he world is on the brink of profound transformation and progress. Women’s empowerment—forged through decades of activism, policy shifts, and quiet acts of resistance—faces a dual challenge: accelerating momentum while adapting to a rapidly changing world. Meeting this dual challenge requires that we move beyond access for women and center instead on agency.
Today, empowerment means equipping women with the tools and support to thrive. Women today have gained ground in accumulating wealth, leading organizations, and impacting communities. But true empowerment demands more than a seat at the table; it requires broader inclusion, especially in historically excluded areas of global discourse.
Women in conflict–affected and structurally vulnerable regions in particular need interventions to help them build financial literacy and leadership skills, and benefit from mentoring that is trauma–informed. Tools like this empower women to develop the agency not only in their own lives but also in the lives of their families and communities.
Technology is reshaping this landscape further. Emerging technologies offer vast potential to support women leaders. Women–led digital platforms and virtual peer networks are already bridging gaps across geography, culture, and circumstance. But the power of technology has also empowered misogyny, opening women—especially leaders gaining online visibility—to digital harassment, surveillance, and cyberattacks.
The weight borne by women leaders on their mental health and wellbeing can be extraordinary. Supporting these leaders in today’s context requires we redefine mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing support practices as more than just useful, they are critical. Support systems—peer care circles, trauma recovery practices, and opportunities for healing—must be integrated into nurturing women’s leadership from the ground up.
The future belongs to women who lead not despite challenges but because they possess the tools to face them with courage and clarity. In this pivotal moment of global reflection, our focus must extend beyond creating opportunities for women to ensuring those opportunities are meaningful, safeguarded, and sustainable. We must open doors, build bridges, and create safe spaces and paths that support women to walk with dignity and strength.
a global affairs media network
Women rising in a changing world, from access to agency
September 19, 2025
Women’s empowerment today faces a dual challenge: accelerating momentum while adapting to a rapidly changing world. Meeting this challenge requires that we move beyond access for women and center instead on agency, writes Jamila–Aisha P. Sanguila.
T
he world is on the brink of profound transformation and progress. Women’s empowerment—forged through decades of activism, policy shifts, and quiet acts of resistance—faces a dual challenge: accelerating momentum while adapting to a rapidly changing world. Meeting this dual challenge requires that we move beyond access for women and center instead on agency.
Today, empowerment means equipping women with the tools and support to thrive. Women today have gained ground in accumulating wealth, leading organizations, and impacting communities. But true empowerment demands more than a seat at the table; it requires broader inclusion, especially in historically excluded areas of global discourse.
Women in conflict–affected and structurally vulnerable regions in particular need interventions to help them build financial literacy and leadership skills, and benefit from mentoring that is trauma–informed. Tools like this empower women to develop the agency not only in their own lives but also in the lives of their families and communities.
Technology is reshaping this landscape further. Emerging technologies offer vast potential to support women leaders. Women–led digital platforms and virtual peer networks are already bridging gaps across geography, culture, and circumstance. But the power of technology has also empowered misogyny, opening women—especially leaders gaining online visibility—to digital harassment, surveillance, and cyberattacks.
The weight borne by women leaders on their mental health and wellbeing can be extraordinary. Supporting these leaders in today’s context requires we redefine mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing support practices as more than just useful, they are critical. Support systems—peer care circles, trauma recovery practices, and opportunities for healing—must be integrated into nurturing women’s leadership from the ground up.
The future belongs to women who lead not despite challenges but because they possess the tools to face them with courage and clarity. In this pivotal moment of global reflection, our focus must extend beyond creating opportunities for women to ensuring those opportunities are meaningful, safeguarded, and sustainable. We must open doors, build bridges, and create safe spaces and paths that support women to walk with dignity and strength.
