To celebrate International Women’s Day, EBRD has shared stories from its partners who are also leading women in business. Find out about how these impressive women have forged successful careers and how they strive to ensure that their workplaces and wider society promote diversity and inclusion.
Tamara Chigogidze, founder and CEO of Georgia’s Radio Holding Fortuna
Tamara is founder and CEO of Georgia's largest radio broadcasting company. She discusses how she supports female entrepreneurship and the role she has played in advocating for an inclusive society.
“I believe that if we recognise the role that mass media can play in promoting an inclusive society, then we as a broadcaster must also use our opportunities to leverage our network and our content to do this," says Tamara.
Emine Çark, CEO of Turkey’s Ege PetroKimy
Emine Çark started her own business from the backseat of her car. Now, she's CEO of Turkey’s Ege PetroKimy, a company has grown quickly to produce chemicals in a 4000m² factory and sell more than 63 different products to clients across the country. Emine shares her journey as a woman entrepreneur and the unique challenges she has had to face.
“Women entrepreneurs have to face a particular set of challenges, especially in accessing finance and networking opportunities. Business reputation, credibility and determination are key to survival. In the chemical sector, customer loyalty is everything," says Emine.
Malika Boudine, founder of Morocco’s Ibtitex
Malika is the founder of a women's clothing company that is still 100 percent owned and managed by her and her daughter Ibtisame. Malika shares how she involves women in every aspect of the company and how she believes she has a duty of care towards her employees, her community, and the environment.
“What marks Ibtitex out is the attention that we pay to our employees, 70 percent of whom are women. Finding qualified staff in the textiles industry in Morocco is not easy, but companies are also not providing good working conditions for their staff. This is where we wanted to be different. We wanted to value our women employees for their active participation in the business," says Malika.
Expanding EBRD's Women in Business programme
Thanks to the EBRD, there will be more successful women entrepreneurs like Tamara, Emine and Malika across the company's countries of operations.
The EBRD is extending the outreach of its Women in Business programme in Morocco by expanding the initiative the region of Tangier, Tétouan-Al Hoceima and Oriental in the north of the country.
The region has a high concentration of women-led businesses in the medical, retail and service sectors. The expansion of the EBRD, which was launched in the country last year, will provide female entrepreneurs with access to finance, advisory services and trainings.
Women in Business is a fantastic initiative that gives training and mentoring to women to help them thrive in their careers.
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Disclosure: Where Women Work researches and publishes insightful evidence about how its paid member organizations support women's equality.