.svg)
Chief Guest
- Smt. Droupadi Murmu Hon'ble President of India
In The August Presence Of
- Shri Mohan Charan Majhi Chief Minister Odisha
- Dr Mukesh Mahaling Minister, Health and Family welfare, Parliamentary Affairs, Electronics & Information Technology Odisha
- Shri Suryabanshi Suraj Minister, Higher Education, Sports & Youth Services, Odia Language Literature & Culture Odisha
Irene Arias Hofman
Chief Executive Officer
MIRA
Irene Arias Hofman is a senior executive and CFA Charterholder with deep expertise across finance, venture capital, and private equity. She is an independent board member and CEO of MIRA, LLC, a US-based advisory and investment firm focused on the future of finance.
From 2018 to 2025, she served as CEO of IDB Lab, transforming it into a global innovation platform supporting more than 1,100 startups and 115 venture capital funds.
Earlier at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), she managed loan and equity portfolios exceeding $16 billion and pioneered local capital market offerings across emerging economies. Irene has held senior global governance roles, and is recognized for combining technical rigor with strong institutional leadership.
Speaking at
-
12:15–1:00pmFri 6 FebSummit Stage DialoguesCentral HallOpen
Delivering Skilling and Employment
Scaling Women’s Skills and Supporting Women-led SMEs
-
Carrie SuenVice President, Head of Global Affairs & Strategic DevelopmentAnt International
-
Irene Arias HofmanChief Executive OfficerMIRA
-
Dilip ModiFounderSpice Money
-
Rashmita PandaChief Executive OfficerStartUp Odisha
-
Parul Seth KhannaCo-founder & DirectorUniversal Pensions Pte LtdModerator
About this session
Women entrepreneurs and MSMEs remain critically underserved in accessing finance, markets, and skills, despite being essential drivers of inclusive economic growth. This panel examines how digital infrastructure, blended finance models, and policy innovation can scale women's economic empowerment beyond pilot programs to systemic change.
The discussion will move beyond enrolment metrics to focus on what actually works. Drawing on implementation experience across India's rural hinterlands, Latin America's informal economies, and global fintech ecosystems, the panel will identify specific policy interventions, mentorship mechanisms, and market linkages that keep women-led businesses viable - yielding actionable insights for policymakers, financial institutions, and technology platforms committed to genuine, scaled financial inclusion for women. -
