In This Issue
Spotlight on: Driving the Change You Want to See

It may be summertime in the Northern Hemisphere, but Alliance members continue to work hard for women customers and their fellow members. When reading our member news roundup this month, for example, I was struck that ATB Financial in Canada has adopted the certification program that NatWest uses in the UK for business relationship managers to work with women business owners. This is just one of many ways our peer learning model is spreading know-how and helping members be efficient in their support of the female economy.

Our peer learning model is a reason why BancoSol, which 30 years ago became the first commercial bank in the world fully dedicated to financing micro-entrepreneurs, joined the Alliance. We are truly honored. This month, we interviewed the CEO Marcelo Escobar, who shares the bank’s plans for expanding its support of WMSMEs—the backbone of the Bolivian economy. We look forward to BancoSol sharing its expertise with members seeking to deepen their community reach.

While our virtual peer learning is world-class, there’s nothing like the buzz when we gather in person. After a long hiatus, we’ll finally be able to see old friends and meet new ones at the 2022 Annual Summit. Taking place Nov. 2-3, it’s a tremendous opportunity for networking, getting new ideas to enhance your programs and driving the change you want to see in your ecosystem. If you’re a member or a partner of the Alliance, we encourage you to register now, as visa lead times for the UK can be lengthy.

In our continued drive to create a gender-intelligent fintech sector, we’re running our third annual Alliance Hack, registrations for which open Aug. 15. Our financial sponsors include HSBC, IFC and Citibank, which bring their expertise and connections to the finalists. We’re also partnering with several in-kind partners, including APIX and Monetary Authority of Singapore, and we’re offering a $25,000 cash prize to the winner. While money is important, the exposure our fintechs get from this event is second to none. Our goal this year is to widen our pool of applicants, so please re-share our social media posts and emails with your community when you receive them.

Last but not least: Thank you all for your leadership. Each of us must drive the change we want to see. By being part of this community, we are making the road by walking.

In community,