Women’s business champion: “Every woman leader becomes a catalyst for change”

Zinaida Emelianova, Women’s Advisory Board Member and Director of the Agency for Innovation and Development, works actively on growing women’s economic empowerment, leadership and business mentoring in the Transnistrian region of Republic of Moldova, bordering Ukraine. 

1. How does women’s economic participation contribute to peace and stability?

Women bring trust and the values of cooperation into public life. Their participation makes development more sustainable and society more stable. Through the Agency for Innovation and Development, we have conducted more than 1,000 trainings and workshops attended by over 4,200 entrepreneurs, about 70 per cent of whom are women. The women we work with invest not only in growing their businesses but also in social initiatives – children’s education, charities and developing local infrastructure. They become ‘bridges’ between communities and a source of trust.

2. How do you promote peace and social unity by supporting start-ups, small businesses and social enterprises?

Within the work of the Agency for Innovation and Development, an ecosystem is being built where entrepreneurship is seen not only as a tool for increasing income but also for strengthening connections between people. Start-ups and social projects receive not only financial support but also mentorship, access to networking and opportunities for knowledge exchange. Special attention is given to initiatives that foster new forms of cooperation and engage young people.
We are also actively developing platforms for collaboration and knowledge exchange, where participants of different ages, professions and cultural backgrounds can come together to pursue shared goals. Through such initiatives, entrepreneurship becomes not only an economic tool but also a means of dialogue, mutual understanding and trust-building – contributing to peace and social cohesion.

3. You have led youth summer peace camps. How do young women help build dialogue and healing in communities that are divided?

Experience has shown that young women’s openness and empathy enable them to foster trust. At the camps, girls took part in discussions, educational workshops, and joint sports and volunteer activities. Working side-by-side, they learned to listen to one another and discover shared interests. They realized that behind every difference are real people with the same aspirations for peace and development.

Young women can serve as facilitators of dialogue and mediators in local conflicts. They build support networks and actively use social media to share stories of cooperation and reconciliation. I believe this is how a new culture of peace is created – through personal interaction, trust and collective action.

4. How have you sought to link economic growth with social impact?

We place special emphasis on projects with social impact. This could be a bakery employing mothers from vulnerable groups, or a workshop bringing together people of different generations. We support clusters where entrepreneurs help one another rather than compete at all costs. When businesses start collaborating, trust develops, a sense of community emerges and confidence in the future grows.

Thus, for us, economic growth is not a goal for its own sake. It is a tool to help people feel part of something bigger, take pride in their work and their community, and see that together they can build a peaceful and sustainable future.

5. What specific challenges do women entrepreneurs and community leaders face in the Transnistrian region, and how can their empowerment contribute to long-term peacebuilding?

Women face numerous challenges: limited access to finance, unstable markets and cultural stereotypes that hinder their leadership. This is precisely where the Agency for Innovation and Development plays a crucial role. We develop training programmes, hold mentoring sessions, and provide support to women-led business initiatives and social projects. We back initiatives that both grow businesses and benefit society, create jobs, invest in education and develop local communities. This not only strengthens economic resilience but also fosters a sense of confidence and leadership among women.

Every woman leader becomes a catalyst for change: she strengthens the economy of her family and community and contributes to a culture of cooperation and trust. Through such efforts, a foundation is laid for lasting peace – a peace built on equal opportunities, justice and sustainable development.