“Investing in Women, Dreams are Boundless”

On March 18th, 2024, New York time, the first EmpowerHER Forum, co-hosted by World Madam Foundation and STOP (Stop Trafficking of People) and organized by World Madam Group, was grandly held in the Delegate’s Dining Room at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The forum aims to encourage and support female entrepreneurs and to promote gender equality. The forum brought together United Nations officials, some permanent ambassadors to the United Nations, renowned investors, cultural elites, and women entrepreneurs to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by women in entrepreneurship.

At the forum, Edward Mermelstein, the representative of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner from the Office for International Affairs, delivered an address on behalf of the mayor, congratulating the forum and sharing the progress made by New York City in promoting gender equality, as well as some thoughts and plans for achieving gender equality goals in the future.

Important guests attending the meeting included Isabelle Picco, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations; Sophia Tesfamariam, Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the United Nations; Harry Edelson, a legend in the fields of technology and finance; President of Premier Event Management, Inc. Charles Sullivan, Director of the UN Chinese Department Chen Zhongliang, Chief Statistician of the UN Development Programme Zhang Yanchun, and leaders from New York University, among 200 distinguished guests. Global investment master Jim Rogers, Diplomats from the French and Pakistani Permanent Missions to the United Nations, and many well-known individuals and organizations expressed their support and congratulations to the meeting.

Harry Edelson shared insights on the challenges and solutions that female entrepreneurs might face, emphasizing the key role of gender equality in innovation and development. Charles Sullivan shared his stories, including planning Michael Jackson’s global tour.

Anni Huang, founder of the EmpowerHER Forum and the World Madam global brand, expressed her hope that EmpowerHER Forum would become a platform to empower women and contribute to global progress. She stated, “As Gloria Steinem said, women’s stories are at the heart of history. Let’s join hands to create an equal and harmonious future.”

Guest speakers also included Dr. Takchio Cheong, founder of the World TCM Anti-Cancer Foundation, Si Wai Ng, Chairwomen of the Wisdom International Education Group, Jasmine Li, World Madam 2022 Global Champion, Dr. Ellen Qiongzhao. Schicktanz, Vice President of the Rodin International Artists Foundation, Dr. Helen Hsieh, MD, founder of Vibrance BPC, and Julia Xiao, World Miss 2024 Audience Choice Champion and youth representative of the World Peace Ambassador.

At parallel forum session, organizers invited World Madam winners and influential figures for discussions, including Lili Han, World Madam 2022 Global Champion, Sepideh Behboudi, World Madam 2023 Global Champion, and Celestine Liangzi Liu, World Madam 2021 Global Runner-up, Zaozao Yu, 2021 World Madam Global Champion; Doris Weili Duan-Young, 2023 World Madam Global Overall Runner-Up; among other distinguished individuals.

At the parallel forum session, World Junior 2024 Overall Champion, Pemala Khar, World Junior 2024 Audience Choice Champion, Tiffany Chen, World Miss 2024 Overall Champion, Michelle Joann Ahl, and World Miss 2024 Audience Choice Overall Champion, Julia Xiao, shared their perspectives on gender equality and achieving their life goals, offering insights from both a child’s and a young woman’s point of view.

The forum was supported by many internationally renowned institutions and brands, including Xiamen C&D Enterprise Co., Ltd., under the Fortune 500 company, Hollywood Culture Media Group, the MRS·WORLD brand,  Vibrance BPC, the Wisdom International Education Group, New York Deyutang TCM Hospital, THE 1 WINE, ACUIDERM, and LOVE MI YOGURT , Zao Learning Education, “Seven Days Bloom” antibacterial gel, among others. The forum aims to promote gender equality in the entrepreneurial ecosystem through open dialogue, knowledge sharing, and cooperation, and to create a more inclusive and equal entrepreneurial environment for women worldwide.

Preparations for EmpowerHER forums in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia are currently underway simultaneously.