Quick win No. 10

Spotlight and promote women experts in trade through engagement and professional development, with the goal of not only adding seats to the table, but adding leaves. Women trade experts from all fields of international trade should be encouraged to offer their expertise, and efforts should be made to provide the tools necessary to expand women’s access to the trade community.

In 2018, a conversation between two trade experts on Twitter served as the catalyst for the TradeExperettes. Commenting on an article in a prominent American newspaper that cited a dozen experts on trade policy, they noted both a lack of diversity and women’s participation. This evolved into an exciting global conversation within the trade community where many had observed or experienced the same phenomenon. This prompted “Trade Twitter” to spotlight their “Awesome + Female + Trade + Experts = #TradeExperettes” colleagues, resulting in the collection of 150 names of women trade experts within the first 24 hours. It was the unfolding of this event that led Hanna Norberg, a Swedish economist and independent trade policy advisor, to start the TradeExperettes.

The bias towards or exclusion of women in the trade profession is not limited to citations in the news. When analyzing the role of trade in promoting gender equality, the World Bank and the WTO report that in the professional sphere there are implicit biases and distinctions made when evaluating women in areas such as job announcements, recruitment and hiring decisions, retention in the workplace, education, inclusion in academia and even mentoring choices. These biases help to keep women out of trade-intensive firms or sectors.

TradeExperettes is a social enterprise, which is a cause-driven business whose primary reason for being is to improve social objectives and serve the common good. The organization serves a dual purpose: to showcase our dynamic network of women trade experts, and to empower women to grow professionally and position themselves as thought leaders in their area of expertise. In a few years, we have built a network of women trade experts from around the world who share their expertise, knowledge and perspective with policy makers, international organizations, the media, and other stakeholders that are crucial to the development and implementation of national and international trade policy.

Since 2018, we have called for a variety of policies, measures, and programs to promote inclusivity in trade and ensure that diverse voices have a seat at the table. Diversity in trade contributes to a richer dialogue, especially when it’s based on data and research that is more comprehensive. Understanding how women participate in trade as business owners, traders, workers, and consumers can help to identify policies that support opportunities for women’s involvement in trade. It leads to the adoption of more sustainable and inclusive trade policy and measures.

The TradeExperettes have also been active in formal and informal networking and mentoring in order to build its community, both of which are important elements in advancing women’s empowerment. A 2019 study commissioned by the European Union and prepared by the International Trade Centre found that women-led companies valued business networks most when it came to gaining information on new business opportunities and market access information, as well as training and mentoring opportunities. A University of Bradford study concluded that women continue to be underrepresented in senior level positions and in certain professions, and that existing mentoring programs can be improved in order to promote the inclusion of women in these roles. Strategies to do so include the adoption of complementary policies in the workplace, including flexible approaches which support work-life balance.

Studies have also found that certain occupations, such as in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) tend to be male-dominated. Efforts need to be made to encourage 16 processes which socialize young people away from traditional gender roles and encourage girls and young women to enter whatever professions interest them. The same is true in the trade policy field, although there are positive signs of this changing at the top levels. For the first time, the WTO leadership team now has more women than men, and the WTO, ITC and UNCTAD are all headed by women. Hopefully, this change can usher in a shift in gender-oriented perceptions of the characteristics of leadership. While the importance of role models should not be underestimated, it is also crucial to provide women with the tools necessary to enhance their leadership and other skills.

This is where organizations like the TradeExperettes can make an impact. We have developed a range of programs to respond to the demands of our network and offer professional development opportunities in an inclusive and supportive environment. In addition to a mentorship program for early career women in trade, we also host workshops on writing and public speaking, practice sessions for job talks and presentations, and off-the-record panels on timely trade topics in a collegial setting. Our internal programming is intended to make outward facing activities less daunting and more accessible through providing both rising stars and established professionals the tools to succeed in their careers.

At the TradeExperettes, we believe the international community should support more programs dedicated to networking, mentoring, writing and public speaking skills, and promoting collaboration among professionals in various trade-related disciplines. The experience and know-how of the TradeExperettes in developing such programs can assist the international community to promote the growth of women experts in trade. But we can’t do it alone. We are committed to our mission in every form that it takes. We want to build synergies with other organizations that enhance women’s roles in the trade arena, and see countless opportunities to collaborate on our shared goals.

The TradeExperettes calls on the WTO and other international organizations to therefore work together for our common aims and to shine a light on women’s expertise in trade, to encourage engagement in the trade community, and to empower women in trade at all stages of their careers and areas of expertise.