Entrepreneurship: Empowering Women and Girls Through International Exchanges
Ann Stock serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The U.S. Department of State's Office of International Visitors, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is conducting a three-week Multi-Regional Project (MRP) entitled "Women and Entrepreneurship" for a dynamic group of 19 women entrepreneurs and small business owners from around the world. Administered by Phelps Stokes, the group is exploring the contributions of women to the development of the U.S. economy and ways the participation of women in the global economy.
After a week in Washington, DC where the group met with federal government agencies as well as private businesses and women's business organizations, the group divided into three teams to visit either Minneapolis, Minnesota; Albany, New York; or Cincinnati, Ohio. Each team explored global business partnerships as well as current trends and best practices in training women at various professional stages to start and manage their businesses. The teams also visited all-girls schools and community organizations to look at entrepreneurial education and training for girls and young women.
The Minneapolis team met several women small business owners, including Ms. Jill Johnson. Ms. Johnson had this to say about the visit, "Meeting with these women was an amazing experience. Talking about our approaches to overcoming challenges and obstacles reinforced how similar we really are despite our cultural differences. It was so special to be able to share our stories of how we strive to make a difference in our communities and leave a lasting legacy. I made business relationships and friendships that will continue long after today's meeting."
The visitors also felt a similar sense of impact, as Ms. Araksya Melkonyan of Armenia said, "I had a very good time in Minnesota and met very inspiring women. It was incredibly interesting to see how they established and manage their own businesses. The whole group is thrilled and would love to establish business relations with the women we have met."
Following their team visits, the group went to Salt Lake City, Utah to examine state-level support of entrepreneurship and then Pensacola, Florida to explore how technology can be used to manage and develop small businesses.
Follow @AnnatState and @ConnectStateGov on Twitter for the latest on the Department of State's educational and cultural exchange programs.
Share this post with others.
Posted under: Behind the Scenes
View Comments (5)
Comments
H.B. writes:
Good to see women like this. They can help empower other women by sharing their skills and experience.
Posted on Tue Sep 13, 2011
Muhammad K. in Pakistan writes:
hi. such entepenurship relation aming the americans and pakistani enterpenure in small business will be good .if both comunity of both countries avoid from cultural differences and also avoiding from critism to each other.do always base their relation only at loveable relaton .both must avoided to discuss to each others religeons.no one try to see each other personal life.both must obey both countries exisisting religeopns.they just do business without any discremination.they have complete independance to theire relgeou belives.
ALLAH HELP BOTH COUNTRY THAT THEY WILL COOPERATE TO EACH OTHER.
IF THE PROBLEM OF PAKISTAN IS SOLVED WITH REGARD TO UNEMPLOYEEMENT IS SOLVED THAN ACCORDING TO MY CONCLUSION MOSTLY FACORES PEACEFUL PROBLEMS SOLVED. PAKISTAN BECOME PEACEFULL COUNTRY.A LL TYPE OF PEACE ONLY BASE ON EARNING AND MONEY.SO SOLVE THE UNEMPLOYEEMENT FACTORES FROM PAKISTAN.
THANKJS
MUHAMMAD
Posted on Thu Jun 02, 2011
Marilyn F. in Washington, DC writes:
Sounds like an excellent opportunity for the international visitors and the entrepreneurs. Practical experience is a vital element of entrepreneurship for the things that the textbook just seems to miss. Would love to work with an organizations that empowers international women to become self sufficient.
Posted on Tue May 31, 2011
Gugu M. in South Africa writes:
I would like to be part of the women entreprenuers.
Posted on Sun May 29, 2011
Cecille B. in the Philippines writes:
Hope can join the group or next year's group. Thank you.
Posted on Sun May 29, 2011