– set to host another grounbreaking women’s confab

By Gabriella Chapman

TWO years ago, a young woman named Abbigale Loncke had the golden opportunity to participate in what is popularly known as the YLAI Fellows Programme.

YLAI is short for Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, and Loncke was one of four Guyanese to have been so favoured.

The programme at reference is one of four, and is part of the U.S. government’s commitment to empower young people around the world, and ensure they have the wherewithal to tackle our shared global challenges.

Suffice it to say, Loncke not only joined the programme, but so excelled at it she was recognised by then US President, Barack Obama at a function in the Peruvian capital, Lima, for her outstanding work as a young entrepreneur, and later nicknamed ‘Obama Girl’ by her Guyanese compatriots.

She then went on to apply for a Reverse Exchange Programme, which gave her a chance to apply what she learnt during the course of the fellowship in her home country, and with the help of the U.S. Embassy here, host a women’s conference and mentoring workshop.

That workshop, titled “Empowered Leadership in 2017: Unleash Your Promise and Potential…” had as its keynote speakers First Lady Mrs. Sandra Granger, US Ambassador Mr Perry Holloway, and Minister of Public Telecommunications Ms Catherine Hughes.
Now, one year on, Abbigale is on to her second conference, which, like the first, is specifically focused on empowering women and their businesses and the potential growth of our country’s economy by way of the incoming oil and gas sector.

This time around, however, the event is themed “When Women Prosper, We All Prosper”, and is slated for November 5 and 6 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre.

According to the young powerbroker, the objective of the conference is to reach women in business at their point of need on a holistic level, as in their need to expand and grow, need for knowledge, need for networking, need to understand the changing business environment in Guyana and need to be supported.

“This year, we have secured an amazing line-up of entrepreneurs from different fields who are excited to share their knowledge and experience,” Abbigale said, adding:
“The conference and ‘expo’ is affordable, and packed with everything new, and seasoned female entrepreneurs would need to push their companies to the next level.”

KEY TOPICS
Key topics to be discussed, she said, are Funding and Investments, Marketing, Customer Service, Branding, Business Innovation and Technology, Mentoring and Networking, STEM, Business Education, Women’s Rights, Mental Health, and Sustainable Growth.
Noting that it will be an opportunity for them to be knowledgeable about how they can attain success. Abbigale said:
“We will help you find the way; it will take the form of a two-day entrepreneurial event in which you will have access to networking, breakout sessions, discussion panels and special presentations, and also the opportunity to learn and know more about some of the most successful people from the business world.”

With Global Ties Alabama’s Ms. Jacquelyn Gates-Shipe as host and Business Development Specialist and Ms. Michelle A. Nicholas as Keynote Speaker, the conference will also feature an impressive line-up of speakers, among them First Lady Mrs Sandra Granger; ExxonMobil’s Ms Tara Clinton; Ms Amanda Cauldwell of the U.S. Embassy; Guyana Women’s Miners Association’s Ms Urica Primus; Caribbean Containers Inc’s Ms Patricia Bachuss; Mr Rosh Khan of the Masterclass Institute; Mr Terrence Campbell of Camex Franchise; Ms Christine Gooding of Market Square; and Ms Renatha Exeter of GUYOIL.

Registration can be done Online via the event’s Facebook page, “Empowered Leadership Conference”, and tickets can be purchased @ 592 Tees; the Courtyard Mall on Robb Street; Gizmos and Gadgets on Wellington Street; Wongs Business Plaza at Sheet Anchor Village, Canje; and Shammah Boutique at Reliance, on the Essequibo Coast.

Sponsorship opportunities and booths for the expos are available; just call 648-4302 for more information