Fall 2009: Creating Vital Voices Around the World
In late October, the US NGO Vital Voices sponsored a Corporate Ambassador Program to Algeria where two American businesswomen and I were invited to serve in a mission for the North Africa/Middle East (MENA) region. The Association des Algeriennes Managers et Entrepreneurs (AME) organized the event in partnership with the US Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and Vital Voices Partnership. It was a great honor to join this initiative and to be offered this opportunity. Our mission focused on inspiring and developing local women entrepreneurs and managers to ‘go global’ in launching their products and services to international markets.
The Vital Voices Global Partnership identifies, trains, and empowers emerging women leaders and social entrepreneurs around the world. They have assisted women entrepreneurs and business leaders in developing countries to realize initiatives that contribute to the local economy. The Vital Voices Global Leadership Network is comprised of 5,000 women from over 150 countries throughout the world. Thanks to live events and web technologies, this network has encouraged exchange and assistance between women business professionals across cultures. The Corporate Ambassador Program (CAP) is part of a new initiative designed to develop women’s entrepreneurship overseas by connecting high-level female executives from the US with emerging businesswomen leaders from other countries. The CAP empowers women in the MENA region with the management, business development, marketing and communication skills necessary to grow their enterprises, provide for their families, and create jobs within their communities.
The five day tour included visits to the AME headquarters, local businesses, a cooperative for artisans, and a conference with local business and government leaders. AME offered a study tour of Algiers so the Corporate Ambassadors can learn more about the business climate and meet with various innovative business leaders outside of the event setting. The theme of the conference was “The Competitiveness of SMEs in a Changing World Market,” with the goal of increasing growth, profit and competitive advantage of Algerian SMEs through innovative strategies and effective implementation in the global market. The warmth, generosity, and accomplishments of the local women business leaders were impressive. They face challenges and issues that women in the West no longer have to confront. The exchange and the relationships developed created an insightful and rewarding experience for all of the participants involved. Prior to our departure, we received the best news of all – the local women entrepreneur’s organization AME had received official recognition and approval by the Algerian government.
Vital Voices is actively developing a global virtual network to help women business leaders in the Middle East Africa region as well as other countries around the world. For more details on Vital Voices and this mission, please visit the following link: http://vitalvoices.org/middle-east-and-north-africa/algeria-corporate-ambassadors-program
