The panel discussion explores how industrial policy can serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth by addressing persistent gender gaps and enhancing women’s participation in high-technology and leadership roles. Drawing on insights from Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms, the UK’s Women in Manufacturing initiative, Bahrain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, and UNIDO’s SDG 9 Progress Report 2025, it highlights evidence-based policymaking, institutional collaboration, and targeted initiatives as key enablers of sustainable, innovation-driven and socially inclusive industrial development. The accompanying Fireside Chat features UNIDO’s Industrial Policy Lab and Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), showcasing practical tools and cross-sector collaboration models that embed gender perspectives throughout the policy cycle and foster equitable industrial transformation.