As global markets continue to grapple with volatility, inflationary pressure, and widening wealth gaps, a different kind of risk is surfacing—one tied not to portfolios or interest rates, but to knowledge. Financial literacy, long considered a personal responsibility, is emerging as a key lever for long-term economic stability and inclusive growth.

At the 2025 World Economic Forum, a cross-sector panel explored how financial literacy intersects with education, employment, and economic opportunity. The message was clear: financial capability must be addressed systemically, early, and often—not only as a tool for individual well-being, but as a contributor to more resilient communities and inclusive economies.

Key Takeaways:

• Financial education must begin with empathy and storytelling (Yanely Espinal, Director of Educational Outreach, Next Gen Personal Finance) Espinal shared her journey from growing up in poverty in New York City to receiving a scholarship at Brown University—only to fall into debt while trying to “fit in.” Her lived experience underscores why relatable, culturally aware financial education is essential for youth to avoid repeating cycles of financial hardship.
• Entrepreneurship education builds financial agency early (JD LaRock, President and CEO, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) LaRock explained how the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship integrates entrepreneurship and financial literacy directly into public school curricula across 30 states and 31 countries. This model positions students not just to understand money, but to generate it responsibly through self-driven business ventures.
• Financial skills are essential, but behavioral normalization matters more (Brian Gallagher, Former CEO, United Way Worldwide) Gallagher emphasized that systems change—particularly around inequality—requires a cultural shift in how we normalize financial behaviors. He pointed out that budgeting is a learned behavior often inaccessible to those without support systems, using his own family experience to highlight how structural barriers perpetuate financial insecurity.
• Women face systemic gaps in financial confidence and control (Sam Saperstein, Head of Women on the Move, JPMorgan Chase) Drawing from JPMorgan Chase’s research and initiatives like Women on the Move, Saperstein noted that women often outsource financial responsibilities, leaving them vulnerable in cases of death, divorce, or crisis. Her team focuses on early and ongoing financial education to shift this dynamic, especially among entrepreneurs and young girls.

Financial literacy is a lifelong necessity, not a one-time lesson (Jennifer Wines, Vice President, Fidelity Private Wealth Management) Wines, who has worked across both traditional finance and educational advocacy, highlighted that financial understanding must evolve with life stages—from building credit to planning for retirement. Her work encourages individuals to develop a relationship with their money that is values-based, not just transactional.

The session concluded by inviting panelists to reflect on what gives them hope. Their responses pointed toward a common truth: real, transformative change begins when individuals are given the tools to understand and shape their financial futures. Financial literacy isn’t just a personal asset—it’s a public good. When people are equipped to make informed decisions about money, credit, and opportunity, they become more stable, more empowered, and more likely to invest back into their communities. This ripple effect drives economic resilience, fuels entrepreneurship, and builds a foundation for long-term, equitable growth.

ESG News coverage of the World Economic Forum was made possible by; FilmHedge, a leader in Film & TV financing.

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