Women around the world still face numerous barriers to economic equality and to equal employment opportunities. When regulations and institutions differentiate between women and men, it impacts a woman's incentives or capacity to work or to set up and run a business. The Women, Business and the Law Report measures these laws and provides data on legal and regulatory barriers to women's entrepreneurship and employment in 189 economies, covering: accessing institutions, using property, getting a job, providing incentives to work, going to court, building credit and protecting women from violence. This year's report marks the 5th edition of the report. Learn more here.
Sarah Iqbal is the Program Manager of the World Bank Group's Indicator Development Unit, in the Global Indicators Group of the Development Economics Vice-Presidency. In this capacity, she manages Women, Business and the Law, Enabling the Business of Agriculture, and a new pilot indicator set on Digital Business. She joined the World Bank Group in 2008, where she first worked with Doing Business before moving to develop the Women, Business and the Law indicators. She also provides guidance on the interaction of the law and women's economic activities in areas such as entrepreneurship and employment. Iqbal is a member of the California Bar, and prior to joining the World Bank Group practiced civil litigation and criminal defense law. She holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, an MA in International Relations and International Economics from Johns Hopkins SAIS and a JD concentrating in International Law from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Sara Begley (Moderator) is a Partner at Reed Smith. Her practice includes a wide scope of employment litigation, including defending employers against discrimination, retaliation, sexual harassment and whistleblower claims. Begley represents employers in EEOC investigations involving claims of systemic discrimination, as well as EEOC class actions and matters involving commissioner charges. Begley is recognized by Chambers USA as an "outstanding" trial lawyer who "stands out for her strategic thinking and practical advice." She is also recognized by Legal 500 and Best Lawyers in America for excellence in employment law. Begley served as the Global Practice Group Leader for Reed Smith's Labor & Employment Group from 2012 to 2017 and is presently the Global Chair of Reed Smith's Women's Initiative Network.
