Bring women into leadership positions for global peace, IMF MD tells world leaders

Kristalina Georgieva, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), says women need to be brought into high-level leadership positions for the world to have peace.

In her opening remarks at the ongoing IMF and the World Bank annual meetings, Georgieva said although progress has been achieved in terms of gender parity in leadership, there are still too many men in power compared to women.

The opening event of the annual meetings was a conversation with Claire Shipman, a journalist and author, on women, power, and leadership.

“We still see more men than women in corridors of power,” she said.

“When we look at the high corridors of power, we still see more men than women, and yet, as I often say, if you want to live in a peaceful world, please bring the women up.

“… because women don’t seek power the same way men do, and when they have power, they use it differently.

“So, we have to understand it and then define it for the benefit of all, both women and men.”

Georgieva said the tremendous progress already achieved cannot be given away.

The managing director’s statement comes amid raging conflicts across the world, including wars in the Middle East, and Ukraine, which have left scores dead.

Other than the humanitarian crisis that accompanies wars, there are concerns that continued fighting in the Middle East could negatively impact the global economy.

Shipman said there are economic benefits when women are in positions of power, “as more women in senior management means more profitable enterprises that work better”.

While the journalist acknowledged that “there is a systemic problem” when it comes to high-level power for women, she encouraged research into the data on the economic benefits of having more women and diversity in senior leadership.

Shipman also said women need to be motivated to seek power and become change-makers within organisations.