Since 1991, Kimberly deCastro has led the government contractor Wildflower International in Sante Fe, New Mexico. In addition to her advocacy work focused on the state’s wetlands, Kimberly deCastro also has a strong interest in helping women succeed in business. In 2020, women faced unprecedented economic challenges and will require targeted support to recover. While millions of businesses across the world have been heavily impacted by the 2020 public health crisis and economic downturn, women-owned businesses have been disproportionately affected. The organization WEConnect International found that 97 percent of women-led enterprises reported reduced revenue and other negative effects. There are many drivers for these figures, including the additional childcare duties placed on women after school closings and difficulty pivoting to digital formats. The Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs has suggested that global economic recovery policies are targeted to the needs of women. This includes funding digital infrastructure projects to connect the millions of women without home Internet access.

1. Kimberly deCastro

2. Introduction
Since 1991, Kimberly deCastro has led the government contractor Wildflower International in
Sante Fe, New Mexico. In addition to her advocacy work focused on the state’s wetlands,
Kimberly deCastro also has a strong interest in helping women succeed in business. In 2020,
women faced unprecedented economic challenges and will require targeted support to recover.
While millions of businesses across the world have been heavily impacted by the 2020 public
health crisis and economic downturn, women-owned businesses have been disproportionately
affected. The organization WEConnect International found that 97 percent of women-led
enterprises reported reduced revenue and other negative effects.

3. There are many drivers for these figures, including the additional childcare duties placed
on women after school closings and difficulty pivoting to digital formats. The Mastercard
Index of Women Entrepreneurs has suggested that global economic recovery policies are
targeted to the needs of women. This includes funding digital infrastructure projects to
connect the millions of women without home Internet access.