and Ogun states by providing digital literacy training, financial services access, and business development support, aiming to bridge the gender digital divide and enhance economic empowerment in rural and peri-urban areas.

KICTANet (Kenya): KICTANet’s “Empowering Kenya Rural Women Through Digital Literacy” program aims to boost digital inclusion for marginalized women in 21 rural counties by providing digital literacy training, affordable loans for devices, and comprehensive support.

New Sun Road (Guatemala): New Sun Road’s Digital Community Centers (DCCs) are set to empower approximately 250,000 indigenous Guatemalan women by providing electrification, internet access, and digital literacy training in both Spanish and Mayan languages to remote communities, addressing barriers of isolation, education, and representation in the digital economy.

Pathway Technologies and Services Limited (Nepal): This program aims to reduce the digital gender gap among rural and marginalized women farmers in Nepal by increasing access to affordable, safe, and innovative digital platforms to enhance farm production, market linkages, and profit generation

Player First Limited / MESH (Kenya): Player First Limited/MESH’s Bridging the Gender Digital Divide (BGDD) program seeks to empower female-led informal micro-businesses in Kenya by providing an online community platform for marketing, financial management, and customer engagement for young entrepreneurs.

Smart Regional Consultants (Kenya): Smart Regional Consultants (SRC) aims to bridge Northern Kenya’s digital gender divide by enhancing economic opportunities for rural women through digital literacy programs, leveraging five existing incubation centers, and influencing policy for a more inclusive digital economy.

Tech Project Women (Nigeria): Tech Project Women, a feminist organization in Nigeria, seeks to enhance the personal and societal development of women and girls in peri-urban communities by improving digital skills, financial inclusion, and employability, while also addressing online harassment and gender-based violence.

Think Web (Indonesia): Think Web’s “Digital Advancement Program for Women” in East Indonesia aims to bridge the gender digital divide by enhancing education, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship skills among women, including those with disabilities, to thrive in the digital age.

El Proyecto Hambre (The Hunger Project) (Mexico, Malawi, Ghana): El Proyecto Hambre’s program “Empowering the Digitally Underserved” (EDU) program works to bridge the digital divide for indigenous persons, women, and people with disabilities in Mexico, Malawi and Ghana. The program focuses on increasing internet access and promoting participation in the digital economy.

WIT Uganda (Uganda): Women in Technology Uganda is scaling its digital literacy program with a Zero-Rated Work Opportunity Aggregation Platform to connect women with local and international job opportunities, using AI for job matching and gig platforms to enhance employability and digital economy participation.

Women in Digital (Bangladesh): Women in Digital aims to train and empower 20,000 women and girls in Bangladesh with ICT skills, from entry-level to advanced, while creating a database to connect them with employers, thereby improving digital inclusion, economic security, and resilience.

WOUGNET (Uganda): Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) has launched a feminist-led digital hub in Northern Uganda to address the challenges women and girls face in utilizing ICT tools. Through the hub, WOUGNET is implementing ICT development projects in areas such as agriculture, good governance, and online safety.

Zimba Women (Uganda): Building on a successful partnership with the Uganda Communications Commision, Zimba Women will implement a 24-month program in Northern and Eastern Uganda to enhance digital and financial literacy, offering workshops and training in local languages to women aged 15-45, addressing barriers to access exacerbated by conflict and natural disasters.

WiDEF will announce the final awardees of this inaugural round of funding later this year.

For organizations interested in WiDEF assistance, the fund is currently accepting applications from private enterprises seeking technical assistance in their efforts to close the gender digital divide. More information can be found at https://widef.global/funding.

About WiDEF

The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) is a joint effort between USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate progress on closing the gender digital divide. WiDEF identifies, directly funds, and accelerates investment in proven solutions to close the gender digital divide, improving women’s livelihoods, economic security, and resilience. WiDEF is managed by CARE, the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership, and GSMA.

For all inquiries, please contact: learnmore@widef.global and usa.media@care.org

WASHINGTON, September 9, 2024 /3BL/ – The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) is pleased to announce the semifinalists for its first round of awards. This diverse group of twenty entities represents a range of exceptional work being done in sixteen countries around the world to address gender digital inequities and connect women with technology in meaningful and sustainable ways.

“These semifinalists represent the future: putting resources and support in the hands of the local organizations best placed to define and deliver lasting solutions. By supporting locally-led efforts, we hope WiDEF not only significantly improves women’s inclusion in the digital economy but also provides a model for putting localization at the center of digital inclusion efforts more broadly.” said Dr. Revi Sterling, WiDEF Technical Director.

The call for proposals received over 1350 applications from 98 countries, showcasing the urgency of addressing digital inclusion and the remarkable efforts being made in local communities. In the semifinalist list, 85 percent are women-led organizations, reflecting WiDEF’s commitment to support women-led and gender transformative solutions and ensure the voices and institutions closest to the gender digital divide are central to the effort. The semifinalists work to tackle major barriers to equitable digital inclusion such as access to affordable devices and online experiences; availability of relevant products and tools; digital literacy and skills; safety and security; and restrictive social norms. The group was selected through a rigorous, multi-stage process including an external selection panel of industry experts. Each semifinalist rose to the top based on the clarity of the solution they proposed, the potential for impact at scale and the evidence of previous impact of their approaches.

Dr. Karen Smit, Accessibility Lead at Vodacom and WiDEF Advisory Council member noted, “we are delighted about this range of projects and programs as they will enhance women’s participation in digital society and in doing so, narrow the gender digital divide.”

The WiDEF Round 1 Semifinalists are:

BASAbali Wiki (Indonesia): BASABali is closing the gender digital divide through civic engagement via the BASAbali wiki. The BASABali “wikithons” aim to draw young women and marginalized populations into policy discussions. The program has already reached 4 million youth users.

CITAD (Nigeria): CITAD is tackling the gender digital divide in northern Nigeria by enhancing young people’s digital skills, expanding their access to the Internet, and advocating for policies and practices that promote gender equality and inclusive civic engagement.

CIRCLE Women’s Association (Pakistan): CIRCLE is focused on deploying Generative AI solutions and IVR-based digital training. Their approach includes delivering personalized, voice-based GenAI solutions in Urdu via basic mobile phones, increasing accessibility for women who do not own smartphones.

DEMO (Pakistan): DEMO is addressing Pakistan’s gender digital divide by providing digital entrepreneurial training to 10,000 female university students in remote and underserved regions, aiming to empower women and ensure financial independence.

DOT Kenya (Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda): Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT), Kenya’s “Digital Skills at Scale” initiative, aims to empower 10,000 young women in Kenya, Ethiopia, and Rwanda with digital and entrepreneurial skills, addressing socioeconomic barriers and safety concerns, as well as fostering leadership through “Digital Champions” to drive community change.

Ensibuuko (Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana): Ensibuuko will digitize Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) in Uganda, Tanzania, and Ghana by creating 5,000 digital savings groups led by young women with aspirations to empower 125,000 members with improved financial management and opportunities through digital innovation.

Gerege Systems (Mongolia): Gerege Systems LLC’s Digital Nomad Platform aims to empower women-led businesses in Mongolia by bridging the digital gender divide and formalizing informal labor. The platform, accessible via app, website, kiosks, and POS systems nationwide, offers features like B2B networking, digital and financial literacy training, mental health support, and financial inventory management.

Hacey Health Initiatives (Nigeria): HACEY Health Initiative’s FEED intervention empowers marginalized women in Nigeria’s Niger and Ogun states by providing digital literacy training, financial services access, and business development support, aiming to bridge the gender digital divide and enhance economic empowerment in rural and peri-urban areas.

KICTANet (Kenya): KICTANet’s “Empowering Kenya Rural Women Through Digital Literacy” program aims to boost digital inclusion for marginalized women in 21 rural counties by providing digital literacy training, affordable loans for devices, and comprehensive support.

New Sun Road (Guatemala): New Sun Road’s Digital Community Centers (DCCs) are set to empower approximately 250,000 indigenous Guatemalan women by providing electrification, internet access, and digital literacy training in both Spanish and Mayan languages to remote communities, addressing barriers of isolation, education, and representation in the digital economy.

Pathway Technologies and Services Limited (Nepal): This program aims to reduce the digital gender gap among rural and marginalized women farmers in Nepal by increasing access to affordable, safe, and innovative digital platforms to enhance farm production, market linkages, and profit generation

Player First Limited / MESH (Kenya): Player First Limited/MESH’s Bridging the Gender Digital Divide (BGDD) program seeks to empower female-led informal micro-businesses in Kenya by providing an online community platform for marketing, financial management, and customer engagement for young entrepreneurs.

Smart Regional Consultants (Kenya): Smart Regional Consultants (SRC) aims to bridge Northern Kenya’s digital gender divide by enhancing economic opportunities for rural women through digital literacy programs, leveraging five existing incubation centers, and influencing policy for a more inclusive digital economy.

Tech Project Women (Nigeria): Tech Project Women, a feminist organization in Nigeria, seeks to enhance the personal and societal development of women and girls in peri-urban communities by improving digital skills, financial inclusion, and employability, while also addressing online harassment and gender-based violence.

Think Web (Indonesia): Think Web’s “Digital Advancement Program for Women” in East Indonesia aims to bridge the gender digital divide by enhancing education, digital literacy, and entrepreneurship skills among women, including those with disabilities, to thrive in the digital age.

El Proyecto Hambre (The Hunger Project) (Mexico, Malawi, Ghana): El Proyecto Hambre’s program “Empowering the Digitally Underserved” (EDU) program works to bridge the digital divide for indigenous persons, women, and people with disabilities in Mexico, Malawi and Ghana. The program focuses on increasing internet access and promoting participation in the digital economy.

WIT Uganda (Uganda): Women in Technology Uganda is scaling its digital literacy program with a Zero-Rated Work Opportunity Aggregation Platform to connect women with local and international job opportunities, using AI for job matching and gig platforms to enhance employability and digital economy participation.

Women in Digital (Bangladesh): Women in Digital aims to train and empower 20,000 women and girls in Bangladesh with ICT skills, from entry-level to advanced, while creating a database to connect them with employers, thereby improving digital inclusion, economic security, and resilience.

WOUGNET (Uganda): Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) has launched a feminist-led digital hub in Northern Uganda to address the challenges women and girls face in utilizing ICT tools. Through the hub, WOUGNET is implementing ICT development projects in areas such as agriculture, good governance, and online safety.

Zimba Women (Uganda): Building on a successful partnership with the Uganda Communications Commision, Zimba Women will implement a 24-month program in Northern and Eastern Uganda to enhance digital and financial literacy, offering workshops and training in local languages to women aged 15-45, addressing barriers to access exacerbated by conflict and natural disasters.

WiDEF will announce the final awardees of this inaugural round of funding later this year.

For organizations interested in WiDEF assistance, the fund is currently accepting applications from private enterprises seeking technical assistance in their efforts to close the gender digital divide. More information can be found at https://widef.global/funding.

About WiDEF

The Women in the Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF) is a joint effort between USAID and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to accelerate progress on closing the gender digital divide. WiDEF identifies, directly funds, and accelerates investment in proven solutions to close the gender digital divide, improving women’s livelihoods, economic security, and resilience. WiDEF is managed by CARE, the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership, and GSMA.

For all inquiries, please contact: learnmore@widef.global and usa.media@care.org

The Social Impact Partner Spotlight series highlights various Cisco non-profit organization partners that are helping transform the lives of individuals and communities. This blog features Cisco’s partnership with Agora Partnerships, The Bridge International, CARE Peru, Centro Community Partners, Defy Ventures, and Hand in Hand International, highlighting the transformative work each of these organizations are doing in the entrepreneurial and economic empowerment space, especially for underserved communities.

World Entrepreneurs Day 2024, observed on August 21, celebrates the ingenuity and perseverance of entrepreneurs who are the driving force behind innovation and economic growth worldwide. This year’s theme, “Empowering Entrepreneurs for a Sustainable Future,” underscores the vital role that entrepreneurs play in creating solutions to global challenges and advancing sustainable development. Learn how some of Cisco’s non-profit partner organizations are enabling the transformative impact of entrepreneurs and fostering environments where their ideas can thrive and lead to a brighter, more sustainable future.

Agora Partnerships

“Participating in the Eco challenge has been an opportunity to see my enterprise with another perspective, not just in search of innovation opportunities, but of a social and environmental legacy, that can transcend other generations and even other geographies.” 
—Female entrepreneur leader of a professional audio services company

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute almost 25% of Latin America’s Gross Domestic Product and employ over 60% of the total population. At the same time, SMEs across the region face stagnating productivity growth and increasing vulnerabilities to climate variability and natural resource degradations across the region face stagnating productivity growth and increasing vulnerabilities to climate variability and natural resource degradation.

The importance of SMEs for both economic prosperity and environmental preservation means an investment in the greening and modernization of their business models can have an outsized impact on the region’s overall sustainability.

And yet women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) face technological, economic, cultural, and institutional barriers to improving the environmental footprint of their models – impeding sustainable and inclusive economic development.

Agora Partnerships strives for a world in which social and environmental sustainability becomes the true business engine for SME growth. With instrumental early-stage ideation and planning funding from Cisco Foundation, Agora designed the content, methodology, architecture, and prototype for an eco-innovation (environmentally positive practices) repository aimed at facilitating the integration of eco innovations in the business operations of traditional WSMEs in Latin America.

The process entailed multiple stages. First, they integrated in Agora’s business training a product that enabled companies to ideate, select, and plan the implementation of eco innovations directly linked to improvements in their bottom line. They then moved on to pilot the content with actual enterprises to validate assumptions, such as cross sectoral applicability and relevance across different enterprise development stages. From there, they created an Ecochallenge fund selecting awardees to fund their plans for testing and learning. Finally, they translated the first two stages into a digital and self-guided format which will allow Agora to create impact at scale by making the content available to audiences beyond Agora’s current program participants – allowing them to continue to support female entrepreneurs throughout Latin America to make their businesses greener – and more successful.

How Agora Partnerships is making a difference:

89% had mapped the negative impacts of their businesses and had at least one strategy to mitigate them.81% reported that the Eco-challenge contributed significantly to their growth and the development of environmental knowledge in their enterprise.72.97% reported implementing social / environmental actions

Agora Partnerships has many opportunities to help with their efforts. Specifically, the organization needs:

Experts in gamification to improve the current user experience of the eco innovations repository.Environmental experts that can review piloted eco innovations to identify possible improvements, potential points of challenge, and evaluation methodologies/practices.Practitioners or entrepreneurial support organizations who would like to pilot eco innovations with their own entrepreneurs to continue building the eco innovation knowledgebase.Recommendations of databases or reports highlighting proven environmental practices that reap economic returns in SMEs.

Learn more about Agora Partnerships (en español video)

The Bridge International

“We provide capacity-building consultations and training to create innovative and catalytic approaches to entrepreneurs. We also provide crowdfunding opportunities to increase access to financial resources and public visibility for the social businesses that we support all over the region of Asia.” 
—Ahlim Kim, Program Director

The Bridge International supports underserved social innovators and emerging entrepreneurs in South Korea and across the globe. Through its online crowdfunding platform which merges the concepts of “donation” and “investment” into one, The Bridge International created a revolving donation model that sustains and builds economic resilience for program beneficiaries and donors.

With Cisco’s Regional Solution Grant, The Bridge International was able to reestablish its online platform. The platform aims to create a sustainable ecosystem of impact donations and additional resources that are crucial for business sustainability of individuals’ dream to become economically independent and be able to give back to others in need. Recently, The Bridge International has enhanced the ‘Birthday Donation Campaign’ feature, which enables individuals to launch their own campaigns using their birthdays. They can invite friends and family to donate towards social causes they care about to celebrate. This improvement has successfully encouraged more people, both locally and internationally, to participate in these campaigns. The impact of the grant is promising for beneficiaries, including project VietHarvest in Vietnam, Ritma Green in Indonesia, and Jumpaa Comics in Laos.

How The Bridge International is making a difference:

Number of entrepreneurs served (North Korean Defectors and Developing Countries in Asia): 53Percentage increase in funds raised: 26%Rate increase in economic independence (re-donation rate): 11%

The Bridge International welcomes community support through donations and volunteer involvement:

Host a donation campaign: Check out fundraisers like the “Birthday/Event Donation”, designate a project, and support celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, wedding anniversaries, and others.Sign up for mentoring and business partnership building.

CARE Peru

“CARE has advocated for women entrepreneurship at a national scale. We aim to contribute to a resilient and inclusive economy by unleashing the power of growth-oriented women entrepreneurs. We support women entrepreneurs to feel confident, resilient, in control, and equipped to grow their businesses, so they gain economic power in their households, communities, and economies.” 
—Marilu Martens, National Director at CARE Peru

CARE established a permanent presence in Peru in 1970 following the devastating earthquake in the Ancash region, and in 2012, it was constituted as a Peruvian NGO. For over 50 years, it has implemented over 1000 projects focused on the country’s social development, which have changed the lives of the most vulnerable people. In the last 5 years, CARE Peru has positively impacted the lives of over 7 million people.

CARE Peru’s Girls with Opportunities (GWO) program creates an educational ecosystem that fosters the well-being and educational continuity of adolescent girls, igniting their curiosity to learn and potential to become the best they can be to overcome poverty. The program implements various educational initiatives targeting stakeholders, such as students, teachers, school administrators, families, local authorities, and community leaders. CARE Peru provides a supportive environment, engaging institutions and community leaders to back the program’s implementation. Teachers and school administrators undergo capacity-building programs to integrate the GWO curriculum into school management instruments, ensuring sustainability. Students participate in asynchronous and synchronous learning sessions, developing skills and competencies through initiatives like the “Idea y Emprende” contest, which encourages entrepreneurship and STEAM education.

With Cisco’s Regional Grant support, CARE Peru developed its STEAM initiative which included a pilot of the Cisco Networking Academy course on “Get Connected, ” educational instructions and technology training to equip students with essential digital skills and support their creativity for learning and prepare a pathway for a positive future in for underserved girls in rural areas of Peru. Program success includes increased student engagement, knowledge transfer of knowledge to teachers, and program sustainability within participating public/government schools.

How CARE is making a difference:

16 secondary schools’ participants of the GWO Program participating in the methodological transfer60 educational actors from secondary schools, Local Education Unites (UGEL) and Regional Directorate/Unit of Education (DRE/GRE) from various regions including of Cajamarca, Bambamarca, Lambayeque, and Amazonas that participate in the methodological transfer process from GWO Program50 teachers who increase knowledge in thematic areas from GWO Program50 teachers with certificates/recognition achieved for participating in GWO Program signed by UGEL/DRE/GRE

Join CARE Peru’s cause and make a difference. Your support will enable over a thousand students from the Girls with Opportunities project to continue their educational journey and achieve goals they never thought possible. To donate, visit their website or give via PayPal.

Centro Community Partners

“At Centro, we believe entrepreneurship is a powerful catalyst for economic transformation and social mobility. By equipping underserved entrepreneurs with tailored technical assistance, access to capital, and dedicated coaching, we empower them to turn their visions into sustainable businesses. Our commitment lies in nurturing their bold ideas into thriving enterprises that not only benefit the entrepreneurs themselves but also enrich their communities.” 
—Arturo Noriega, Founder and CEO

As we celebrate World Entrepreneurs Day, it’s essential to highlight the transformative initiatives that are making significant impacts on the entrepreneurial landscape, especially for the underserved. Cisco has been a pivotal partner in Centro’s journey to empower underserved entrepreneurs globally. Through their generous support, Centro has expanded its capabilities and reach, touching the lives of over 1,000 entrepreneurs annually.

Cisco’s investments in Centro’s technology and capacity-building initiatives have been game-changers. With Cisco’s backing, Centro has invested in the Centro App, a comprehensive tool that has revolutionized how entrepreneurs access resources, coaching, and capital and helps track impact. Another significant milestone in the partnership has been the adoption of Salesforce as the centralized database management system. This move has streamlined Centro’s operations and data management practices, ensuring that every decision the organization makes is informed. The inception of Centro Labs, also funded by Cisco, served as an incubator where the groundbreaking idea for the Centro CEO App was conceived. As an AI-driven platform, the Centro CEO App promises to be a cornerstone in Centro’s strategy to equip entrepreneurs with smart tools they need to succeed.

Cisco’s support extends beyond financial assistance—it is a partnership that embraces vision, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of empowering those who aspire to make a difference through entrepreneurship. As Centro looks towards the future, the organization is grateful for Cisco’s unwavering support and excited about the endless possibilities that lie ahead. On World Entrepreneurs Day, Centro celebrates not just the spirit of entrepreneurship but also the partnerships that amplify this spirit. Thanks to Cisco, Centro is not only dreaming of a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem but actively building it.

Since 2021, the support from Cisco has been instrumental in helping Centro leverage technology and build innovative solutions to expand its programs and services to reach underserved entrepreneurs. The following are some key highlights of Centro’s impact over the past three years:

Assisted 2,500+ underserved low-income women and entrepreneurs of color with its programs and services.Facilitated access to $4.7M++ in capital, helping entrepreneurs start or grow small businesses to achieve financial independence.Provided 1,400+ hours of one-on-one business coaching services to help entrepreneurs overcome business challenges and connect them with local small businesses resources.

Centro believes in trust-based philanthropy and offers a variety of opportunities for support and engagement:

Recommend Centro to Entrepreneurs: Connect entrepreneurs to Centro’s programs and services to help them start and grow their small businesses.Participate in Graduations: Centro welcomes guests to participate in Centro program graduations to provide feedback to entrepreneurs on their business models/pitches.Help Entrepreneurs Access Capital: With as little as $25, people can help a local entrepreneur access an interest-free Kiva loan of up to $15,000.

Defy Ventures

“I have never felt quite so complete, empowered, knowledgeable, secure, and confident about opening my very own business. I was previously incarcerated, and a former drug addict and my business ideas were just that— ideas and dreams. . . until I came into Defy Ventures’ entrepreneur program!” 
—Carol Anne Madonia, Founder and CEO of That Meatball Collective

Defy Ventures is a national nonprofit whose mission is to shift mindsets to give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance through entrepreneurship, career readiness, well-being, and personal development training programs delivered both in prison and in the community.

Defy’s vision is to cut recidivism rates in half by leveraging entrepreneurship to increase economic opportunity and transform lives. This year, Defy will work with more than 1,000 currently and formerly incarcerated men and women to defy the odds in nine states.

They accomplish this through entrepreneurship and career readiness training programs facilitated both in prison and in the community, with the goal of supporting successful reentry and economic opportunity. Their community-based entrepreneurship programs include business training, executive mentorship, planning grants, and seed capital to help formerly incarcerated individuals achieve their dreams of launching a small business.

Their cornerstone CEO of Your New Life (CEO YNL) prison program provides participants, (called Entrepreneurs in Training or EITs), with entrepreneurship skills, personal development, career readiness, and reentry preparation through a five-volume, 2000-page set of printed textbooks and the submission of assignments via collection of paper copies.

With support from Cisco Foundation, Defy is transforming this curriculum into a tablet-based program, which will enable a significant leap forward. With the ability to deliver learning via tablets, they will be able to improve their program with rich content (such as supplementary videos), electronic data collection, and increased communication with program participants both during and after the program. Tablets will also enable them to expand their reach to serve more people and in more locations – meaning more justice-impacted men and women will now have a fair chance.

Since inception, Defy has achieved the following impact:

7,900+ EITs served200+ businesses launched<10% recidivism for program graduates within 1 year of release (vs 30% national average)

How to get involved:

Join our community of volunteers and find upcoming events in your areaSign up to receive updates about DefyHigher Hope, Lower Recidivism YouTube videoIndeed blog about Fair Chance Hiring

Hand in Hand International

“The women we work with face a host of restrictive norms and attitudes that keep them from earning their own incomes, and so are more likely to be digitally excluded. Thanks to our partnership with Cisco, we will be able to unlock the power of technology to equip even more women entrepreneurs with the skills and resources they need to launch thriving businesses, lifting more families out of poverty.” 
—Amalia Johnsson, Deputy CEO, Hand in Hand International

Worldwide, around 10% of women – 400 million – live trapped below the poverty line of just $2.15 a day. In the places Hand in Hand works, such as Kenya, Tanzania, India, and Afghanistan, there are few opportunities for formal employment. For these women, entrepreneurship is the only route out of poverty. However, in many of these communities, over 60% of women can’t make everyday decisions without their husband’s permission. Others yearn to start small businesses but lack access to the training, loans and resources needed to begin.

When women lose, everyone loses. Families, communities and even nations become trapped in a cycle of poverty. But given the opportunity, women can break those cycles and shape the future they want.

Hand in Hand equips under-served women with skills and resources to earn more money and ignite local economies, lifting nations out of poverty. Through a proven model focused on skills acquisition, credit access and market connections, Hand in Hand has reached 9 million women entrepreneurs via its global network. However, until now the skills acquisition component of Hand in Hand’s model has focused exclusively on in-person training. In rural areas in particular, local business trainers spend a huge amount of time on the road – limiting the number of women the NGO can reach.

How Hand in Hand is making a difference:

This year, Hand in Hand has partnered with CISCO to develop and test a targeted, inclusive e-learning platform in Kenya – to complement its in-person business training.

So far, Hand in Hand has reached 9 million women 20 million family members.Typically, women entrepreneurs double their incomes.84% of women are now able to make decision about the things that affect their lives.The new e-learning system will support Hand in Hand to meet its goal of reaching 265,000 Kenyan entrepreneurs by 2027.Hand in Hand’s entrepreneurship training delivers an average ROI of 475%.

How to get involved with Hand in Hand:

Donate today: A regular gift of £35 a month could equip three women with the skills and resources to launch their own businesses.Partner with Hand in Hand: If your organization is looking to increase its impact and transform the lives of women entrepreneurs, please contact Anna Davies, Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships.

View original content here.

The Social Impact Partner Spotlight series highlights various Cisco non-profit organization partners that are helping transform the lives of individuals and communities. This blog features Cisco’s partnership with Agora Partnerships, The Bridge International, CARE Peru, Centro Community Partners, Defy Ventures, and Hand in Hand International, highlighting the transformative work each of these organizations are doing in the entrepreneurial and economic empowerment space, especially for underserved communities.

World Entrepreneurs Day 2024, observed on August 21, celebrates the ingenuity and perseverance of entrepreneurs who are the driving force behind innovation and economic growth worldwide. This year’s theme, “Empowering Entrepreneurs for a Sustainable Future,” underscores the vital role that entrepreneurs play in creating solutions to global challenges and advancing sustainable development. Learn how some of Cisco’s non-profit partner organizations are enabling the transformative impact of entrepreneurs and fostering environments where their ideas can thrive and lead to a brighter, more sustainable future.

Agora Partnerships

“Participating in the Eco challenge has been an opportunity to see my enterprise with another perspective, not just in search of innovation opportunities, but of a social and environmental legacy, that can transcend other generations and even other geographies.” 
—Female entrepreneur leader of a professional audio services company

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) contribute almost 25% of Latin America’s Gross Domestic Product and employ over 60% of the total population. At the same time, SMEs across the region face stagnating productivity growth and increasing vulnerabilities to climate variability and natural resource degradations across the region face stagnating productivity growth and increasing vulnerabilities to climate variability and natural resource degradation.

The importance of SMEs for both economic prosperity and environmental preservation means an investment in the greening and modernization of their business models can have an outsized impact on the region’s overall sustainability.

And yet women-led small and medium enterprises (WSMEs) face technological, economic, cultural, and institutional barriers to improving the environmental footprint of their models – impeding sustainable and inclusive economic development.

Agora Partnerships strives for a world in which social and environmental sustainability becomes the true business engine for SME growth. With instrumental early-stage ideation and planning funding from Cisco Foundation, Agora designed the content, methodology, architecture, and prototype for an eco-innovation (environmentally positive practices) repository aimed at facilitating the integration of eco innovations in the business operations of traditional WSMEs in Latin America.

The process entailed multiple stages. First, they integrated in Agora’s business training a product that enabled companies to ideate, select, and plan the implementation of eco innovations directly linked to improvements in their bottom line. They then moved on to pilot the content with actual enterprises to validate assumptions, such as cross sectoral applicability and relevance across different enterprise development stages. From there, they created an Ecochallenge fund selecting awardees to fund their plans for testing and learning. Finally, they translated the first two stages into a digital and self-guided format which will allow Agora to create impact at scale by making the content available to audiences beyond Agora’s current program participants – allowing them to continue to support female entrepreneurs throughout Latin America to make their businesses greener – and more successful.

How Agora Partnerships is making a difference:

89% had mapped the negative impacts of their businesses and had at least one strategy to mitigate them.81% reported that the Eco-challenge contributed significantly to their growth and the development of environmental knowledge in their enterprise.72.97% reported implementing social / environmental actions

Agora Partnerships has many opportunities to help with their efforts. Specifically, the organization needs:

Experts in gamification to improve the current user experience of the eco innovations repository.Environmental experts that can review piloted eco innovations to identify possible improvements, potential points of challenge, and evaluation methodologies/practices.Practitioners or entrepreneurial support organizations who would like to pilot eco innovations with their own entrepreneurs to continue building the eco innovation knowledgebase.Recommendations of databases or reports highlighting proven environmental practices that reap economic returns in SMEs.

Learn more about Agora Partnerships (en español video)

The Bridge International

“We provide capacity-building consultations and training to create innovative and catalytic approaches to entrepreneurs. We also provide crowdfunding opportunities to increase access to financial resources and public visibility for the social businesses that we support all over the region of Asia.” 
—Ahlim Kim, Program Director

The Bridge International supports underserved social innovators and emerging entrepreneurs in South Korea and across the globe. Through its online crowdfunding platform which merges the concepts of “donation” and “investment” into one, The Bridge International created a revolving donation model that sustains and builds economic resilience for program beneficiaries and donors.

With Cisco’s Regional Solution Grant, The Bridge International was able to reestablish its online platform. The platform aims to create a sustainable ecosystem of impact donations and additional resources that are crucial for business sustainability of individuals’ dream to become economically independent and be able to give back to others in need. Recently, The Bridge International has enhanced the ‘Birthday Donation Campaign’ feature, which enables individuals to launch their own campaigns using their birthdays. They can invite friends and family to donate towards social causes they care about to celebrate. This improvement has successfully encouraged more people, both locally and internationally, to participate in these campaigns. The impact of the grant is promising for beneficiaries, including project VietHarvest in Vietnam, Ritma Green in Indonesia, and Jumpaa Comics in Laos.

How The Bridge International is making a difference:

Number of entrepreneurs served (North Korean Defectors and Developing Countries in Asia): 53Percentage increase in funds raised: 26%Rate increase in economic independence (re-donation rate): 11%

The Bridge International welcomes community support through donations and volunteer involvement:

Host a donation campaign: Check out fundraisers like the “Birthday/Event Donation”, designate a project, and support celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, graduations, wedding anniversaries, and others.Sign up for mentoring and business partnership building.

CARE Peru

“CARE has advocated for women entrepreneurship at a national scale. We aim to contribute to a resilient and inclusive economy by unleashing the power of growth-oriented women entrepreneurs. We support women entrepreneurs to feel confident, resilient, in control, and equipped to grow their businesses, so they gain economic power in their households, communities, and economies.” 
—Marilu Martens, National Director at CARE Peru

CARE established a permanent presence in Peru in 1970 following the devastating earthquake in the Ancash region, and in 2012, it was constituted as a Peruvian NGO. For over 50 years, it has implemented over 1000 projects focused on the country’s social development, which have changed the lives of the most vulnerable people. In the last 5 years, CARE Peru has positively impacted the lives of over 7 million people.

CARE Peru’s Girls with Opportunities (GWO) program creates an educational ecosystem that fosters the well-being and educational continuity of adolescent girls, igniting their curiosity to learn and potential to become the best they can be to overcome poverty. The program implements various educational initiatives targeting stakeholders, such as students, teachers, school administrators, families, local authorities, and community leaders. CARE Peru provides a supportive environment, engaging institutions and community leaders to back the program’s implementation. Teachers and school administrators undergo capacity-building programs to integrate the GWO curriculum into school management instruments, ensuring sustainability. Students participate in asynchronous and synchronous learning sessions, developing skills and competencies through initiatives like the “Idea y Emprende” contest, which encourages entrepreneurship and STEAM education.

With Cisco’s Regional Grant support, CARE Peru developed its STEAM initiative which included a pilot of the Cisco Networking Academy course on “Get Connected, ” educational instructions and technology training to equip students with essential digital skills and support their creativity for learning and prepare a pathway for a positive future in for underserved girls in rural areas of Peru. Program success includes increased student engagement, knowledge transfer of knowledge to teachers, and program sustainability within participating public/government schools.

How CARE is making a difference:

16 secondary schools’ participants of the GWO Program participating in the methodological transfer60 educational actors from secondary schools, Local Education Unites (UGEL) and Regional Directorate/Unit of Education (DRE/GRE) from various regions including of Cajamarca, Bambamarca, Lambayeque, and Amazonas that participate in the methodological transfer process from GWO Program50 teachers who increase knowledge in thematic areas from GWO Program50 teachers with certificates/recognition achieved for participating in GWO Program signed by UGEL/DRE/GRE

Join CARE Peru’s cause and make a difference. Your support will enable over a thousand students from the Girls with Opportunities project to continue their educational journey and achieve goals they never thought possible. To donate, visit their website or give via PayPal.

Centro Community Partners

“At Centro, we believe entrepreneurship is a powerful catalyst for economic transformation and social mobility. By equipping underserved entrepreneurs with tailored technical assistance, access to capital, and dedicated coaching, we empower them to turn their visions into sustainable businesses. Our commitment lies in nurturing their bold ideas into thriving enterprises that not only benefit the entrepreneurs themselves but also enrich their communities.” 
—Arturo Noriega, Founder and CEO

As we celebrate World Entrepreneurs Day, it’s essential to highlight the transformative initiatives that are making significant impacts on the entrepreneurial landscape, especially for the underserved. Cisco has been a pivotal partner in Centro’s journey to empower underserved entrepreneurs globally. Through their generous support, Centro has expanded its capabilities and reach, touching the lives of over 1,000 entrepreneurs annually.

Cisco’s investments in Centro’s technology and capacity-building initiatives have been game-changers. With Cisco’s backing, Centro has invested in the Centro App, a comprehensive tool that has revolutionized how entrepreneurs access resources, coaching, and capital and helps track impact. Another significant milestone in the partnership has been the adoption of Salesforce as the centralized database management system. This move has streamlined Centro’s operations and data management practices, ensuring that every decision the organization makes is informed. The inception of Centro Labs, also funded by Cisco, served as an incubator where the groundbreaking idea for the Centro CEO App was conceived. As an AI-driven platform, the Centro CEO App promises to be a cornerstone in Centro’s strategy to equip entrepreneurs with smart tools they need to succeed.

Cisco’s support extends beyond financial assistance—it is a partnership that embraces vision, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of empowering those who aspire to make a difference through entrepreneurship. As Centro looks towards the future, the organization is grateful for Cisco’s unwavering support and excited about the endless possibilities that lie ahead. On World Entrepreneurs Day, Centro celebrates not just the spirit of entrepreneurship but also the partnerships that amplify this spirit. Thanks to Cisco, Centro is not only dreaming of a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem but actively building it.

Since 2021, the support from Cisco has been instrumental in helping Centro leverage technology and build innovative solutions to expand its programs and services to reach underserved entrepreneurs. The following are some key highlights of Centro’s impact over the past three years:

Assisted 2,500+ underserved low-income women and entrepreneurs of color with its programs and services.Facilitated access to $4.7M++ in capital, helping entrepreneurs start or grow small businesses to achieve financial independence.Provided 1,400+ hours of one-on-one business coaching services to help entrepreneurs overcome business challenges and connect them with local small businesses resources.

Centro believes in trust-based philanthropy and offers a variety of opportunities for support and engagement:

Recommend Centro to Entrepreneurs: Connect entrepreneurs to Centro’s programs and services to help them start and grow their small businesses.Participate in Graduations: Centro welcomes guests to participate in Centro program graduations to provide feedback to entrepreneurs on their business models/pitches.Help Entrepreneurs Access Capital: With as little as $25, people can help a local entrepreneur access an interest-free Kiva loan of up to $15,000.

Defy Ventures

“I have never felt quite so complete, empowered, knowledgeable, secure, and confident about opening my very own business. I was previously incarcerated, and a former drug addict and my business ideas were just that— ideas and dreams. . . until I came into Defy Ventures’ entrepreneur program!” 
—Carol Anne Madonia, Founder and CEO of That Meatball Collective

Defy Ventures is a national nonprofit whose mission is to shift mindsets to give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance through entrepreneurship, career readiness, well-being, and personal development training programs delivered both in prison and in the community.

Defy’s vision is to cut recidivism rates in half by leveraging entrepreneurship to increase economic opportunity and transform lives. This year, Defy will work with more than 1,000 currently and formerly incarcerated men and women to defy the odds in nine states.

They accomplish this through entrepreneurship and career readiness training programs facilitated both in prison and in the community, with the goal of supporting successful reentry and economic opportunity. Their community-based entrepreneurship programs include business training, executive mentorship, planning grants, and seed capital to help formerly incarcerated individuals achieve their dreams of launching a small business.

Their cornerstone CEO of Your New Life (CEO YNL) prison program provides participants, (called Entrepreneurs in Training or EITs), with entrepreneurship skills, personal development, career readiness, and reentry preparation through a five-volume, 2000-page set of printed textbooks and the submission of assignments via collection of paper copies.

With support from Cisco Foundation, Defy is transforming this curriculum into a tablet-based program, which will enable a significant leap forward. With the ability to deliver learning via tablets, they will be able to improve their program with rich content (such as supplementary videos), electronic data collection, and increased communication with program participants both during and after the program. Tablets will also enable them to expand their reach to serve more people and in more locations – meaning more justice-impacted men and women will now have a fair chance.

Since inception, Defy has achieved the following impact:

7,900+ EITs served200+ businesses launched<10% recidivism for program graduates within 1 year of release (vs 30% national average)

How to get involved:

Join our community of volunteers and find upcoming events in your areaSign up to receive updates about DefyHigher Hope, Lower Recidivism YouTube videoIndeed blog about Fair Chance Hiring

Hand in Hand International

“The women we work with face a host of restrictive norms and attitudes that keep them from earning their own incomes, and so are more likely to be digitally excluded. Thanks to our partnership with Cisco, we will be able to unlock the power of technology to equip even more women entrepreneurs with the skills and resources they need to launch thriving businesses, lifting more families out of poverty.” 
—Amalia Johnsson, Deputy CEO, Hand in Hand International

Worldwide, around 10% of women – 400 million – live trapped below the poverty line of just $2.15 a day. In the places Hand in Hand works, such as Kenya, Tanzania, India, and Afghanistan, there are few opportunities for formal employment. For these women, entrepreneurship is the only route out of poverty. However, in many of these communities, over 60% of women can’t make everyday decisions without their husband’s permission. Others yearn to start small businesses but lack access to the training, loans and resources needed to begin.

When women lose, everyone loses. Families, communities and even nations become trapped in a cycle of poverty. But given the opportunity, women can break those cycles and shape the future they want.

Hand in Hand equips under-served women with skills and resources to earn more money and ignite local economies, lifting nations out of poverty. Through a proven model focused on skills acquisition, credit access and market connections, Hand in Hand has reached 9 million women entrepreneurs via its global network. However, until now the skills acquisition component of Hand in Hand’s model has focused exclusively on in-person training. In rural areas in particular, local business trainers spend a huge amount of time on the road – limiting the number of women the NGO can reach.

How Hand in Hand is making a difference:

This year, Hand in Hand has partnered with CISCO to develop and test a targeted, inclusive e-learning platform in Kenya – to complement its in-person business training.

So far, Hand in Hand has reached 9 million women 20 million family members.Typically, women entrepreneurs double their incomes.84% of women are now able to make decision about the things that affect their lives.The new e-learning system will support Hand in Hand to meet its goal of reaching 265,000 Kenyan entrepreneurs by 2027.Hand in Hand’s entrepreneurship training delivers an average ROI of 475%.

How to get involved with Hand in Hand:

Donate today: A regular gift of £35 a month could equip three women with the skills and resources to launch their own businesses.Partner with Hand in Hand: If your organization is looking to increase its impact and transform the lives of women entrepreneurs, please contact Anna Davies, Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships.

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Wednesday, June 12th marked Paramount’s 28th annual Community Day. Paramount is thrilled to share that this year’s global Community Day was the most impactful Paramount has ever hosted. Paramount employees came together in an extraordinary way, giving back to the communities we come from and serve.

Crystal Barnes, EVP of corporate social responsibility and environmental, social, and governance (ESG), noted “Community Day is one of my favorite initiatives of the year. And it’s a moment that many of our employees love, too. It’s a chance to come together as a Paramount team to support organizations around the world in the communities where we live and work. For 28 years, we’ve partnered with our community and senior leaders, ERGs, brands, and functions across the world to create opportunities to give back and truly make an impact. This year, there are so many ways to participate, and we hope you find an opportunity that is meaningful to you.”

Some of this year’s highlights include:

20,000 hours of volunteer serviceNearly 200 community projects160+ organizations served across 46 global marketsOver a half-million lbs. of trash and invasive plants removed72,000 meals prepped/packed/served7,200 kits assembled across mental health & educationOver 1,000 trees planted

Thank you to Paramount’s Corporate Social Impact team and all our dedicated employees for making Paramount’s 28th annual Community Day our best one yet.

September 9, 2024 /3BL/ – On September 4, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it delayed reporting deadlines for its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (TSCA Reporting Rule).

The reporting deadline for most companies covered by the rule moves from May 8, 2025, to January 11, 2026. Additional information can be found at the following link – TSCA Section 8(a)(7) Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances | US EPA.

Based on the new announcement, the data submission period will now open on July 11, 2025, and must be complete by January 11, 2026. Small businesses reporting data solely on importing PFAS contained in articles will have six additional months (July 11, 2026) to submit reports. EPA cited the reason for the delay as budget constraints hampering the development of software impacting the data submittal system.

While the 8-month delay provides additional breathing room for companies to comply with the TSCA Reporting Rule, companies should continue ongoing information collection efforts or begin in the near term to avoid last minute issues.

Have any questions? Reach out to our team of experts today to get answers!

About Antea Group

Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance.