WEConnect International

The biggest deals don’t happen by chance—they happen when the right people are in the right room. 🤝 This year, that room is in New Orleans, Louisiana for International Day on Sunday, June 22, 2025! Held the day before the WBENC National Conference, International Day is a curated, exclusive event designed to help bring our global community together and maximize connections, opportunity, and impact. This year, look forward to: 🔹 Lightning round pitch competition — show up ready to deliver your best pitch to our audience of corporate buyers, partners, and entrepreneurs. 🔹 AI-powered matchmaking — Leverage our event app to schedule 1:1 meetings with buyers looking for suppliers like you. 🔹 Expert insights — learn how to navigate the evolving global supply chain and position your business for success. Join us: https://lnkd.in/eNNRr4qS ⚠️ Be sure to register by April 1 to secure the best rates! #InternationalDay2025 #WEConnected #WomenOwned #WBENC #WBENCconf #PowerofAccess

India is at a turning point for women-owned businesses, with growing access to global markets and game-changing partnerships. WEConnect International is at the forefront, driving connections that fuel growth and create lasting impact.   Earlier this month, we brought together 200+ participants, including over 150 women entrepreneurs, for the Building Resilient Economies Summit in New Delhi. With 450+ business connections made and a showcase of innovative women-led solutions, the summit provided a strategic platform to discuss business resilience, sustainable procurement, and economic growth for women-led enterprises. 🔗 Read more about how our latest initiatives are opening doors for women entrepreneurs in India: https://lnkd.in/eEFvWgCY WEConnect International in South Asia Eroshan Alagaretnam #WEConnectInternationalinIndia #WomenOwned #WomenOwnedinIndia

How do you spend your money and is any of it with businesses owned by women? On behalf of WEConnect International, thank you Shelley Zalis at The Female Quotient for this Forbes article on how to invest in women daily and change the equation--for everyone!

Happy International Women’s Day! 🎉 Today, and every day, we celebrate the incredible power and impact of women business owners worldwide. One-third of all privately owned businesses in the world are owned by women, and yet women-owned businesses still earn less than 1% of large corporate and government spend with suppliers. We are working to change that. Join us! How you can #AccelerateAction today: ✔️ Support women-owned businesses: https://lnkd.in/eZ3N_gUG ✔️ Donate to support our work: https://lnkd.in/evmp-FM2 ✔️ Join our growing network: https://lnkd.in/ekjwgMWx #IWD2025 #PowerofAccess #TheWEConnectEffect WEConnect International in Europe WEConnect International in Africa WEConnect International in Latin America WEConnect International in South Asia

We are proud to announce a new partnership with the Philippine Women’s Economic Network, Inc. (PhilWEN)! We look forward working together to foster the growth and success of women-owned businesses in the #Philippines through capacity-building initiatives, strategic connections, and expanded access to global markets. “This partnership is a pivotal step toward empowering Filipino women in business. By leveraging the expertise and global reach of WEConnect International, we can unlock more opportunities for women entrepreneurs to thrive in competitive markets.” - Pacita Juan, Trustee of PhilWEN. Read more about the partnership: https://lnkd.in/eGfMyDXJ #PowerofAccess #WomenOwned #Philippines #FilipinoWomeninBusiness Mrinalini Venkatachalam Elizabeth Vazquez

We had an inspiring and power-packed day at the 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭: 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫-𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚., bringing together 200 participants, including 125 women entrepreneurs and 75 key stakeholders from corporates, government, civil society, and industry associations. The event served as a dynamic platform for strategic discussions on supply chain resilience, inclusive sourcing, and business growth.   Compelling Keynotes to Remember! Smriti Irani, Former Cabinet Minister, delivered a thought-provoking keynote, urging women entrepreneurs to seize market opportunities, analyze trends, and scale their businesses. She emphasized the power of data-driven decision-making, resilience, and learning from past experiences to shape the future Mr. Ravi Kumar Narra and Dinkar Singh shared compelling perspectives on affirmative action and supply chain inclusion, reinforcing the need for equitable access and diversity in procurement. We extend our gratitude to our keynote speakers - Smriti Irani, Ravi Kumar Narra, and Dinkar Singh, for their invaluable support and insights.   The summit featured expert-led conversations exploring supplier diversity and women’s business leadership in the panel discussions - 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡: 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. Grateful to all our expert panelists for their insightful contributions Vinita Sethi, Geeta Shivdasani, MCIPS, Ashish Pathak, Poulomi Ghosh, Bandana Rai, Geetika Dayal & Kanika Dua Interactive sessions on Perfecting Your Pitch, Green Trade, and ESG provided practical tools to strengthen businesses and drive sustainable growth. A huge appreciation for Nittin Dutt, who shared valuable guidance on doing business with Flipkart/Walmart, offering women entrepreneurs a roadmap to access global supply chains.   The Networking, matchmaking and B2B Product Showcase gave an opportunity to women-owned enterprises to present innovative solutions and engage in meaningful business conversations with WEConnect International member buyers, including Pernod Ricard, Walmart, Marriott International, and Sanofi, unlocking new procurement opportunities.   The summit was a celebration of women entrepreneurs, a commitment to gender-inclusive supply chains, and a step forward in building economic resilience. As the momentum continues, women-owned businesses will remain at the forefront of global economic transformation. Grateful to all participants, women-owned businesses, and ecosystem partners for their contributions. #InclusiveSourcing #WomenEntrepreneurs #SupplierDiversity #EconomicResilience Elizabeth Vazquez Eroshan Alagaretnam Poonam Mehdiratta

Big opportunities await in Johannesburg! 🇿🇦 Our Africa Summit on April 29-30 will feature practical learning sessions, high-impact networking, and exclusive visits with buyers, all designed to connect women-owned business from across Africa with game-changing opportunities. Join us: https://lnkd.in/e4XxTXj2 🔹 Sponsorship opportunities are also still available! Explore custom packages here: https://lnkd.in/eK3g5RdE 🔹 Follow WEConnect International in Africa for more opportunities, resources, and inspiration in the region.

Thrilled to share the 10-year story of collaboration between WEConnect International, Walmart, and WBENC. Together, we launched the Women-Owned Logo to help Certified Women's Business Enterprises in 60+ countries stand out. A remarkable illustration of partnership and global impact at scale. #WomenOwned

👉 "It's just good business." Walmart spotlights the 10-year history of the Women Owned Logo, a collaboration between WEConnect International, Walmart, and WBENC that helps certified Women's Business Enterprises in 60+ countries stand out. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eYhA_mWC #WomenOwned #BuyWomenOwned

📍Dispatches from Mumbai! Elizabeth Vazquez recently joined a pivotal US-India Strategic Partnership Forum roundtable alongside Indra Nooyi, former Chairperson & CEO of PepsiCo and led by Governor Ned Lamont of Connecticut. This high-level discussion focused on economic partnerships, investment opportunities, and the power of global collaboration. India is a growing market for women entrepreneurs, and WEConnect International is committed to creating pathways for them to scale and thrive in the global economy. 🔗 Follow WEConnect International in South Asia for more updates on the incredible work being done in this region and stay tuned for more!