Women and Entrepreneurship: Startups
OVERVIEW
From October 12-16th, we had the pleasure of hosting seven incredible female entrepreneurs in New Orleans as part of an inspiring program designed to highlight the powerful role of women-owned businesses in the U.S. economy. These women, all new business owners, delved into the factors shaping the success of women in business, such as leadership development, job creation, and access to capital. Through their meetings in New Orleans, they learned about the different levels of government incentives available to entrepreneurs and were able to see first-hand how our local community is fostering innovation and supporting women in leadership.
PARTICIPANTS
Ms. Nazia AHMED
| Australia
Founder and Managing Director, The Social Outcomes Lab, November 2015
Ms. Talifa ISGANDARLI
| Azerbaijan
Head of BakuID Investment Event/SABAH.HUB
Ms. Lach Baniya
| Burma
Co-founder & CMO, Icarus Media Co., Ltd
Ms. Hana STELZEROVA | Czech Republic
CO-CEO and Analytic at Impactso
Ms. Laura Lucille PETER
| India
Corporate Trainer & Training Consultant, Independent Consultant
Ms. Elaf Attar SADRALDIN | Iraq
Junior Community Officer, Five One Labs
Ms. Ritah UWERA | Rwanda
Founder and CEO, Toddle Care Ltd
ACTIVITIES
During their visit to New Orleans, our group of female entrepreneurs explored the city’s dynamic approach to fostering inclusive business growth. At Propeller, an impact accelerator supporting black and African-American entrepreneurs, the delegation learned about innovative strategies to address economic inequities and the importance of community-driven capital. They were particularly intrigued by Propeller’s focus on green infrastructure and its early reliance on private funding from sources like the Kellogg Corporation and J.P. Morgan Chase. Two of the participants were eager to explore partnerships related to shoreline restoration and venture funding.
The group also met with Lauren Haydel, owner of Fleurty Girl, and Teresa Thomas, founder of Crazy Plant Bae, both of whom shared their entrepreneurial journeys and the challenges they faced in building successful businesses. Ms. Haydel highlighted the value of hard work and local investment, while Ms. Thomas emphasized the importance of community support and employee empowerment. The visit concluded with a presentation from Chandra Tettleton, Director of Project Management at the New Orleans Business Alliance, where the delegation discussed initiatives to revitalize disinvested neighborhoods and empower women in business through the city’s Resilient Corridors Initiative.
