In This Issue
Spotlight On: The Year Ahead
The recent news from the Irish government that all COVID-19–related restrictions were being dropped was met with joyful exuberance here in Dublin. We may now do what we have all missed so much: meet in-person!
At the Alliance, we’ve planned another year of engaging learning and networking opportunities—but with a twist. Our Annual Summit in October may be a hybrid event, and if so, it will take place in London and online. What a joy that would be! In the meantime, we’re pleased to continue offering a strong roster of online peer learning activities that have become our trademark through the pandemic.
Next week we’ll kick off our first mentoring cohort of 2022. Leaders from members with advanced programs will mentor those from institutions with emerging programs over a 6-month period. Ninety six percent of our mentees would recommend the program to their colleagues so you don’t want to miss the next cohort which starts in July. Members wishing to apply can do so in June.
Then, in mid-February we’ll begin our 2022 All Stars Academy, which is taught by members. This is a must-attend training for those in the design or early implementation phases, as well as those interested in scaling up and diversifying into new segments of the women’s market. Applications must be in by February 9th.
Our bimonthly Ask the Expert sessions also begin in February and will tackle knotty topics such as gender and climate action. Our bimonthly Fintech Fridays will also start next month. These sessions will build on our groundbreaking 2021 research into gender-intelligent fintech design and will bring together fintechs, banks and investors to discuss the latest fintech business models that are successful with women.
None of this would be possible without our extraordinary, 
growing membership base. We ended 2021 with 75 members, and in 2022 we’ve already added 4 to the fold. We aim to reach 100 members by the end of 2022. It’s an aggressive target, but if we keep up the pace set in January, we’ll achieve it.
But what is especially gratifying is how strong our community of practice is. In 2021, 93 percent of members told us they’re willing to contribute their expertise to help other members, and our pivot online has made it easier to support them in doing so. And with 76 percent of members reporting being in either the “advanced” or “intermediate” phases of development, the Alliance has become a truly awesome peer learning resource for financial services providers championing the female economy.
What a way to break out of this pandemic: Roaring back having built strong, cost-effective e-learning and networking activities, just as our members have done to support women in their communities.
As we look toward a full year of enriching online activities, and hopefully meeting once again in-person, we extend a warm welcome to LXME, a wealth tech that builds the financial capability of mass-market women in India. Please tune in to our video interview with founder Priti Gupta, who shares her perspective on the opportunity to support women taking control of their financial futures.
We acknowledge that none of our work would be possible without the extraordinary generosity of both our members and our strategic partners.
Together, we look forward to a wonderful 2022.
In community,
Inez
