One day, “women’s leadership” will simply be recognised as leadership.
That was the prevalent sentiment during the virtual YMCA Global Gathering, where more than 400 participants discussed advancing gender equity. Hosted in honour of International Women’s Day, held annually on 8 March, the webinar brought together YMCA leaders from around the world to share their experiences, challenges and advice for young leaders.
Current landscape of gender equity
Raquel Roth of YMCAs of Quebec provided an overview of gender equity today, highlighting that the world is off track to meet UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality by 2030. While some progress has been made, challenges such as the underrepresentation of women in leadership, economic disparities and gender-based violence remain significant. Citing the UN 2024 Gender Snapshot, she noted that 245 million women and girls experience physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner each year.
Through an interactive Mentimeter session, participants shared their perspectives on the most pressing gender equity challenges in their communities. Raquel facilitated the activity in three languages, ensuring diverse voices were heard.
Perspectives from women in leadership
An accomplished panel shared their experiences as women in leadership:
- Emma Osmundsen (YMCA Europe) spoke about breaking through the glass ceiling as the organisation’s first female president. “I have survived by staying authentic and aligning my leadership with my values and faith.”
- Czieloh Villanjin (YMCA Philippines) addressed the challenge of balancing professional and personal responsibilities, particularly as the eldest daughter in her family. “Setting boundaries is not selfish.”
- Ana Clara Martà (YMCA Montevideo) highlighted the contradictions women face in leadership, needing to be “strong, but not too strong,” and spoke about the importance of creating spaces where young people and women can thrive.
- Ethiopia Tilahun (YMCA Ethiopia) shared her approach to overcoming daily challenges: “There are solutions for every challenge. If one doesn’t work, I move to the next, always maintaining integrity.”
The role of support systems
Panellists discussed the importance of building strong support networks:
- Ethiopia shared that her faith, family, and husband have been crucial in supporting her leadership journey.
- Ana emphasised the power of collective leadership, noting that real change happens when people work together toward a common goal.
- Emma highlighted that kindness is an underrated leadership quality, stating that “if more leaders embraced kindness, the world would be a better place.”
- Said Czieloh, “Invest in your community support systems. It’s a Vision 2030 principle: community enables us”, emphasising the fourth Pillar of Just World.
Where do we go from here?
Speakers offered practical steps for advancing gender equity:
- Use your influence to open doors for others.
- Challenge gender bias in hiring, mentoring, and leadership structures.
- Set measurable gender equity goals in governance and leadership.
- Support mentorship programmes that empower young women.
- Encourage male allies to actively support gender equity efforts.
As moderator Jill Doerner (YMCA of Metro Chicago) concluded, “Creating spaces like this is about learning from one another, strengthening our commitment to equity, and accelerating action. Let’s take what we’ve learned today and turn it into real change.”