EMPOWER HER is a joint initiative of the US Department of Commerce/Global Markets and AmChams in Europe fostering collaboration on women’s empowerment and gender equality. The initiative aims to promote the role of women in international business and trade and to encourage companies’ efforts to support diversity, inclusion, and corporate social responsibility in the global economy.

Empower Her is the US Department of Commerce/Global Markets’ partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union (AmCham EU) and AmChams in Europe (ACE) to bolster direct engagement by businesses to define and promote actionable steps they will commit in order to advance women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. The initiative builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Gender Strategy of October 2021, which set out to advance the full participation of all people and to ensure that everyone, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to realize their full potential. It was announced at the Transatlantic Conference in March 2022 and officially launched in May 2022, aiming to facilitate the spread of these ideas and best practices. Combining the reach and leadership of Global Markets and AmCham EU, Empower Her calls on US and international companies to remain leaders of diversity, inclusion, and corporate social responsibility in the global economy and to join the effort to foster gender equality and women’s empowerment in every country in which US Commercial Service Europe operates.

CS Europe and AmCham EU invite all US and European companies to join the US Government, their international partners, and their colleagues and peers in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment by:

  • Advancing women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in international trade;
  • Urging US and European companies to diversify their workplace and support women-owned businesses;
  • Improving tools and services for women; and
  • Increasing awareness for female entrepreneurs of trade, investment, and export-related services.

The American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce, committed to reinforcing the message of equity and to attaining the goal of gender equality in the economic sphere, both through the targeted work of its Women in Business (WIB) Committee and through its daily practice as an organization, immediately welcomed the opportunity to join with other AmChams to advocate for women in leadership, strengthen inclusion and diversity, and take actionable steps to advance women’s economic empowerment and entrepreneurship. A year on, we are proud to share that five of our member companies—Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firm, KPMG, and Pfizer, followed by AbbVie Pharmaceuticals and Coca-Cola Hellas—have already signed the Empower Her declaration, joining the effort to advance gender equality and diversity.

 

On behalf of US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, I want to congratulate the American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce for its leadership in implementing the Empower Her initiative in Greece. Together with the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union and AmChams in Europe, we are cooperating to support and advance women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in international trade.

These efforts would not be possible without the expertise and participation of our private sector partners. US firms are leaders in diversity and inclusion who are bringing about important changes not only in their own workforces but also in improving the overall business environment for women and mentoring the next generation of female leaders in the countries in which we operate.

In particular, I would like to recognize and thank KPMG, Pfizer, KG Law Firm, AbbVie and Coca-Cola Hellas for being the first US company signatories in Greece to the Empower Her declaration. We look forward to having even more US firms join us in this important initiative. I know that together we will make considerable strides in promoting women’s economic empowerment both in Greece and throughout Europe.

— Yuri Arthur, Commercial Counselor, US Department of Commerce, US Embassy to Greece

 

 

The Empower Her declaration aims to promote the role of women in business and supports initiatives to advance women’s economic empowerment and gender equality in the workplace. At KG Law Firm we have embraced these targets and are proud of having many women amongst our total workforce and 50% at partner level; consequently, signing the Empower Her declaration came naturally to us and was in line with our firm’s values, history, principles, and pioneering spirit.

— John Kyriakides, Managing Partner, Kyriakides Georgopoulos Law Firm

 

 

We are proud to be one of the first American-Hellenic Chamber of Commerce member companies who have signed the Empower Her declaration. This initiative aligns with Pfizer Hellas’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion not only in the workplace and in business but also in our society in general. Our participation in the Empower Her declaration reinforces our efforts in this direction by strengthening gender equality, advancing a more diverse and inclusive workplace, and improving the business environment for women.”

— Zachary Ragoussis, President and Managing Director, Pfizer Hellas

 

 

KPMG in Greece wholeheartedly embraces the Empower Her declaration, championing gender equality and inclusion through policies promoting equal treatment, female leadership, and diversity. As a trailblazer among the Big Four firms in Greece, we appointed our first female partner in 1995. With 55% of our workforce comprising women, we prioritize a diverse and empowering workplace. Proudly joining Empower Her, we advocate for an equitable business environment and women’s economic empowerment. We are honored to be among the first three AmCham Greece member companies to sign the declaration, showcasing our commitment to advancing gender equality. Together, we can make a difference.

— Nikolaos Vouniseas, Senior Partner, KPMG in Greece

 

 

The Coca-Cola Company is committed to advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion around the world. For all of us at Coca-Cola, equity isn’t just a nice-to-have, it is a must-have. We are proud to aspire to be 50% led by women globally by 2030. We have proudly signed the Empower Her declaration, as it is in line with our belief that each one of us can actively support and embrace equity within our own sphere of influence, by challenging gender stereotypes, calling out discrimination, drawing attention to bias, and seeking out inclusion.

— Stavros Mourelatos, General Manager Greece, Cyprus and Malta, The Coca-Cola Company

 

 

For AbbVie, diversity and inclusion is our core mindset and our continuous effort against unconscious bias. We are proud to offer a working environment that allows our colleagues, regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, disability, or background, to achieve their full potential. We know that we are at our best when all voices are heard and valued. There is more to be done, and we are committed to listening and working towards lasting and meaningful change. Signing the Empower Her declaration is our active commitment to driving change and inspiring and empowering women to further educate themselves, discover leadership opportunities and ultimately become key contributors in shaping a better and more equal future for our society.

— Labrina Barmpetaki, Managing Director and Chairman of the Board, AbbVie Pharmaceuticals Greece, Cyprus, and Malta

 

 

 

To find out more about the Empower Her initiative and access the Declaration of Support for Women’s Economic Empowerment, visit https://www.trade.gov/empower-her.