During the week of June 10th through the 15th, Rivera Business Development, NAWBO Delaware, and the WTC DE hosted a twelve-member delegation of women business owners.
The purpose for the visit was to build relationships with the Delaware business community.
To say it was a success seems understated.
It all started from a National Association of Women Business Owners Leadership event in New York City in 2018.
At the event were members of the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs (FCEM). Its members are NAWBO partners.
At that event, I met the delegation from Peru. Following that event, I met the President of the WTC DE and was introduced as the NAWBO President-Elect for 2019.
After volunteering to help the President, Carla Stone, with an event and working on another project, they became my client.
For most of 2018, the leaders of the delegation in Peru and I, in partnership with the WTC DE, began supporting women businessowners in Delaware and Peru.
This led to planning for a Peruvian delegation visit to build stronger relationships that would lead to business for all involved.
The work and collaboration that went into making it possible was extraordinary. The support of Delaware businesses, non-profits and government agencies lead to business opportunities for export and import between Delaware and Peru.
Words of gratitude to everyone involved are not enough.
As is often said, all it takes is one or two people willing to put in the work to make things happen. Less than 3% of women-owned businesses explore international business.
This collaboration has proven what’s possible.
What has come of this? We are working on taking a delegation to Peru in September of this year. We will be limiting the number to 10 for this first visit.
Next year, we are considering a trade fair in Delaware with vendors from Peru and perhaps other Latin American countries.
Sales were made, preparations for contract agreements, four businesses already signed up for September and much more.
What will you do the next time you’re presented with an opportunity?
Photo courtesy of El Tiempo Hispano