Mrinalini Venkatachalam
About
Mrinalini Venkatachalam is the Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Oceania at WEConnect International, a global nonprofit network that works with multinational corporations and multilateral organizations to generate market-access opportunities for women’s business enterprises in over 125 countries through supplier diversity.
The organization identifies, educates, registers, and certifies women’s business enterprises based outside the U.S. that are at least 51% owned, as well as managed and controlled, by one or more women, and then connects them to qualified buyers across the globe. WEConnect International’s network of corporate members, primarily Fortune 500 companies, represent over $1 Trillion in annual purchasing power. Over the last twelve years, Mrinalini has engaged with large corporations, government agencies, SMEs, and community organizations to provide them with a platform to create measurable social impact.
She speaks regularly at community events, corporate events, and conferences about the role that gender equality plays in achieving a more sustainable world for everyone. Mrinalini has been awarded the Singapore Women’s Weekly’s Great Women of Our Time award in the Public Service and Education category and has been nominated as one of Cleo Singapore’s 2016 top ten Changemakers.
KeyNote
Women: Catalysts of Innovation and Sustainable Growth
Women are not just participants in the global economy; they are one of its most powerful drivers of innovation and job creation in both developed and emerging markets. With women owning approximately 39% of all private businesses in the formal economy, their impact is undeniable. Moreover, women reinvest an astonishing 90% of their income into their families and communities, fostering greater societal well-being and economic resilience. Companies with at least one female founder perform 63% better than those with only male founders, proving that gender diversity in leadership translates to stronger business outcomes. Yet, despite these statistics, women around the world earn less than 1% of the money spent by large corporations and governments on suppliers. This glaring disparity represents a missed opportunity not only for gender equality but for global economic growth. There is a compelling business case for investing in women-owned businesses. Diversifying supply chains post-pandemic is not just an ethical decision but a strategic one. Corporations that embrace diverse suppliers report a 20% reduction in buying operation costs and see a remarkable 133% greater return on procurement investments compared to standard businesses. In her keynote, Minnie passionately calls for action. She challenges us to imagine and build a world where women have the same opportunities as men to design and implement business solutions that drive wealth creation and ensure sustainable prosperity for their communities. By empowering women as entrepreneurs, innovators, and business leaders, we unlock the potential for truly inclusive and sustainable economic growth.KeyNote Topics
Empowerment, Gender, Inclusion
