Anchored in the theme of ‘Grounded Capital, Global Partners’, the 2026 2X Global Summit held in Montréal Canada brought together members and strategic partners from around the world for a three-day gathering to foster connections, drive collaborations and advance meaningful actions to close the global gender financing gap.
AMCVT, Anna Stuck’s family office spanning Clare Foundation and Clare Ventures, is the only New Zealand member of the 2X Global network, with founder Anna Stuck and CEO Tracey Holmes in attendance at the Summit to immerse themselves in the various workshops and keynote events where the role of the 2X Global community in today’s financial system was explored extensively.
As part of the official Summit schedule, Anna took part in the ‘Leading with Clarity and Courage’ Fishbowl conversation, with discussions focused on advancing gender equality through intentional leadership, courage to challenge restrictive policies and the strategic use of evidence even when the environment is resistant.
Key outtakes from the 2X Global Summit in Montreal that resonated deeply with Anna and Tracey included:
Beyond the Tick-Box: Gender investing isn’t a tick-box exercise; it must be hardcoded into an organisation’s DNA. Capital allocation should genuinely reflect the diverse markets we serve.
The Power of Standards: Individual effort doesn’t scale. We need shared standards and evidence-based frameworks to eliminate barriers and allow capital to flow where it is needed most.
Strength in Continuity: True impact relies on sharing what we know, building on the past, and focusing on measurable impact at scale.
Context is Everything: A one-size-fits-all approach fails. We must align performance-based incentives with gender objectives while deeply understanding local context.
Depth Over Breadth: Focus on quality over quantity. We must put our weight behind the biggest issues to drive maximum impact—remembering that communities are often “over-mentored but under-capitalised.”
Inclusion over Alienation: Driving a holistic, systemic change means building alliances rather than alienating groups, ensuring good intentions don’t lead to unintended consequences.
Despite a time when impact investing and gender equity initiatives face headwinds, the overall message of the Summit was that the 2X Global community is united in its commitment to gender lens investments, grounded in the growing body of evidence that demonstrates the financial, social and economic benefits of investing in women and girls.