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Bridging Barriers and Building Opportunities for Ukrainian Women-Led Businesses:
Advancing Gender Equality in Ukraine
The U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration hosted 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 focused on a topic critical to the growth of women-owned businesses in Ukraine. Ukrainian voices will be central to each conference with panels of women entrepreneurs, government officials and expert speakers providing their experiences and expertise. The culminating conference on January 14, 2025, delivered the results of these discussions along with recommendations for areas of support and investment which you can read below.
Conference Report: "Ukraine Business Facilitation Program (UBFP): Advancing US Diplomatic Engagement Goals Related to Gender Equity in Ukraine"
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
Shifting Roles for Women in Ukraine's Economy
Welcome Remarks
Panel Discussion 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
Expert Keynote Speaker
Nadiia Lysetska
Closing Keynote Speaker
Closing Remarks
CONFERENCE 3:
NOV 19, 2024
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
Panel 1 and Q&A
Voices of Entrepreneurs: Opportunities and Barriers to Digital Business Adoption and Growth
Moderator:
Executive Director of the US Ukraine Business Council
Panelists:
Entrepreneur / Amazon Program Manager
Victoria Maslova
Co-Founder of VESNA
Final Keynote
Networking
Informal Discussion Among Conference Participants
Closing Remarks
CONFERENCE 4:
DEC 3, 2024
Access to Capital and Financial Resources for Success in the Digital Economy
Opening Remarks
Keynote
Investing in Women for Success in the Digital Economy
Country Manager for Ukraine, IFC Ukraine
International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group
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
Moderator:
Panelists:
Dasha Kichuk
CEO of effa brush
Anna Nechaieva
CEO of TK-Domashnyi Tekstil
Closing Keynotes
Financing Options for Women Entrepreneurs in Ukraine – Opportunities and Barriers
Associate Professor, Ph.D (Economics)
Project manager, Director, Project and Educational Center "Agents of Changes" of PNU
Chairman of the Board, NGO "AGENTY ZMIN IF"
Docent of Finance Department, Faculty of Economics
Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University
Closing Remarks
CONFERENCE 5:
DEC 17, 2024
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
Executive Director of the European Business Association, Ukraine
Strategic and Digital Marketing Specialist, Business Development and Marketing Consultant
Expert Dicussion 1
Housing Innovation
Moderator:
Carrie Gray
Senior Practice Specialist, Economic Growth and Trade at Chemonics International
Panelists:
Lawyer, entrepreneur, founder of interior design "3D OM " studio
Entrepreneur Panel
Moderator:
Carrie Gray
Senior Practice Specialist, Economic Growth and Trade at Chemonics International
Panelists:
Co-Owner & Commercial Director of PrJSC Electrovyimiryuvach
Expert Dicussion 2
Shipping and Logistics
Moderator:
Carrie Gray
Senior Practice Specialist, Economic Growth and Trade at Chemonics International
Panelists:
VP Customer Service at Nova Global
Closing Keynotes
The Landscape of Logistics, Opportunities and Challenges
Senior International Trade Specialist, SABIT Program Department of Com/ITA
CONFERENCE 6:
JAN 14, 2025
Presentation of Findings and Stakeholder Recommendations
Keynote
Conference Series Purpose and Review
Technical Director Women in the Digital Economy Fund WiDEF
Iryna Tytarchuk
Executive Director UA ITFC