Moira Forbes, Dr. Terry Neese, and Laurie Barkhorn-Photo by: Glen Davis, Forbes Photographer
The room was filled with women wanting to know how to improve their own businesses and give back to the community.
That is exactly what they learned during a discussion led by Dr. Terry Neese, founder and CEO of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women.
Women in attendance included Hartford Insurance sales representatives and their female small business clients or prospective clients.
Dr. Neese’s presentation included a discussion around the intersection of small business owner’s voice in policy and business, small business trends for 2011, and establishing the right networks.
Dr. Neese speaks to The Hartford's guests about small business and IEEW-Photo by: Glen Davis, Forbes Photographer
“[Dr. Neese] inspired the agents and customers to engage with their local legislators and policy makers and associations.,” said Laurie Barkhorn, Regional Vice President of The Hartford Financial Services, Inc.
“She made it very clear that’s really the only way you could affect change.”
Dr. Neese also discussed her small business background and how her experience evolved in to leading a global initiative toward sustaining economies through the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women’s PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program.
The event, held at the Forbes Media building in New York, was hosted by ForbesWoman magazine and sponsored by The Hartford Financial Services Group.
Moira Forbes, publisher of ForbesWoman, called the night a success and said, “Dr. Neese both educated and inspired the audience with her insights on women and small business in addition to her notable work to empower women’s success globally.”
Terry Neese, founder and CEO of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, gives the students of the 2010 In-Country Rwandan PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS class a warm welcome.
Marcelline, 30 years old, owns B&M Styles, a boutique that specializes in designer clothing.Before she was married, Marcelline worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a job she didn’t really love. After talking to her husband about her passion for business and style, she decided to start up her own boutique. With its two employees, B&M Styles offers its customers designer clothes, shoes, bags, as well as traditional wear. The business also sells material for tailoring outfits.
Over the next five years, Marcelline hopes to expand her shop and open more branches in cities outside of Kigali. She would also like to purchase sewing machines so that she can begin designing her own clothing line.
Marcelline looks forward to her PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS training for many reasons, including meeting with other businesswomen and learning about customer care and what more ideas she could incorporate into her boutique.
Chantal opened her restaurant’s doors after she and her husband combined their savings and approached the bank for a loan.
The restaurant’s 17 employees serve their customers with a worldly dining experience. The international cuisine includes Indian, Chinese and African selections. Lunch buffet is served Monday through Friday.
Chantal’s future goals include priding her restaurant with the best service in the entire country, to open more restaurants, as well as juice bars and potato corners in the city and in other districts. She also wants to open a health retreat center, where people can come to learn about nutrition.
Through her PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS training, Chantal hopes to improve upon her business plan, and to become more aware of what obstacles her business faces.
BUSINESS: Solidarity Academy School (secondary school)
Beltrida, 47 years old, co-owns a secondary private school in Rwanda, Solidarity Academy School.
After the genocide in 1994, Beltrida returned to Rwanda from diaspora and with permission from the authorities, borrowed the school in her neighborhood. The previous owners had fled the country, leaving the school perfectly in tact. Fifteen years later, Beltrida has 37 teachers and support staff at her school.
The school follows the national curriculum, and students take their national exams and those who receive national certificates go onto a university-level education.
Beltrida’s business goals over the next five years include increasing the number of students who pass the national exam. She also wants to find more ways to contribute to her country’s development and to help more students and teachers learn and adopt the English language, since it is so universally used at institutions of education. She would also like to increase her employees’ salaries and be able to renovate the school itself.
By attending PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS, Beltrida hopes to gain more knowledge about proper financial and resource management, human resources, and accountability.
Growing up in a family of all girls, Betrida was often told by her family members that she would never achieve anything for herself and her family. But her mother believed in her and fought for her education. But after attending school, Beltrida realized that she did have something to offer to society.
Years later, when trying to re-open the school, Beltrida was met with the same opposition – that as a woman, she could not accomplish this task. But her zeal to work and serve her community proved otherwise.
“To me, this was great achievement in life, and as a woman I felt big inside myself, feeling that with determination I can always make it!”
Angelique, 36 years old, owns Eden Events & Décor, which focuses on tailoring bridal gowns. She first started by helping to dress brides in cultural attire. It was only natural that she started designing and sewing both bridal and bridesmaid gowns.
With her two employees, Angelique schedules appointments with brides months in advance of the wedding to discuss their vision and dream for their weddings. Angelique also helps find the right colors for complexions. Eventually, she wants to expand her shop to include a full wedding service packages, including wedding planning and a beauty salon for make up, hair dressing, manicures, pedicures and facial treatments.
Through her PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS training, Angelique hopes to learn more about event planning, customer care, organization and how to successfully expand her company into all of Rwanda’s provinces.
Diana, 34 years old, owns the newly formed Fastcom Limited, which specializes in the business management consultancy.
With its two employees, the company goes beyond consultancy to also provide event planning, communications and designing.
Over the next five years, Diana hopes to reach half of Kigali’s population, to provide the best services and to be self-sustainable and well-equipped.
By attending PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS, Diana wants to learn more about marketing, management and customer care. She looks forward to interacting with fellow businesswomen. Diana is in her final year of earning a bachelor’s degree in business management.
“I strongly believe that one day, I will be the best known strong entrepreneur in Rwanda and the region with excellent services. My motto is “the sky is limit.”
Faina, 39 years old, owns Jet Travel, a travel agency in Rwanda.
After working in the travel agency business for nine years, the company for which she worked shut down, so Faina decided to open her own business.
The company offers services such as hotel and flight reservations, airport pick-up and drop-off, visa support, private drivers, car rental, full organization of business and private events, banquets and receptions, as well as honeymooner packages.Faina currently has four employees. Her goals over the next five years are to obtain accreditation by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and to open a Branch in Burundi.
Through her PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS training, Faina hopes to learn more about tourism operations and hotel management.
Martine, 42 years old, owns Macadamia Hotels. She and her husband owned a large plot of land with a nice view over the town, so she thought a hotel might be a good way to fill the space. So far, the hotel construction is still a work in progress. The multipurpose hall and rooms will be available to the public this month.Martine currently has 14 employees. She hopes to expand the number of rooms, and eventually open up more hotel branches.
Martine hopes to find a suitable replacement for her job outside of her business, so she can focus all of her attention exclusively on Macadamia.
By attending PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS, Martine wants to learn more about hotel management, accounting and human resources.
January is National Mentor Month… Where would we be without our wonderful mentors?
January is National Mentor Month. At the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women we take pride in knowing that we have directly helped more than 200 women in Afghanistan and Rwanda improve their personal and professional lives thanks to the mentorship of women business owners throughout the United States. Read more about National Mentor [...]
IEEW CEO & Founder Wins 2011 Association for Women in Communication Matrix Foundation Award!
IEEW Founder, Dr. Terry Neese just learned she received the 2011 Association for Women in Commuications Matrix Foundation Award for her contributions to the advancement of women through education, entreprenurialism, empowerment, and mentorship around the world. Congratulations, Dr. Neese!
The 2011 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS Graduates are Committed to Paying It Forward!
The 2011 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS International Women’s Conference and Graduation was a huge success. The women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda have returned to their home countries with a renewed commitment to pay forward the knowledge and sense of empowerment they received from the program. We congratulate the Class of 2011!
Paying it Forward: PTB Alumnae to Serve as Parliament Lawmakers in Rwanda!
2010 Alumna, Marie Josée Kankera and 2011 Alumna, Teddy Gacinya were sworn in yesterday to Rwanda’s Parliamentary House. Teddy, a newly appointed Senator and Marie Josée, one of the newly appointed members of Parliament, took their oath of office Wednesday and then were welcomed to the House by President Paul Kagame. President Kagame noted that while there [...]
Best-Selling Author of “It’s Your Biz” Book to Donate Proceeds to the Institute!
It’s Your Biz, by Susan Wilson Solovic Dear friend of the Insitute and best-selling author, Susan Wilson Solovic is donating $2 from the sale of every book to support our mission! We thank her for this gracious gift and urge you check out Susan’s website to place your order today. Buy The Book Here! (Use Referral Code [...]
T. Boone Pickens Foundation Spotlights IEEW in August!
The Pickens Foundation has supported the Institute since the first PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program launched in 2007. Pickens fervent belief in the power of entrepreneurship is at the heart of his support for the Institutes work. “I believe that you build stability in developing economies by helping entrepreneurs get a stable foothold, which is why we support [...]
IEEW Founder Receives Honors for a Lifetime of Empowering Women!
Dr.Terry Neese, founder of the Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday night during The Journal Record’s Woman of the Year Gala, held at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Terry was recognized for her business savvy, political involvement, and contributions to empowering women both domestically and globally. “It is a great honor to [...]
PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program graduates Gloria Uwizera and Akaliza Gara are featured in The Service Mag’s September edition: Young Women Entreprenuers. Read their inspiring articles here: Gloria Uwizera Akaliza Gara
Take a look at this article in October’s issue of Fortune Magazine - “The X Factor“. Our founder, Dr. Terry Neese, talks about the economic impact of women-owned firms and the connection between entrepreneurship and freedom.
2007 PTB Graduate Elected to Afghan Chamber of Commerce!
Congratulations to Qandi Amaki (Jan), who was just elected as the Afghan Chamber of Commerce Industry’s Director of Membership. Amaki, a 2007 inaugural PTB graduate, made history when she was first elected to this body because she was the only women ever allowed in. Now, she holds a higher position and credits IEEW’s work. [...]
IEEW Joins With Google to Help Small Businesses in Oklahoma Get Online!
We just joined Oklahoma Get Your Business Online, a Google-led program to help small businesses in Oklahoma get online. You’re invited ! November 3 Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Tulsa, OK November 8 Will Rogers Theater Oklahoma City, OK Register today Google and friends are coming to town to get your business online! Oklahoma Get [...]
Advocate Peace: PAY It Forward With an End-of-Year Donation!
Women are a vital resource in any nation’s advancement; they must be able to contribute economically, socially, and politically in order for a nation to develop and prosper on a global level. Unfortunately, there are nations who have not fully tapped in to this potential. The great news is, you can be a part of the solution! Help promote international [...]
Dr. Terry Neese to be Featured in 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar
Dr. Terry Neese was selected from over 5,000 submissions to be featured in The 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. The calendar provides advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada and goes on sale today! Order your calendar here: 2012 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar
Dr. Terry Neese on The Small Business Advocate Show with Jim Blasingame
Dr. Terry Neese, Founder and CEO of The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women discusses the mission, peace & prosperity building initiatives, and recent success stories on the Jim Blasingame radio show, The Small Business Advocate. Click here to listen
IEEW Joins Global Community in Celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week
November 14-20 is Global Entrepreneurship Week(GEW). Enterprising individuals around the globe are held up and spurred on for their part in the transformation of small-town main street USA to developing nation’s villages. GEW is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch start ups that bring ideas to life, drive economic growth and expand [...]
Advancement of Women Award Honoree, Dr. Terry Neese Ties Success to Three 3′s
A big thank you to the Association of Women in Communications for honoring Dr. Neese with this year’s Matrix Award and for posting this article in the December edition of the AWC Communique. Read the full article here: AWC Communique
Dr. Terry Neese, Empowering Businesswomen Here & Overseas
Check out this article in Corps! Magazine on the Institute, our PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program, and our founder, Dr. Terry Neese. Corps! Magazine Article
The New Times Celebrates PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® Rwanda Alumnae Association Launch
The New Times featured the amazing women of the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® Rwanda Alumnae Association and their successful launch celebrations. Read more here: The New Times – Rwanda’s First Daily
Dr. Terry Neese and Sarah Sears of S Design Inc. Talk About the Importance of Mentoring on NEWSOK
Two-time mentor and longtime friend of the Institute Sarah Sears, president of the OKC design firm S Design Inc. joined IEEW’s CEO and founder Dr. Terry Neese to speak about the importance of mentorship to thePEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program. Watch the video here: NEWSOK – Local Group Spotlights National Mentoring Month
IEEW’s Newest Board Member and Best-Selling Author, Susan Wilson Solovic Blogs about PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS
Expert blogger, founder and CEO of ItsYourBiz.com, best selling author, and IEEW’s newest board member Susan Wilson Solovic blogs about the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® program and the importance of mentors. Thanks Susan! Fast Company Mag – Mentoring Women in a Global Economy
