This morning participants traveled to the Malba, Buenos Aires’ modern museum of art where we enjoyed a tour and admired works from some of the region’s most innovative 20th century artists—including those of Frida Kahlo, a trailblazer for women in her own time.

After a brief tour, participants sat down to listen to the speeches of International Development Bank President, Luis Alberto Moreno and Dina Powell, Managing Director, Global Head of Corporate Engagement for Goldman Sachs & Co., who announced their partnership to commission a new study that will make the case for investing in women entrepreneurs throughout the Americas.

President Moreno underscored the long history of women’s leadership in the region, stating: “Women in Latin America have always been leaders, even if in an anonymous way”. He also emphasized the need to provide economic opportunity to women as a vehicle to promote development and democracy. Dina spoke directly to Goldman Sachs and the IDB’s partnership on the forthcoming study, addressing the importance of presenting hard numbers and in-depth research to compel the cross-sector community to action.

After a lunch reception, we reconvened in the Malba auditorium to listen to the panel discussion, Innovation: Advancing Women in Our World, which featured our previous keynote speakers as well as Amanda Ellis, Lead Specialist, World Bank Group Gender Action Plan & Doing Business Gender Manager; Francisco Mejía, Principal Officer, Opportunities for the Majority Initiative; Kim Azzarelli, Vice-President, Associate General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Avon Products, Inc.; Margareth Henríquez , CEO, Bodegas Chandón; Gonzalo Alonso, General Manager SP LATAM, Google; and moderator, Sonia Ruseler, a former CNN International Anchor.

An interesting discussion ensued as Ms. Henríquez discussed a paradigm shift away from vertical structures that have historically hindered women’s ability to achieve. Panelists addressed the new opportunities evolving through the use of information communication technologies, growing investments in the younger generations of rising women leaders and the growth of entrepreneurship. Panelists also spoke frankly about the current economic crisis and its impact on innovation and women’s empowerment, underscoring the ways in which crisis can give way to opportunity.

The plenary discussion was followed by a presentation on Vital Voices’ Artisans Export Development Program, which started in Africa and will be expanded to Latin America & the Caribbean following the summit. This will be one of the many outcomes and follow on initiatives of the regional event- and tomorrow we will learn more from Program Officer, Eugenia Podesta and the women leaers who have been working together to collaborate on best practices and strategies for action moving forward.