400 women entrepreneurs take centre stage at WE LIFT 6

Ambition and creativity were the qualities that were found within some 400 women-owned businesses that are on display at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), where the Women Empowering, Leading, Innovating, and Flourishing Together (WE LIFT) Six exposition is hosted.
The exhibition, heading on to its sixth year, is being spearheaded by Human Services and Social Security Minister Vindhya Persaud and continues to serve as a platform for women entrepreneurs to market and expand their products and services. This publication witnessed the innovations first-hand and spoke with Minister Persaud, who revealed that approximately 30 per cent of the exhibitors this year are participating in the initiative for the very first time.
“Thirty per cent of the exhibition this year involves new entrepreneurs who have never done business before, and they’re diverse – from desserts to food to soap or beauty and skin products. You name it, they’re there. So, we’re doing two things: we’re encouraging new businesses, and we’re growing the existing businesses,” the Minister explained.

She was also seen assisting several entrepreneurs as they prepared their booths, offering guidance on branding, presentation and marketing strategies. She noted that one of her goals this year is to assist women in forming business consortiums to strengthen their enterprises.
“Because just as you see me walking around here like a busybody and getting things right, I would go to each lady and say, ‘I think your label might need this’, ‘I think your bottle needs changing’, ‘I think you need to do this or that’, ‘I think what you need to do would improve your sales and your presence [is]…’, and this year I’ve directly been working with women on consortiums,” she explained. Thus, Dr Persaud stated that the Ministry has noticed a gradual shift happening in which women who are exhibiting are moving away from traditional niches and are venturing into new sectors.

New ventures of business
“We’re also seeing women coming out of the traditional niches. There’s a woman who owns a car and transportation company, she’s all the way from Region Three. There are women here specialising in desserts and jewellery, and they actually make their own gold and silver jewellery in Region Seven. You have women here from Region Ten who were trained by us in design and décor, and they’ve done the décor at the back. So, we’re not only exhibiting what they do – we’re incorporating them into how we present WE LIFT. That is the model I think will drive this whole economy around women entrepreneurs that I’m trying to create.”
Innovation is also taking shape within the exhibition, with new digital tools being introduced to support women-led businesses. Minister Persaud explained that the ministry is currently working with a digital financial company to allow women entrepreneurs to conduct paperless financial transactions, while also exploring the creation of a marketplace for their businesses. She noted that the process has already begun at the event, with a representative from the company present to engage exhibitors and provide information on the service.
Minister Persaud further explained that the Women’s Innovation and Investment Network (WIIN) app, which currently advertises women-owned businesses, already hosts about 1500 enterprises. According to the Minister, there are plans to eventually convert the platform into a digital marketplace, with the initiative beginning through engagements at the exhibition.

Food sector innovations
She also pointed to innovation among exhibitors, particularly in the food sector.
“There are some incredibly good condiments here, so what I got them to do – we had a special prep session – was the blending of spices. So, you will see combined boxes. If a tourist comes and they want to try the different peppers of Guyana, there are different products from different women. We are getting them into spaces that they weren’t in before – export and local markets – and that’s work we’ve been doing. Tomorrow you’ll hear some great announcements on that.”
She added that presentation and branding remain key aspects she encourages entrepreneurs to improve. “If you notice what I wanted to achieve, I did a mock-up of how this should look – what every piece should look like. It’s also changing the way our women understand presentation because they are very accustomed to the table-and-chair setup. I don’t like that. We’re creating a very different look so they think further and see further, because presentation is everything.”
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament (MP) Gail Teixeira at the launch stated that the growth being witnessed through the WE LIFT initiative stands as a clear benchmark of Guyana’s progress in creating opportunities for women to participate meaningfully in the economy. She noted that without deliberate efforts to create such opportunities, women would be left with little more than the will to succeed but without the necessary support to turn their ambitions into viable enterprises.
“If you don’t create the enabling environment, all you have is the will of a woman making products to sell. We have to create the environment to allow women to take their rightful place in society and the economy. Initiatives such as expanded access to education, housing opportunities, training programmes and financial support have allowed more women to build businesses and gain economic security,” Teixeira added.

At the exhibition, Maria Dacosta, owner of “Prttybymaria”, a small business, recalled starting her business during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dacosta said events like WE LIFT provide a valuable opportunity to connect with customers and other entrepreneurs.
“Well, honestly, it feels like building a community. I’m not really that social, but when it comes to the things I make, I’m very proud. I tend to get a little talkative when it comes to the details. When I go to pop-ups like this and meet people who are interested in the same kind of things, it feels nice – like you’re connecting with people who appreciate what you create,” she explained. She also noted the impressive level of creativity displayed by fellow exhibitors. “From looking around, everybody is very creative. A lot of people here are hand-making their products. It’s that unique touch in the smaller details. I like flowers, pink and green, and I feel like that really shows in the pieces I make.” Dacosta added that it was inspiring to see so many women come together to support one another.
“This is my first time coming to WE LIFT, and it’s really nice to see everyone come together. Honestly, nowhere else you would see this much variety. And knowing that it’s all women makes me proud.”