Inside UN’S CSW: the UK-NY Women’s Business Exchange
Camille Jalandoni and Justyna Kedra, the co-founders of WERULE, stood within the British Residence in New York City and felt the undeniable vibration of a historical pivot. As attendees of the United Nations 70th Commission on the Status of Women (#CSW70), they joined an intimate gathering co-hosted by Women.NYC and the British Consulate General New York. The event, titled Celebrating Her Success: A UK-NY Women’s Business Exchange, served as a rigorous assembly of changemakers and visionaries who recognize that the global economic landscape is being redesigned in real time.
In a professional world often defined by transactional networking, this room represented a shift toward Relational Innovation. The atmosphere was thick with the collective energy of women who do not merely discuss parity but build the foundation to sustain it. For Camille and Justyna, witnessing the alignment between New York City and the United Kingdom was a masterclass in how cities can lead with intention to create a global ripple effect.
The Resilience of the Pioneer
The evening’s discourse featured leaders such as Diana Franco, Baroness Harriet Harman, Alexandra Davies-Jones MP, and Brinda Ganguly. The conversation addressed the complexities of navigating what remains, in many sectors, a landscape built for a different era. One speaker offered a poignant reminder of the pioneer status still held by women in high-growth industries.
"It is harder to be a pioneer than to be slipped into an area where you are part of the mainstream. We must remind ourselves that we are still pioneers in what has been overwhelmingly a man’s world."
This sentiment speaks directly to the Confidence Crisis that WERULE seeks to solve. It highlights the fatigue of the "first" and the necessity of moving toward a world where women’s leadership is the mainstream rather than the exception. The data shared during the exchange was stark: in the UK, only two pence of every pound of equity investment goes to fully female-founded businesses. The conclusion was unanimous: the talent is present, but the systems require a radical update to recognize and reward that talent on equal terms.
Global Solidarity and the Human Margin
As Camille and Justyna listened to the shared priorities of these international leaders, a powerful theme emerged: the universality of the mission. Regardless of religion, culture, or society, the objectives remain consistent across the globe. Women are demanding an end to violence, a seat in the decision-making rooms that affect their lives, and the recognition of their economic activity as a primary driver of national income.
One participant noted that when women are given the opportunity to lead and shape decisions, society gains far much more than it gives. It gains new perspectives and stronger institutions. This is the Human Margin in action: the belief that diversity is not a quota to be filled, but a strategic advantage to be harnessed. It is about creating a culture where the next generation of girls grows up believing that ambition and influence are theirs by right.
Defending the Progress: Resistance to the Rollback
The exchange also addressed a timely and urgent challenge: the growing resistance to the progress made over recent decades. There is a rising narrative that suggests the advancement of women has come at the expense of men, leading to a call for a return to traditional, hierarchical household structures. The response from the room was a definitive refusal to compromise.
The leaders emphasized that we do not accept rollback; we demand further advances. This requires a new era of Conscious Leadership and a sophisticated approach to male allyship. The goal is to engage the "sons of the women's movement" to ensure that progress is not just protected but accelerated. This is the Strategic Sovereignty required to ensure that the special relationship between these two global hubs continues to evolve into a permanent Sisterhood.
A Call to Design the Future
For the co-founders of WERULE, the event was a visceral reminder of why they are obsessed with the details of tech, design, and mentorship. By bridging the gap between technical fluency and institutional intuition, Camille and Justyna are constructing the digital and physical spaces where this global sisterhood can thrive.
The initiatives led by Women.NYC and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) serve as the perfect engine for this movement. They prove that when women are connected, remarkable things happen. The evening at the British Residence was an invitation to stop being passive consumers of reality and start being the designers of it. When women work together across sectors and communities, the gains are multiplied. WERULE remains committed to this collective rise, ensuring that every visionary has the freedom, safety, and voice to thrive.
