Henriette Kolb is Head of the Gender Secretariat at the International Finance Corporation where she serves as a spokesperson on gender equality issues in the private sector and is responsible for developing strategic directions to support the institution's gender and private sector development priorities. Henriette works across IFC's investment and advisory service to include both women and men as entrepreneurs, employees, consumers and leaders into the private sector. She advocates for multi-sector partnerships, develops gender based business approaches and advises colleagues and clients on their gender work. Prior to joining IFC in September 2013, Henriette was the Chief Executive of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Henriette has been leading the work in defining and addressing the gender gap in mobile phone access and continues to be involved with the Foundation as a senior advisor. Henriette also served as a sub-committee member of Secretary Hillary Clinton's International Council on Women's Business Leadership. Devex selected Henriette as one of the “top 40 under 40” international development leaders in 2011. She graduated with an MSc in Development Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and received her MA from Freiburg University, Germany.
