In Brussels, the TIAW delegation enjoyed a wonderful luncheon at the beautiful and historic de Warande club with members of The European Women’s Management Development organization, a network with numerous chapters in a number of countries in Europe that supports women to succeed in management up to the most senior levels. We met privately afterwards with EWMD co-International Presidents Martine de Witte and Gabi Hanschel. The Women on Boards program was again of great interest between the two organizations and TIAW agreed to work closely with EWMD as they create their own initiative in this area, using the best practices tool kit developed by TIAW. In particular, with a strong chapter in the seat of the European Parliament in Brussels, EWMD is well-positioned to taking a leading role to influence the European community on this issue and follow up discussions are planned.
EWMD also has a keen interest in the TIAW Microcredit program, one of our flagship initiatives that has gained an international reputation for its work in opening village banks in countries around the world to support women entrepreneurs in the developing world. EWMD and TIAW will continue to discuss ways that we can work together on this important initiative.
After Brussels, it was on to Sofia for the TIAW Board meeting, a one-day conference and two days of meetings and tours across Bulgaria.
The program was exceptional, featuring key government officials including Milka Kovachev, Economy Minister, Nina Radeva, Chair of the Parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee and Daniela Bobeva, Director of International Relations and EU Integration for the Bulgarian National Bank. Business leaders we heard from included Sasha Bezuhanova, General Manager of Hewlett Packard for Bulgaria, Elitsa Tsanova, Managing Director of American Standard, Bulgaria and Maria Ilieva, Executive Director of HVB Bank Biochem.
We heard about the exceptional dedication of the Bulgarian people to bringing their economy and society back from a disastrous financial collapse in 1997. And they are succeeding. As Ms. Bezuhanova mentioned, a recent article in Newsweek touted Bulgaria as one of the best places on the planet to do business, saying, “Forget India, go to Bulgaria.”
We found that women are playing leading roles in all sectors, although they face many of the same challenges as elsewhere, especially in regard to senior appointments and access to capital.
But perhaps more than the information we gained, we were able to make true and deep connections between our wonderful Bulgarian women hosts and their visitors from Western Europe and North American. By staging the conference, the International Association of Professional Business Women in Bulgaria accomplished a great deal besides direct business connections. They demonstrated leadership and strategic prowess and won the attention of a wide range of top national business and government representatives, from the Bulgarian Royal Family to the mayors of cities we visited and the local business communities.
It’s difficult to gauge the exact impact, but it is safe to say that through the fine organization and execution of IAPBWB’s Nina Noeva and her team, we were able to Connect to Make All the Difference in the World.
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