Virtual Lotus Leadership Awards

Embracing new ways to convene, on April 15 we honored women’s empowerment impacts across Asia. The program featured honorees Ziauddin Yousafzai, co-founder of the Malala Fund; Mastercard for its commitment to women’s economic empowerment and financial security with CEO Ajay Banga accepting on its behalf; and The Gender Lab in India. Covid-19 disproportionally impacts communities The Asia Foundation serves, especially women. The pandemic has already challenged all of us, but we have yet to see the economic and social impacts it will have on Asia’s women and girls. The Lotus Circle hosts the awards annually. Their generosity enables The Asia Foundation to invest rapidly to equip women and girls with the tools, networks, and influence they need most.