Conference Inquiries:
info@wmarketplace.com
Bridging Barriers and Building Opportunities for Ukrainian Women-Led Businesses:
Advancing Gender Equality in Ukraine
Launching October 22, 2024, The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration is hosting a series of virtual 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 topic critical to the growth of women-owned businesses in Ukraine. The culminating conference on January 14, 2025, will deliver the results of these discussions along with recommendations for areas of support and investment.
Ukrainian voices will be central to each conference with panels of women entrepreneurs, government officials and expert speakers providing their experiences and expertise.
All conferences will be held from 4 PM - 6 PM Kyiv (EET) / 9 AM - 11 AM Eastern (EST) / 6 AM - 8 AM Pacific (PST)
CONFERENCE 1:
OCT 22, 2024
The Importance of Empowering Women in Rebuilding Ukraine’s Economy
Opening Remarks
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine of the U.S. State Department
Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
Undersecretary of Commerce for International Trade for the U.S. Department of Commerce
First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine - Minister of Economy of Ukraine
Keynote 1
Challenges and Opportunities: The View from Ukraine
Keynote 2
The Importance of Empowering Women in Rebuilding Ukraine’s Economy
AWE Program Manager - SCA and EUR, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US State Department
Keynote 3
Vlada Nedak
CEO of the Women’s Opportunities Fund
Panel Discussion and Q&A
The Voices and Experiences of Female Entrepreneurs in Today’s Ukraine
Moderator:
Kate Isler
CEO of WMarketplace
Panelists:
Anna Zmiievska
CEO of Anzy Home
Nadiia Petruchenko
Cofounder, Chief Business Officer of SPP Development Ukraine
Daria Mustafina
Founder Kyiv, WMNPower ecosystem
Iryna Giza
Founder of Scarves with Ukrainian Soul
CONFERENCE 2:
NOV 5, 2024
4 PM - 6 PM EET / 9 AM - 11 AM EST / 6 AM - 8 AM PST
Shifting Roles for Women in Ukraine's Economy
Conference M/C and Host
Panel Discussion 1 and Q&A
Voices of Entrepreneurs: Shifting Expectations and Roles and the Impact on Ukrainian women
Moderator:
Muhaio Portmann
Women's Economic Security Advisor at the U.S. State Department/Secretary's Office Of Global Women's Issues
Panelists:
Anastasiia Burzi
Managing Partner of Wood Mood
Alina Hrytsai
Founder Poland of Upwardly Global
Natalia Iaromenko
Founder and CEO of Lamel Cosmetics
Panel Discussion 2 and Q&A
Actions to Support Women Entrepreneurs at the Local, State and Federal Level in Ukraine
Closing Keynote Speaker
Closing Remarks
CONFERENCE 3:
NOV 19, 2024
4 PM - 6 PM EET / 9 AM - 11 AM EST / 6 AM - 8 AM PST
Assessing Technical Barriers to Adoption and Growth in the Digital Economy
Opening Remarks
Geeta Rao Gupta
US Ambassador at Large for Global Women's Issues at the US State Department
Keynote
Opportunities and Barriers to Digital Adoption
Anna Petrova
Founder & CEO of Startup Ukraine
Gulsanna Mamediieva
Director General of Directorate for European and EuroAtlantic Integration at the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine
Panel 1 and Q&A
Voices of Entrepreneurs: Opportunities and Barriers to Digital Business Adoption and Growth
Moderator:
Nadiia Khomaziuk
Executive Director of the US Ukraine Business Council
Panelists:
Maryna Khudolii
Entrepreneur / Amazon Program Manager
Khrystyna Dereha
Founder of Jungle Gifts Store
Panel 2 and Q&A
Resources and Solutions to Overcoming Technical Barriers
Panelists:
Iryna Volnytska
President of SET University
Networking
Informal Discussion Among Conference Participants
Closing Remarks
CONFERENCE 4:
DEC 3, 2024
4 PM - 6 PM EET / 9 AM - 11 AM EST / 6 AM - 8 AM PST
Access to Capital and Financial Resources for Success in the Digital Economy
Keynote
Investing in Women for Success in the Digital Economy
Barbara Rambousek
Global Director of Gender and Inclusion of EBRD
Panel 1 and Q&A
Voices of Entrepreneurs: Access to Capital and Financial Services, Opportunities and Challenges
Panelists:
Dasha Kichuk
CEO of effa brush
Panel 2 and Q&A
Financing Options for Women Entrepreneurs in Ukraine – Opportunities and Barriers
Networking
Informal Discussion Among Conference Participants
CONFERENCE 5:
DEC 17, 2024
4 PM - 6 PM EET / 9 AM - 11 AM EST / 6 AM - 8 AM PST
Barriers to Business Operations - Infrastructure, Logistics, and Supply Chain Barriers and the Impact on Exporting
Keynote
The Challenges of Shipping, Logistics and Supply Chain in Ukraine
Natascha Grams
Founder of Genesy Capility
Panel 1 and Q&A
Voices of Entrepreneurs: Opportunities and Barriers to Exporting
Panelists:
Olga Merezha
Founder/Entrepreur, Current Kharhiv National University of Internal Affairs
Marianna Kravchenko
Strategic and Digital marketing specialist, Business Development and Marketing Consultant at Sunrise Taskforce
Panel 2 and Q&A
The Landscape of Logistics, Opportunities and Challenges
Networking
Informal Discussion Among Conference Participants
CONFERENCE 6:
JAN 14, 2025
4 PM - 6 PM EET / 9 AM - 11 AM EST / 6 AM - 8 AM PST
Presentation of Findings and Stakeholder Recommendations
Keynote
Conference Series Purpose and Review
Presentation of Findings and Q&A
Proposed: Department of Commerce
Presentation of Recommendations
Proposed: Department of Commerce