Women Entrepreneurship EXPO 2024 satellite event breaks barriers for women entrepreneurs from Armenia
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50 women entrepreneurs from various regions of Armenia gathered in Yerevan for the Women Entrepreneurship EXPO 2024 satellite event on November 20, 2024. The event provided a platform for participants to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. It also featured interactive discussions on policies and challenges affecting women entrepreneurs.
Maral Sheuhmelian, one of the participants and founder and CEO of Maral Art, a handicraft shop in Yerevan, mentioned that the EXPO and its sessions provided new knowledge and connections, which have already contributed to her growth as an entrepreneur. “This event gives a great opportunity not only for establishing local business ties but also for accessing international markets,” pointed out Sheuhmelian.
Varduhi Taranian, founder and director of the Master of Manuscripts workshop gallery in Yerevan, which specializes in preparing and selling modern, multi-style, multi-genre applied miniatures shared how “the EXPO boosted my confidence in engaging with international markets.”
The event not only enhanced women entrepreneurs’ skills and helped them identify networking opportunities but also served as a platform for empowerment and inspiration. Hripsime Hovhannisyan, founder of Skesoor Mama Atelier, an atelier based in Yerevan, remarked that “women around the world face similar challenges, but those who remain persistent, embrace innovation and stay consistent in their efforts are the ones who succeed. Their stories are inspiring and motivating, offering the message that if you are facing difficulties right now, you are not alone. If others have managed to overcome them, so can you.”
Olga Azatyan, UN Women Armenia’s Women’s Economic Empowerment in South Caucasus Project Analyst, mentioned that empowering women entrepreneurs goes beyond economic growth; it transforms their lives and communities. “It allows them to break barriers, amplify their voices, and shape their futures with confidence. This empowerment inspires future generations of Armenian women to lead and create, fostering a sense of hope and possibility,” Azatyan concluded.
The event also featured training sessions facilitated by prominent organizations. Representatives from Grant Thornton, a network of independent assurance, tax, and advisory firms, conducted a workshop on business plan writing. McCann, part of the “McCann-Erickson” Advertising Agency from the USA, organized two training sessions on branding, packaging, and social media marketing. Additionally, PricewaterhouseCoopers, a global assurance and audit services firm, provided a session on effective pricing strategies.
Irina Chaltikyan, Deputy CEO of McCann Yerevan, who helped organize the masterclasses on branding, packaging and social media marketing, noted that such initiatives are platforms to boost conversations that ripple through workplaces, communities, and homes. “Each participant, speaker, and panelist plays a role in shaping a future where women have the opportunities and tools to thrive. Ideas shared during the EXPO can translate into actions, making empowerment not just a goal but a reality for everyone,” pointed out Chaltikyan.
Leading up to the satellite event, a series of four comprehensive bootcamp sessions took place from October to November 2024, equipping participants with key business skills. These sessions covered topics such as business plan writing, branding and packaging, social media marketing, and effective pricing strategies.
Launched in 2021, the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO is a unique partnership platform to promote women’s entrepreneurship ecosystem building in the Europe and Central Asia region. EXPO provides an interactive space for women entrepreneurs, investors and private sector representatives for networking and collaboration, peer learning, ideas generation, capacity building and business development. EXPO 2024 is organized by UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Yıldız Holding as part of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator.