THE inaugural Women’s Business Simulation Boot Camp hosted by the WeLead Association, has been hailed a resounding success, empowering 25 women entrepreneurs from Region Two with practical skills, strategic insights, and the confidence to grow their businesses.

Held at the Jaigobin Hotel from November 18 to 20, the boot camp offered participants a unique opportunity to apply business theory in a hands-on, simulated environment, preparing them for real-world entrepreneurial challenges.

The boot camp, a flagship initiative of the Women Entrepreneurs Academy Guyana, was facilitated by Ms Georgia Inniss of Global Eureka Business Solutions Inc and was sponsored by the BB Energy Foundation. Participants were able to test business strategies, refine operational decision-making and develop investor-ready pitches while receiving personalised mentorship from experienced facilitators.

Over the three days, the women demonstrated remarkable commitment and growth. By the end of the programme, each participant had produced a vision and mission statement; a business-model snapshot; a simulation performance dashboard and a pitch presentation evaluated by business and community leaders. The exercises strengthened not only technical business knowledge in marketing, finance, and operations, but also enhanced leadership, teamwork and communication skills.

Ms Inniss praised the participants, stating that they displayed creativity, resilience, and collaboration—the qualities of successful entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, Abbigale Loncke-Watson, President of the WeLead Association, described the boot camp as a transformative experience. “This programme has shown that when women are given the right tools, guidance, and environment, they can achieve extraordinary results. The dedication, enthusiasm, and progress of these participants exceeded all expectations,” she stated.

The success of the boot camp is evident not only in the skills gained, but also in the confidence and strategic thinking the participants have developed. Many attendees expressed excitement at implementing the lessons learned, with several already planning to launch or expand their businesses based on the insights from the simulation exercises.

The event also highlights the strength of the partnership between the WeLead Association and the BB Energy Foundation, whose support has made it possible to provide women entrepreneurs with meaningful, practical training opportunities.

This initiative forms part of the broader Women Entrepreneurs Academy Guyana, which aims to empower thousands of women through mentorship, training and access to resources, contributing to inclusive economic growth and sustainable development in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Following the boot camp, participants will continue to receive mentoring, funding guidance and networking opportunities through WeLead’s ecosystem, with the next phase including a business incubator to support scaling enterprises.

The overwhelming success of this first boot camp sets a high standard for future programmes, reinforcing WeLead’s mission to equip women with the tools and confidence to thrive in business.