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UKRAINE BUSINESS
FACILITATION CONFERENCES
Launching October 22, 2024, The U.S. Department of Commerce is hosting a series of six, virtual, two-hour conferences to assess and highlight opportunities and barriers to Ukrainian women entrepreneurs in the digital economy. Organized in partnership with The WMarketplace Inc, each conference will focus on a sector or topic critical to the growth of these businesses. U.S. Government and private sector stakeholders are invited to participate in each conference to learn and provide their expertise. The culminating, sixth, conference will deliver the results of these discussions along with recommendations for areas of support and investment.
Key to these conferences will be the participation of Ukrainian women entrepreneurs who will directly speak to their experience and needs.
All listed speakers are proposed.
All conferences will be from 4:00pm to 5:30pm Kyiv Time/9am - 10:30am Eastern/6am - 7:30am Pacific
CONFERENCE 1:
OCT 22, 2024
Intersectional Factors Affecting Ukrainian Female Entrepreneurs
15 min
Welcome & Opening Remarks: U.S. Department of Commerce Ukraine Desk Officer, Agnes Pawelkowska
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Overview of the conference series purpose
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Proposed overall agenda for the program
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Introduction of Keynote Speaker
10 - 15 min
Setting the Stage: The Role of Women and Entrepreneurship in a Changing Ukraine
Proposed Speakers:
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First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Velenska
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U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget A. Brink
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Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch
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Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo
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Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade, Marisa Lago
30 min
Panel Discussion 1: Diverse Experiences and Mutual Challenges 
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Featuring 3-4 Ukrainian entrepreneurs of differing regions, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, industry sectors, ethnicities, etc.
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Discuss how their unique identities and experiences affect their different needs
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Proposed speakers:
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Anna Zmiievska, Anzy Home
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Moderator: TBD
10 min
Q&A
5 min
Break
30 min
Panel Discussion 2: Displaced Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs: Diverse Experiences and Mutual Challenges 
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Featuring 3-4 Ukrainian entrepreneurs of differing countries, ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, industry sectors, ethnicities, etc.
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Discuss how their unique identities and locations affect their business experience
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Moderator: TBD
ALTERNATIVE: KEYNOTE #2 with Anna Petrova, Founder & CEO, Startup Ukraine
10 min
Q&A
5 min
Closing Remarks: Agnes Pawelkowska
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Agenda for Conference 2
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Housekeeping notes
CONFERENCE 2:
Nov 4, 2024
Shifting Dynamics in Ukrainian Society and the Impact on the Commercial Climate (2 hours)
10 min
Welcome & Introduction: Agnes Pawelkowska
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Overview of the topic and key speakers + brief summary of previous session
15 min
Keynote Speaker: (Proposed)
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Natalia Karbowska - Director on Strategic Development at Ukrainian Women’s Fund
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Speak on the importance of promoting female entrepreneurs in Ukraine to ensure reconstruction efforts are effective
30 min
Panel Discussion: Overcoming Gender Barriers Amid Shifting Dynamics
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Led by 2-3 Ukrainian women:
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Discuss the barriers faced by female entrepreneurs in a patriarchal society
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How roles in society have shifted as men are focused on war effort and women play an even more important role in the workforce
10 min
Q&A
5 min
Break
30 min
3 Ukraine Gender Policy Experts: Gender Policy Actions to Support Women Entrepreneurs
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Proposed: Lesya Karnauk Deputy Head of Kyiv State Regional Administration
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Proposed: College or University Researcher
10 min
Q&A
5 min
Closing Remarks
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Agnes Pawelkowska
CONFERENCE 3:
Nov 19, 2024
Assessing Technical Barriers to Adoption and Growth in the Digital Economy (2 hours)
10 min
Welcome & Introduction: Agnes Pawelkowska
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Overview of the topic and key speakers + brief summary of previous session
15 min
Keynote speaker: Opportunities and Barriers to Digital Adoption
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Valeriya Ionan - Deputy Minister for Eurointegration at Ukraine’s Ministry of Digital Transformation
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Google Ukraine
30 min
Panel Discussion: What Technical Barriers are Hindering Business Growth?
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2-3 Ukrainian women entrepreneurs discussing the most significant impacts to their e-commerce initiatives/what setbacks are they experiences when it comes to technology and why
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Online banking
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Access to reliable internet/WIFI
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Access to global marketplaces
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Access to business tools
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Technical skills training
10 min
Q&A
5 min
Break
20 min
Resources and Solutions to Overcoming Technical Barriers
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Daria Voevoda, CEO and co-founder of Spend with Ukraine
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US DoC SABIT Program
25 min
Q&A Discussion with Participants 
5 min
Closing Remarks
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Agnes Pawelkowska
CONFERENCE 4:
Dec 3, 2024
Access to Capital and Financial Resources for Success in the Digital Economy (2 hours)
10 min
Welcome & Introduction: Agnes Pawelkowska
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Overview of the topic and key speakers + brief summary of previous session
15 min
Keynote: Investing in Women for Success in the Digital Economy
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Wells Fargo Bank
20 min
Panel of women entrepreneurs: impact of access to capital for their businesses
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Women who have been positively and negatively impacted by access or lack of capital
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What are barriers to receiving financing, bank loans, investment
10 min
Q&A with Panelists
5 min
Break
30 min
Panel Discussion: New Financing Options for Women Entrepreneurs in Ukraine: 3 featured speakers representing non-traditional financing options for women
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Where are they seeing demand? Industry sectors/regions
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What are the barriers to women taking advantage of their services?
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Where are new opportunities for non-traditional financing and investing vehicles?
15 min
Q&A with Non-Traditional Finance Experts
5 min
Closing Remarks
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Agnes Pawelkowska
CONFERENCE 5:
Dec 17, 2024
Barriers to Business Operations - Infrastructure, Logistics, and Supply Chain Barriers and the Impact on Exporting
10 min
Welcome & Introduction: Agnes Pawelkowska
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Overview of the topic and key speakers + brief summary of previous session
15 min
Keynote: The Challenges of Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain in Ukraine
30 min
Panel Discussion
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2-3 Ukrainian women and/or reps. from organizations that help assist female entrepreneurs
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Identify what their operational needs are and where they need the most assistance
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Barriers to growing internationally (EU and US)
25 min
Keynote Speaker(s): The Landscape of Logistics, Opportunities and Challenges
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Caitlin Murphy, Global Gateway Logistics
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Olena Tverdovska, VP Customer Service, Nova Global
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Representative from East Europe Foundation and/or EU4 Business
5 min
Break
25 min
Q&A Discussion with Participants 
5 min
Closing Remarks
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Agnes Pawelkowska
CONFERENCE 6:
Date
Pt.1: Presentation of Findings
Pt. 2: Stakeholder Recommendations (2 hours)
10 min
Welcome & Introduction: Agnes Pawelkowska
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Overview of the topic and key speakers + brief summary of previous session
15 min
Keynote: Overview of previous conferences
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Proposed: Dept. Of Commerce
35 min
Summary of Findings
15 min
Q&A
5 min
Break
25 min
Summary of Recommendations
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Proposed: Dept of Commerce
25 min
Q&A
5 min
Closing Remarks
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Agnes Pawelkowska