CEO Jing Zhao Cesarone Led UNWWO Global Women’s Leadership Summit

The Global Women’s Leadership Summit, organized by World Women Organization (UNWWO) and co-organized by the Global CSR Foundation, took place on March 21 at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York. Jing Zhao Cesarone, CEO of the Global CSR Foundation, was named Chair of the Global Women’s Leadership Summit.

Held alongside the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, the summit brought together over 100 participants, including women leaders and entrepreneurs, to celebrate achievements, share insights, and strengthen international cooperation for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Twelve distinguished women in select fields received awards for their contributions.

The summit came at a crucial moment for the global women’s movement, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the 1995 Fourth World Women Conference in Beijing and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. The landmark document continues to be a foundational framework in the fight for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The declaration, adopted by 189 countries, remains one of the most influential global policy documents on gender equality. It outlines strategic goals in areas such as education, health, economic participation, leadership, media representation, and environmental impact.

“Women’s leadership is the key to tackling today’s most pressing challenges — from poverty to climate change. As global women leaders, we must stand in solidarity, share knowledge, and speak with one voice to advance the rights and dignity of all women and girls,” Angela R.M., the director-general of the World Women Organization, said in her speech.

“Bringing female leaders together, where they can inspire, empower and mentor one another through mutual sharing, is a platform that enables women to achieve better development and sustainable growth. This has always been my focus and passion,” said Jing Zhao Cesarone, the chair of the summit. “We focus on female entrepreneurship, career development for women and gender harmony for family. We create a platform and community where women can engage in meaningful dialogues.”

Cesarone shared that she personally benefited from the discussions and conferences with her female peers during her younger years, receiving advice from women leaders across various industries. Inspired by those experiences, she strives to continue that legacy and connect even more women globally. She has been actively promoting discussions to facilitate conversations among women, recognizing the importance of guiding and communications. Cesarone emphasized that cultural exchange among women is also of great importance.

As global businesses and exchanges face uncertainty, Cesarone expressed her desire to help more companies from various backgrounds and regions including China —especially those led by female CEOs — expand internationally and engage in cross-border business opportunities. “We focus more on the growth women experience in entrepreneurship and business, and as internationalization continues, women now have greater global perspectives,” she said.

“In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of women consciously making choices that align with their ideals, planning their careers independently, and becoming more confident — this is exactly what we hope to see more of.

“In the future, we will hold this summit around the world to strengthen global connections among women, foster mutual learning and inspiration, and provide more opportunities for networking and business collaboration,” she said.