History, Mission & values

"A world that is good for women is good for everyone."
Susan McGee Bailey, Ph.D., 1995

Mission

We foster the advancement of women in the field of international business, trade and development and inspire the local community by:

• promoting women’s leadership and the gender diversity business case and
• connecting the community with inspiring leaders and exceptional women

We provide many networking and learning opportunities and access to a worldwide network of like-minded professional women and men.

Values

Networking with like-minded professionals is at the core of everything we do. All our activities are conducted in an open and friendly atmosphere. We believe in: 

Empowerment & Diversity: we champion equal opportunity and active participation for women as underrepresented groups in professional and leadership spaces and we embrace diversity in all its forms - perspectives, backgrounds and experiences (SDG 5, SDG 10)   Collaboration & Partnership: We build bridges across sectors, nationalities and cultures, creating partnerships that amplify impact beyond our chapter and reinforce the strength of the global OWIT network (SDG 17).   Lifelong Learning & Growth: We encourage continuous education, skills exchange and personal development as essential drivers of professional success and resilience (SDG 4, SDG 8).   Supportive Community: We nurture a welcoming, respectful environment where members can exchange knowledge and challenges, find support for their wellbeing and celebrate achievements together (SDG 3).

History

Geneva Women in International Trade (GWIT) was founded in 2000 to enable professional women in Geneva to meet and expand their networks. At the inaugural meeting, the former Irish President and then High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, spoke about human rights and trade. It was the first time that women working in Geneva's public and private sectors were given a platform to get together to discuss trade.

In 2008, GWIT started to expand its offer of networking opportunities to Lausanne.

In 2010, on the occasion of its tenth anniversary, Geneva Women in International Trade changed its name. By taking on the name Organization of Women in International Trade – Lake Geneva (OWIT Lake Geneva), its goal was to reinforce its allegiance to OWIT International, a worldwide network created in 1989 in Los Angeles.

OWIT Lake Geneva would like to thank and acknowledge its Past Executive Board and Committee members.