Who Runs the World?

Women and girls across the world are often made to feel as if the challenges, limitations, and barriers they face are personal, belonging to them alone. When, in fact, they affect us all. The issues are systemic, societal, and global – and we have the power to create change.

In Who Runs the World?, author Lois Quam emphasizes the need to unlock the immense potential of women and girls globally. Quam argues that empowering women is the long-needed step for justice and the progress needed to address the growing challenges we face today.

Throughout the book, she speaks to the barriers – personal and systemic – that block the humanity and talent of half the all the world’s people – women.

Who Runs the World? sheds light on the path to change and the vital role women and girls play in addressing global challenges. Join the movement to unlock all the world’s talent and contribute to a more equitable and thriving world.

“Achieving a world where women everywhere can fulfill their potential is the great unfinished work of today and the very work we must do to make progress. Lois Quam shows how we can build the future we envision for us all by supporting women and girls around the world.”— Hillary Rodham Clinton, 67th US Secretary of State

As the world struggles against escalating crisis and conflict, there''s a transformative force waiting to be unlocked—the unparalleled potential of women and girls. In Who Runs the World?, author Lois Quam imagines a world where the brilliance and capabilities of women are not just recognized, but mobilized to create a brighter future for us all.

Who Runs the World? explores what happens when we unlock the immense potential of women and girls globally—by recognizing that reproductive health and rights is at the heart of women’s empowerment. Only by effectively addressing reproductive health can we unlock the untapped power of women and girls, giving global efforts the best shot at combatting major threats to survival on Earth.

Quam is CEO of Pathfinder, a global health and development nonprofit that puts decisions about women’s bodies and futures in their own hands. Her book draws on the stories of Pathfinder leaders in Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, showcasing the organization’s revolutionary work to unlock the immense talent of the world’s women, and the obstacles that still stand in the way. Their stories paint a vivid picture of the significant impact that women and girls can have when they drive change in areas such as healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, and economic development.

Women''s empowerment isn''t just an idea—it’s the key to global transformation. Who Runs the World? is a call to action for everyone who has experienced for themselves what it means to be able to choose whether and when to have children – and to be able to do it safely, with high quality health care. It is a roadmap for creating a world where everyone is free to make informed decisions about their lives and how this is the surest path to creating a better future for us all.