Women in Business Expo does not only focus on entrepreneurship – Sonia Noel

…empowers women to develop personally and professionally

The Women in Business Expo is not just an event that caters for the empowerment of women in the area of business skills and marketing but also provides a platform for females from all walks of life and various careers to have a voice and inspire each other.
Those were the words of the organiser of the event, Sonia Noel, who on Sunday on the last day of the two-day expo told Guyana Times that the turnout this year was much more than expected.

“We have like 67 exhibitors and some of them from the first year, second year, third year and a lot of the first years… because they develop themselves in their capacities and it is not just their businesses. And one of the things coming out is the personal development coming out from these people, we talk about health and youth and different things that help you give the world the best version of you.”
She stated that the feedback has been “tremendous” and that the “Inspire You” motivational event over the years featured many phenomenal women from here in Guyana, the Caribbean and internationally.
“It is not just a women expo for business. Business is part of it but it is adding value to life …we want life elevation…it is you being better, your business, your family and by extension your country, being better.”
Noel noted that this is the fourth year that such an event has been hosted in Guyana and it will be repeated in years to come because of the impact that it has on the female population especially those who are focused on becoming entrepreneurs.
“Small businesses definitely can contribute so much to the development of this country,” she added.
Meanwhile, one of the motivational speakers at the event on Sunday, held at the Pegasus Hotel, Thandi McAllister, told this publication that the “Inspire You” activity presents a platform for women to not only share their life-changing stories but it also serves as another platform for women to be inspired by stories in their professional and personal capacities.
“So that can transform lives and transformation does not have to be huge, the tiniest change is good enough and I think that is what Inspire You sets out to do. Sometimes it is difficult to recognise that stumbling blocks could be indeed stepping stones. It takes some of us longer to come to that recognition.”
Additionally, Renata Burnette, another motivational speaker, stated that such an event serves to empower and enhance the lives of all the women in attendance in more ways than one.
“To have a room full of women coming from all walks of life having different careers encouraging each other not knowing which space of mind they are in currently; it is really good. You never have that as often as we should so I felt as though it was the perfect timing and also it is the month for women,” she said.
The Women in Business Expo 2019 was hosted by the Sonia Noel Foundation for Creative Arts, in collaboration with the Women’s Association for Sustainable Development.
Every year for the past four years, this event has been held in the month of March as part of the activities attributed to International Women’s Day held on March 8.
This year, the expo is being held under the theme “Think equal, build smart, innovate for change”.  It is referred to as the United Nations (UN) Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.