The Mexico City conference was convened by the United Nations General Assembly to focus international attention on the need to develop future-oriented goals, effective strategies, and plans of action for the advancement of women.
[3] It was there that Michaela’s vision for change took shape after crossing paths with incredible individuals, such as Kenyan entrepreneur and banker, Mary Okelo, Indian cooperative organizer (SEWA) and Gandhian, Ela Bhatt, and Ghanian businesswoman and microloan pioneer, Esther Ocloo.
She led the expansion of the WWB network to include major banks, recognizing their potential to be innovative in bringing financial services to poor populations.
"Friends of WWB/USA, Inc." is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization which raises donations from U.S. foundations, corporations and individuals in support of Women's World Banking's global mission, and maintains a separate Board of Directors made up of U.S.-based leaders in law, finance and academia.
Access to credit gave women not just more control over household assets, but also more autonomy and decision-making power and greater participation in public life.
Evidence showed that poor women reinvested much more of their income in their families and communities than men did—financing such items as health care, education for their children, and home improvement.
As the financial inclusion cause grew, WWB has created new products, including; savings, remittances, housing/home improvement loans, pensions, insurance and worked with countless central banks and regulatory bodies to advocate for a gender lens in their national frameworks and public infrastructure systems.
Rather, it serves as a partner to its members, in their respective markets across five regions: Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East and North Africa.
[10] The business case for gender diversity in microfinance maintains that organizations that successfully hire, retain and promote women will achieve not just social benefits, but also financial returns.