At United Nations Headquarters this week, the UNITAR–FICFF 2026 Women’s Forum brought together an unlikely mix of voices from global media executives to livestream commerce pioneers to explore how women are reshaping the global economy in real time.
Held alongside the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), the forum — moderated by Stephanie Fillion, Editor-in-Chief of Envoy Magazine — reflected a broader shift: influence is no longer confined to institutions, but increasingly driven by individuals, platforms, and communities.
Opening the discussion, FICFF Founder Yitong Qin framed gender equality as a human-centered process. Progress, he suggested, is not only negotiated in policy rooms, but built daily by entrepreneurs, educators, and creators working across borders.
That idea came into sharp focus from Austin Li, one of the most powerful figures in global livestream commerce. Known for generating billions in sales during peak shopping events, Li offered a perspective that moved beyond metrics.
After a decade of speaking directly with millions of consumers, most of them women, he described a profound shift. What was once consumption driven by appearance has evolved into something far more personal: a reflection of identity, values, and self-definition.
“Women are no longer choosing products to fit in,” Li noted. “They are choosing them to express who they are.”
The conversation extended beyond digital platforms. Entrepreneur Victoria Leung spoke about building a sustainable beauty brand in an industry often constrained by scale and waste, while Brandy Rose Apostol emphasized the enduring importance of reading and critical thinking in an AI-driven world.
From rural education initiatives to child welfare reform in Egypt, discussions throughout the forum underscored a common thread: meaningful change happens when global dialogue connects with local realities.
Co-organized by the Fashion in a Conscious Future Foundation and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), the forum ultimately pointed to a shared conclusion — that the future of inclusive growth will be shaped not by any single sector, but by collaboration across all of them.
In a world increasingly defined by digital connection, the message was clear: behind every screen is a real voice — and those voices are redefining the future.
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