What It Really Takes to Build an Equitable Economy for Women— And Why 2026 Must Be Our Turning Point
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Julie Castro Abrams
CEO of How Women Lead and Managing Partner of How Women Invest
The data shows us something important: the next era of economic growth will come from the people and ideas we’ve historically undervalued. And women, particularly women founders, innovators, and investors, are at the center of that opportunity.
Across every metric, women deliver strong performance with fewer resources. They build capital-efficient companies. They innovate in markets others miss. They create workplaces where people thrive and stay. Morgan Stanley quantified what many of us see daily: if we invested equitably in women, we could unlock $4.4 trillion in economic value. That is not theoretical; it’s documented potential ready to be activated.
We know what works.
Women-founded companies consistently outperform in environments that reward sustainability, long-term value, and operational discipline. They recognize blue-ocean opportunities because they live closer to the unmet needs of consumers. They build cultures that reduce turnover, strengthen productivity, and create mobility for everyone. Public companies with female CEOs have 80% more women in the C-suite. The outcomes are clear.
The barrier is not performance. The barrier is structure.
Capital Must Shift to Match Opportunity
Women now control 50–60% of personal wealth through earnings, entrepreneurship, and inheritance. Yet 98.6% of assets are still managed by white men. That disconnect means decisions about our money are being made without our lived experiences, values, or priorities reflected at the table.
Capital moves through relationships, such as boards, deal networks, and investment committees that have historically been closed circles. Women, particularly women of color, are still navigating systems that weren’t built with us in mind. Even when we are the depositors, the pension contributors, the limited partners—someone else is making the decisions.
This is one of the most significant economic opportunities of our time: aligning who holds the wealth with who allocates it.
Decision-Making Tables Shape Outcomes
When boards and investment committees become gender-balanced and racially diverse, strategies shift. Different questions emerge: Who benefits? Who’s missing? Does this investment reflect the market we’re actually moving into?
These are not small adjustments. They change capital flows. They change governance. They change risk assessment and accountability. They open the door to investing in women-led companies, underrepresented founders, and community-based innovation that has been overlooked for too long.
A Defining Moment: The $30T+ Wealth Transfer
We are in the midst of the largest generational wealth transfer in history—over $30 trillion—and women will inherit the majority of it. That transition gives us the rare chance to reshape legacy, ownership, and economic power in one generation.
If we direct even a fraction of that wealth toward women-led funds, women founders, and institutions designed with women in mind, we will reset the trajectory of our economy.
By 2026, We Must Move From Insight to Action
To meet this moment, we must:
Normalize women as investors and capital allocators. Whether it’s a first angel check, a venture fund investment, or an index fund, women should feel ownership over every dollar they deploy.
Ensure women are present in every room where capital decisions are made. This includes corporate boards, pension committees, endowments, and venture firms.
Invest in women-run venture firms and fund women founders at scale. They know the markets, the needs, and the opportunities best.
Redesign financial systems with women’s realities at the center. Credit, caregiving, and career pathways should not be afterthoughts.
Create cultural shifts around wealth, equity, and ambition. Women deserve spaces where financial power is expected—not exceptional.
We Are Building the Future Economy Now
The goal is simple: an economy where women’s leadership, innovation, and financial power are standard. We are not waiting. Women are already the economic engine, the wealth holders, the job creators. We have the data, the capacity, and the momentum.
What comes next depends on how boldly we move.
2026 is our turning point, not because we need permission to lead, but because we’re claiming the economic future we are already building.
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