Despite the fact that women are half the world’s population, male leaders still outnumber female leaders by four to one. By harnessing the power of data, we can identify pathways for women to pursue leadership, along with the positions they currently hold and the power they are able to exercise in those positions. We can then leverage that data to help change the institutions, systems and practices to put more women into leadership roles.
Gwen Young has devoted her career to humanitarian relief, international development, and human rights. As an attorney and public policy professional, Gwen has advocated for the role girls and women play in political, social, and economic development. She has trained women in advocacy, networking, management, and entrepreneurship in her roles with the International Rescue Committee, CARE, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. While working with Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), Gwen developed guidelines to deal with sexual- and gender-based violence and exploitation. She has lived for over 10 years on the African continent, in a variety of conflict-ridden zones.
Today, Gwen works to advance the role of women in government as the Director of the Wilson Center’s Global Women’s Leadership Initiative. The Initiative aims to ensure 50% representation of women in public-service leadership in governments across the globe by 2050.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at
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