Podcast Host, Professor, Writer

Author: admin Page 6 of 7

Only 2 Women Billionaires in Eastern Europe, Russia and rest of CIS

Where are all the women? We’re Half the Sky as but we’re always underrepresented as Catalyst reasearch points out (see my previous post titled International Women’s Day). The same is true for Eastern Europe, Russia and the rest of the CIS where only 2 women reached Forbes billionaire ranks out of some 40 or so total women on the 1,011 long list.

The richest in the region is Elena Baturina who returned to the list after a rebound in Russia; her net worth: $2.9 billion. The wife of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov (who has been in power since 1992) runs Inteko which started out in furniture and crockery then moved into construction. Her real estate projects were hard hit by the 2008 financial crisis but she is back building affordable housing for Russia’s rising middle class. She also reportedly has interests in Africa, a continent where several CIS oligarchs are looking to expand. Though rumors swirl about favoritism in winning city contracts because of her family connections, nothing sticks; Baturina is aggressive about maintaining a clean reputation.

The other is Dinara Kulibaeva, the media-shy second daughter of Kazakhstan’s long-serving president Nursultan Nazarbaev and wife of Timur Kulibaev, also a billionaire and rumored to be a potential successor to Nazarbaev. She also returns to the Forbes billionaires list; her fortune is estimated at $1.1 billion resting on her shared stake in Halyk Bank which received hundreds of millions of dollars in bailout funds from the government post 2008/2009 financial crisis.

The common thread between the two is the connection to powerful men. Though the Soviet State introduced equal gender rights and formal equality under law and this should have been grandfathered into newly independent states, the theory has not always played out in practice. Some states in Central Asia (Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) have even taken steps backward since the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union with discrimination against women rising.

Share

More Billionaires in Eastern Europe, Russia and rest of CIS says Forbes

2009 was a year of recovery for the World’s Billionaires as a whole reports Forbes (for whom I have been freelancing). The wealthiest in Eastern Europe, Russia and the CIS states improved their fortunes as commodities markets recovered and world stock markets rose.

Poland, a success story among transition economies, but which had only 1 billionaire on the list last year, Zygmunt Solorz-Zak, is back with 4 billionaires. In addition to Solorz-Zak, Jan Kulczyk, Leszek Czarnecki and Michal Solowow return to the Forbes billionaires list. Kulczyk, who was  last on the Forbes list in 2006, is strengthened by his energy holdings.

Dinu Patriciu, Romania’s richest billionaire, is also making a big push in energy, going after licenses  to explore for oil and metals in the Black Sea; in January he even got patent for a method of mining and processing seabed sediment.

Despite the fact Romania’s GDP contracted an estimated 7% in 2009 and its hopes to introduce the euro by 2014 may be thwarted by collapsing euro-economies like Greece, the country saw the return of former tennis ace, Ion Tiriac, to the Forbes billionaires list and added one new billionaire, Ioan Niculae, who has interests in agriculture.

Indeed it was a good year for agriculture – the world’s rising population needs to be fed.  Andrej Babis joined the Forbes list as a new billionaire from the Czech Republic; his Agrofert agricultural holding company keeps growing and may be looking at European expansion plans. Along the same theme, two new Russian billionaires, Andrei Guriev, and Anatoly Lomakin, made their fortune in fertilizers; and fellow Russians Pyotr Kondrashev and Vyacheslav Kantor return to the billionaires list based on their interests in the fertilizer business.

Share

International Women’s Day

Last week, I read an op-ed in the New York Times promoting a gender-neutral Oscar – author Kim Elsesser noted there is no need for segregating awards between men and women and that women should be treated as full equals. Though I agree with the latter statement, we live in a world of gender inequality. Look at the provocative cover of the Economist this week: “Gendercide:What happened to 100 million baby girls?” It goes over what has been in the news before – China’s one-baby per family policy encourages families to use ultrasounds to determine a baby’s sex and abort females, now there is a disproportionate male-female ratio in the country. Same for places in India and South Korea. The lead anecdote from rural China about a midwife throwing a girl baby in a slop-pile to die broke my heart.

So for me International Women’s Day is important. It is ironic that International Women’s Day is actually a national holiday in China. That’s based on the day’s roots in a socialist solidarity movement for women. The long history of promoting women’s rights needs to continue around the world.

Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wunn have written a wonderful book, Half the Sky, which sets out a 21st century agenda for the women around the world. Check out the section on How to Get Involved.

In a world where women hold up half the sky, and make up 40% of the worforce, so much more needs to be done to achieve equality. Catalyst, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting women in business, recently published, Pipeline’s Broken Promise, which looked at thousands of women and men MBA alumni in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia, and determined that even after taking into account experience, industry, and region, women start at lower levels than men, make on average $4,600 less in their initial jobs, and continue to be outpaced by men in rank and salary growth. Men are twice as likely as women to hold CEO or senior executive positions and less likely to be at lower levels, where women are overrepresented.

I know I need to do more so that my daughter has a better future. To International Women’s Day!

Share

Anne Rice and New Media

I love paper. I love the feel of the New York Times in the morning as it crackles in my hands; I love to sit with a book under the blanket my grandmother knit for me; and I love stationary, Kate’s Paperie is my dream store.

But I was intrigued by a new concept and a new media company, Vook, that may change how I read. Will you “vook” one day like you google? Maybe. The company launched last October; their concept – produce a digital book type that combines video, links to the internet and text into one application.

The only reason I even looked at Vook is because one of my favorite fiction authors, Anne Rice, has decided to “vook”. I have an entire shelf filled with Rice’s work – The Witching Hour is my favorite. She recently launched a multimedia edition of “The Master of Rampling Gate,” a previously published vampire story set in an England mansion in the 19th century. I checked it out – Vook is having a promo for the piece at 99 cents (don’t know how they are making money) – and I found it interesting. Though I still don’t like reading online (nope, don’t have a Kindle), I liked the videos attached to the story. The internet links were a little bit too obvious I thought and didn’t add much. But I loved seeing Anne Rice talk about her work and the story. I have never had the chance to see her at a reading, it but was a close second. (though going to her store in New Orleans when it existed was awesome). And she is definitely a fun woman to celebrate this month.

To vook or not to vook  – that is the question.

Share

March 3rd is World Read Aloud Day

One of my favorite things to do is curl up with a few books my daughter has selected from her treasure trove and read before bedtime. So I was excited when I ran across World Read Aloud Day by chance. Because I believe in the power of reading to shape minds, I wanted to encourage everyone to support it by doing and by helping others who lack to resources to do it. Here in the U.S. my friend Lisa Moran pointed out in Parenting’s “The Early Literacy Crisis” many children do not have access to books, and parents don’t have the time to read aloud. There are many things we can do to fix this problem from donating gently used books to charities to encouraging local retailers to sponsor story-times. LitWorld is one organization trying to help. And because this is Women’s Month at Global Markets and Ideas – I want to give a shout out to their program for helping women leaders support girls in literacy and self-expression.

Share

Museum Mojo

My first visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art was magic. I was an impressionable 13 year old awed by its history and beauty, including those majestic outdoor steps that make you feel like a princess entering your castle. I believe museums and galleries large and small teach you about life, and are community treasures. Watching Anna run around the Temple of Dendur at the Met or at our local Pierogi art gallery, I hope she is learning to appreciate art.

Guest speaker Silvia Karman Cubina recently appointed to lead Miami’s Bass Museum believes museums should be more in tune to communities and has made this her mandate. When I am in Miami next, I will be sure to visit the Bass Museum to see her efforts there.

I have made it my goal to encourage art institutions to create programs for 2 to 4 year olds. I used to take my daughter to the Whitney Museum‘s stroller tours but they stop at 18 months; most art programs for kids pick up again at 4. Huge undeserved market – with a flexible price point I may add!

Share

Jewels of Venice

Venice is one of my five favorite cities in the world. I first went to Venice as a teenager, on a school trip with the Dominican nuns. I was entranced by the canals and beauty of meandering through the streets and waterways. When I returned years later, I once again lost myself in the twists and surprises of the floating city. As I walked, looking at shops full of masks, costumes, art, I went past an enchanting shorefront filled with a different kind of jewelry – modern, light, romantic. I lunched with friends in the nearby piazza  of Santa Margherita (happily devoid of tourists) and came back to browse. My boyfriend (now husband) struck up a conversation with Gualti who created all the fabulous jewelry. I left with my first piece, a necklace, and every time we went back for the Venice Biennale, I added to my collection. Gualti even made me my own special headpiece for my wedding. I asked Gualti to write about his passion for this month’s art theme. If ever you find yourself in Venice, meander over to see him!

Share

February is Arts Month at Global Markets

It is cold and snowy and sniffly. To reconnect with the world’s beauty, I have invited several guest writers to discuss art in its many shapes and its many businesses. Perfumer Mandy Aftel leads us with her intoxicating description of scent and an essay on the art of perfumery. I met Mandy when I was at a dinner at the American Museum of Natural History. As part of its Silk Road exhibit, the museum arranged a wonderful dinner infused with aromatics provided by Mandy. I was particulary taken with the antique sandalwood which took me back through time; the next day, I contacted Mandy who agreed to share her beautiful story.

The rest of the month will have similar tales. Tune in to be transported from the cold!

A quick note on the upcoming editorial calendar:

March – women in global affairs
April – the business of green
May – energy
June – the business of soccer
To be continued…

Share

Haiti Fundraising

I recently found out about an interesting fundraising effort for Haiti called C4C or Cooking for a Cause. Staff at the United Nations International School came up with the idea to devote their time to creating fabulous dinner parties for those who are interested. All the money they collect is donated to Haiti relief and reconstruction. Details follow:

C4C (Cooking for a Cause)

United Nations International School Faculty and Staff will cook, serve dinner in your own home.

To raise funds for Haiti UNIS Faculty and Staff has formed a Catering Service whose members will cook on request many types of cuisine, serve and clean up before they leave your home. 100% of proceeds will go to UNIS Haiti Relief Fund . We are committed to help Haiti for a long term. We hope to provide this service for at least one year.

Date and time: Any Saturday from 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Location: Your home

Menu: French, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese,Italian and vegetarian cuisine

  1. One appetizer
  2. One main course
  3. One or two side-dishes
  4. Dessert

Price:  $100/person

Numbers of  guests: 4 to 12

Reservations: One week prior or by Wednesday for Saturday.

Contact: Kimxuan Huynh Brezinsky  at kbrezinsky@unis.org

Share

Venezuela

My mother-in-law spent much of her youth in Venezuela where her father went to run a business after leaving Italy post WWII. She learned to hunt in the rich forests, she swam in pristine rivers – it is like hearing of Eden. It is difficult to marry this magical vision to the tragedy that has befallen Venezuela today.

Several years ago, my colleague and friend Susan Kitchens travelled to Venezuela to tell the tale of Chavez and his Cuba connection. She saw a Venezuela of squalor and danger run by a megalomaniac who was squandering his country’s resources.

Today, my mother-in-law knows she cannot travel to a place she calls home. In Speakers Corner, clinical psychologist, Felicitas Kort, writes about the fear that pervades Venezuela’s psyche and its standstill. It reminds me of the fiction story, Trailhead, in the January 23 issue of the New Yorker. The last sentence of the story: “Finally, all that the Trailheaders knew was terror, ad the existance of a choice-they could fight or run from the horror.” Felicitas for the time being has moved out of Venezuela as has her family, but she remains attached to her home. Will change ever come? I would love to one day take my daughter to see where her Nonna grew up. Hopefully that day will come.

Share

Page 6 of 7

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén