Tuesday, 15 September 2026
9:00 -10:00 am ET
Women entrepreneurs are redefining the care economy by pioneering essential services that address the growing global demand for child, elderly, and disability care. The economic potential is immense: targeted investments in the care economy could generate up to 299 million jobs globally by 2035. Yet scaling these businesses sustainably requires more than financing—it demands strong operational foundations, quality service delivery, and enabling regulatory environments. In many markets, formal standards and support systems remain absent or nascent, leaving care businesses to navigate complex risks largely on their own. This webinar explores what it takes to build care businesses that are not only financially viable, but also resilient, trusted, and positioned for long-term growth and impact.
Drawing on operational experience and emerging knowledge, this session will explore how to strengthen business models in the care sector, and the role of financial intermediaries in supporting women-owned and women-led SMEs (WSMEs). The session will feature three presentations: a new knowledge product on safeguarding frameworks as a practical tool for care economy businesses; an exploration of care as critical climate infrastructure; and a review of the latest evidence on what works to support and scale care businesses. Participants will also have the opportunity to hear insights from We-Fi Implementing Partners on their ongoing care economy projects, including lessons learned, emerging challenges, and promising approaches to supporting care-focused WSMEs.
Speakers
Prior to joining We-Fi in 2019, Ms. Teleki worked at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. At the IFC, Ms. Teleki spearheaded efforts to help private and public institutions in emerging markets expand financing and support for small businesses and women entrepreneurs. Ms. Teleki led programs to privatize and build the small business sector in Ukraine in the early 1990s, developed solutions for SMEs in Indonesia during the Asian Financial Crisis, launched innovative SME finance and advisory offerings, and pioneered blended finance efforts.
In 2022, Ms. Teleki was named one of Forbes’s “50 Over 50” women in finance for her leadership in advocating for women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. She is the co-author of Rebalance: How Women Lead, Parent, Partner and Thrive and has written on SME finance, entrepreneurship, and gender equality. Ms. Teleki is also a sought-after speaker at high-level events, where she shares her insights and experiences to inspire action towards gender equality and economic empowerment for women in developing countries.
Ms. Teleki holds an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of Business.
9:00 – 9:05AM Welcoming Remarks by Felicia Siegrist, Research & Knowledge Lead, We-Fi
9:05 – 9:10AM Opening Remarks by Kate Cooper, Women’s Economic Empowerment Advisor, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), United Kingdom
9:10 – 9:35AM Presentations
- Frances Beaton-Day, Technical Co-Lead, Invest in Childcare Initiative, World Bank
- Sarah Kabay, Education Program Director, Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA)
- Martha Melesse, Senior Program Specialist, International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
9:35 – 9:50 AM Discussion with We-Fi’s Implementing Partners
9:50 – 10:00 AM Q&A
📖 Addressing Care to Accelerate Equality. World Bank Group Gender Thematic Policy Notes Series. © World Bank.
📖 Care as Climate Infrastructure: Strengthening Climate-Resilient and Inclusive Private Sector Development for Women-led MSMEs © Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED).
