Attending a Middle East/North Africa Businesswomen’s summit in Tunisia in 2005 as one of a handful of US delegates teamed with 200 women business owners from 15 countries across that region changed my life. Prior to that, I honestly didn’t know Arab women could own businesses. After meeting them and talking with them, I learned that not only are there women entrepreneurs in the Middle East but they experience many of the same challenges that we do. Outside of religious and cultural issues, the day-to-day issues and needs are the same across the globe. We talked about communication issues, marketing challenges, hiring a management team, and planning for your business exit. One evening I had an engaging conversation with a women who owned a chocolate factory in Jordan and we discussed the positive things that our being entrepreneurs has taught our children. I knew then that my passion for empowering women in entrepreneurship needed to go global.

One of the projects I am honored to be working on is a committee for a public/private partnership to help women entrepreneurs in Iraq. The U.S.-Iraqi Businesswomen’s Partnership has been formed between the U.S. State Department and various women’s organizations to pair women entrepreneurs in the U.S. with women business owners in Iraq. Yes, women in Iraq can own a business, but they face many of the same challenges that we do here in the US without much access to business assistance or support. Our hope is that by teaming success-minded women together across the great cultural divide in a non-partisan way will foster not only increased understanding and respect but ultimately lead to a growth in the women-owned business in Iraq, leading to greater economic empowerment. We are still recruited American Women Entrepreneurs so if you are interested in giving back on a global level (don’t worry – no travel is involved!), check out the program description and let me know you’re interested! Hurry - the program starts in Mid-June…