I completely agree. Beyond showing a need, it also presents an opportunity. It was great to hear from the female U.S. CUDE CEOs that attended the African DE program. Their attendance exposed several male attendees to the idea of women CEOs. They were from countries where it was not remotely considered acceptable. (Lisa Brown, CEO of Tallahassee Leon FCU in Florida has a great story about this experience.)

Given that we only know what we are exposed to, our role model as leaders creates new opportunities for women around the world.

Even though we are rooted in "non-discrimination" it is amazing to consider that credit unions  in the United States only offered women the opportunity to obtain loans in their own name in the 1960s. 

The inspiring question here is what are strategies that we can employ to change the culture in coutries where it is not a cultural norm for women to be CEOs.