Gender Lens Investing Fuels Inclusion, Growth: UBS

Switzerland-based global financial services firm UBS has released a report examining the ongoing disparities women face when it comes to investment, financial services, and wealth distribution, with insights and recommendations on how to remove the barriers that are economic inclusion for women.

Authored by Antonia Sariyska and Amantia Muhedini, sustainable and impact investing strategists at UBS Global Wealth Management’s chief investment office, the report, Gender-Lens Investment – The State of Women in 2025, was published in consideration of International Women’s Day.

It categorizes gender-lens investing into three key areas: investment for women, investment in women, and investment by women. These categories encompass the influence of female consumers, the gender wealth gap, and the growing financial power of women as asset managers and investors. 

Inc. Arabia spoke to Sariyska and Muhedini to delve deeper into the structural barriers hindering gender-lens investing, the evolving needs of female consumers, and the steps needed to drive financial inclusion and equitable funding to female entrepreneurs. 

For starters, the duo told us that, despite increasing financial influence, women continue to encounter systemic barriers when it comes to investment and entrepreneurship. "Gender-lens investing faces several structural barriers, including the lack of gender-disaggregated data that would allow investors to make more informed decisions and some persistent gender biases within the financial industry," Sariyska and Muhedini said. "These biases, for example, result in women entrepreneurs receiving less investment funding and being less represented in portfolio management, family offices, and broader capital allocation roles. To dismantle these barriers, investors can advocate for the collection and analysis of data, support women-led businesses, businesses with strong female representation, or businesses that aim to serve consumers in a more inclusive way."

Additionally, they point to the importance of addressing internal biases within their organizations and promoting diversity and inclusion (DEI). "By taking these steps, investors can contribute to a more equitable and inclusive financial system but also [get] some of the economic benefits of diversity and diverse teams, such as innovation and better risk awareness," they said.

The report also points out that, despite women-founded companies demonstrating lower burn rates than male-founded ones, they continue to receive a disproportionately smaller share of venture capital (VC) funding. This is in spite of the increase in the share of venture capital directed toward mixed-gender teams, reaching 24 percent in 2024—double the share from 2014, according to venture data platform PitchBook.

Antonia Sariyskas is a sustainable and impact investing strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management’s chief investment office. 

The authors also noted that, in the past, women often accessed wealth through marriage. This trend is changing as younger generations — Gen Z and millennials — are now inheriting a larger share of wealth in the intergenerational wealth transfer. Their influence in financial decision-making is set to rise, as women report greater concern than men about the financial impact of life events. And as they achieve greater economic parity, their role as asset allocators becomes more significant.

In fact, the report notes that, between 2015 and 2024, the number of female billionaires globally jumped by 81 percent, rising from 190 to 344, largely driven by female business owners. By comparison, the number of male billionaires grew by 49 percent over the same period, reaching 2,338 in 2024. However, while many self-made women contributed to this growth, only 24 percent attribute their wealth solely to their businesses, compared to 65 percent of men.

Additionally, previous UBS research has shown that female investors tend to be more diligent and strategic in their approach to investments, spending more time researching investments, following financial plans more consistently, and being less likely to react impulsively to market volatility. Women also exhibit greater confidence in their decisions when their investments align with social impact goals. Additionally, they place a stronger emphasis on risk management, using stop-loss strategies, trading less frequently, and checking their portfolio performance less often than men.

Sariyska and Muhedini emphasized that, in order to foster a more equitable investment environment, financial institutions and policymakers must implement targeted funding programs, mentorship initiatives, and gender-diverse leadership policies. "Financial institutions and policymakers could implement targeted funding programs and grants for women-founded companies, to help create a more critical mass of female entrepreneurs, that can then act as role models and proponents of equal opportunities," they said. "Establishing mentorship and networking programs can provide valuable support, too. Policymakers can enact policies promoting gender diversity in venture capital firms and encourage investment in women-led businesses through tax incentives and transparency regulations. Raising awareness about the benefits of investing in women-founded companies through public campaigns and educational initiatives could also be helpful."

The report also underscores the vast economic potential of female consumers. Women currently manage an estimated US$32 trillion in global spending, with projections indicating they will control 75 percent of discretionary spending within five years. This shift demands that industries evolve to better meet the unique needs of female consumers while addressing current gaps in product and service offerings.

Amantia Muhedini is a sustainable and impact investing strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management’s chief investment office.

Sariyska and Muhedini stressed that, as the female customer base expands, products and services increasingly need to develop products that cater to the unique needs of women. "Industries need to evolve by prioritizing gender-specific research and development to understand the unique needs of female consumers," they said. "This includes creating products and services that cater to women's preferences, such as personalized health and wellness solutions, financial products tailored to women's life stages, and inclusive technology designs. The biggest gaps lie in sectors like finance and healthcare, where products often overlook women's goals or their specific experiences, and technology, where devices and applications may not consider women's needs.” 

Beyond access to capital, the report highlights key investment opportunities in sectors such as femtech, fintech, and consumer goods. "We think putting more emphasis on the positive impact on women's health, financial independence, and consumer satisfaction would be key, for example, through using data-driven insights, success stories, and inclusive marketing strategies to engage both male and female entrepreneurs, and ensuring services address women's unique needs," the authors said. "In addition, it is critical to highlight the significant capital in the hands of women, which can drive demand for tailored products and services, ultimately leading to greater market growth and innovation potential for more inclusive companies and business models.” 

Looking ahead to 2030, UBS has identified several indicators that will signal meaningful progress in gender-lens investing. "We should continue to monitor critical developments such as funding opportunities for women-led businesses, representation of women in (financial) decision-making roles, and growth of businesses that explicitly consider the needs of female consumers," Sariyska and Muhedini shared. "One lead indicator is likely to be the volume of assets flowing into dedicated gender-lens investment strategies, as well as into investments that explicitly consider some degree of diversity criteria in capital allocation. This would help us understand whether investors are finding suitable gender-lens investment opportunities and whether we are successful in communicating and engaging with investors on these opportunities.” 

Despite challenges, the UBS report concluded that gender-lens investing is gaining traction, with increased capital allocation capable of accelerating economic equity. By breaking down barriers, supporting female entrepreneurs, and tailoring products to meet women’s needs, investors can play a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive financial system — one that not only empowers women, but also strengthens global economic resilience. 

All images courtesy UBS.