Tupperware CEO on "Changing the Tone When We Talk About Gender"

Women Leaders & Gender Parity
Apr 2, 2014 12:00 PM ET

Original post by Rick Goings on World Economic Forum

By Rick Goings, Chairman & CEO of Tupperware Brands

Globally, women earn on average 10%-30% less than men, with women earning even less in some Asian and Latin American countries, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). This is not only an issue of fairness but also represents an acute economic threat...

At my company, Tupperware Brands, we have seen first-hand how women bring economic and personal richness to the lives of families, communities and, ultimately, economies. Central to our business and to our engagement with millions of women across the globe is a model of personal and business development based on direct selling. We see women embrace the tools provided to them, harness their strength to overcome restrictive laws, practices and belief systems, and tap their own entrepreneurial and developmental potential to have a positive impact on their loved ones and the community.

In Indonesia, our largest market, we have seen women increase their income level by a factor of 75. Whereas men are prone to think “me”, women have a mindset of “we”. Empower a woman economically, and you will see a ripple effect on the family and the community. A study conducted in Indonesia recently by the Global Fairness Initiative (GFI) and the Indonesian research firm DEKA illustrates this well. It shows that as the income of a Tupperware saleswoman grows, she reinvests in her business and, crucially, in her children’s schooling – two keys to future economic growth.

Continue reading the original post about Tupperware on the World Economic Forum blog >>