Dermalogica and FITE, the company’s philanthropic arm, celebrated International Women’s Day at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference in Austin, TX in March, partnering with the United Nations Foundation (UNF) and Dell, along with other companies, which advocate for the advancement of girls and women through global education.

Dermalogica and FITE Founder, Jane Wurwand serves as a Special Advisor to the UNF’s Global Entrepreneur’s Council to advance opportunities for girls and women worldwide. As a highlight of the SXSW festival, Wurwand revealed FITE’s goal of funding 50,000 women entrepreneurs via microloans worldwide. At the Dell #Payitforward luncheon, Dell Chief Marketing Officer Karen Quintos led a panel discussion exploring future strategies for the global empowerment of girls and women.

“It’s an obligation for every woman here to be a role model to the next generation,” said FITE Director of Global Impact Natalie Byrne, who was joined on the panel by Courtney Bickert, Director of Global Partnerships for the United Nations Foundation and the “Girl Up” initiative, Suzanne Fallender, CSR of Intel, and Megan Hershiser of the film, Girl Rising, which was screened after the panel.

For the after-party entertainment, singer/songwriter Tori Kelly, who brings a powerful female consciousness to the music scene, performed some of her original material. SXSW attendees received FITE gift cards, which they used to make loans to women entrepreneurs through Kiva.org using Dell tablets supplied by the software sponsor for the event.

For more information, visit  www.dermalogica.com.