There were days, particularly the dark days of COVID-19, when the challenges appeared insurmountable. At times I wondered whether we would ever live in a world with equality in leadership opportunities, protection and governance for everyone. The pandemic highlighted the immense challenges that women face in their health, safety and livelihoods. Many women, especially those in vulnerable communities, have lost a generation’s worth of economic gains. With the increase in gender-based violence and the reversal of decades of advancement for women in the workplace, we have reached an inflection point for gender equality. More