Embaixatriz and entrepreneur Kim Sawyer and IBM Portugal CEO António Raposo de Lima will visit the Azores again next week to further promote Connect to Success, the program founded by the U.S. Embassy that aims to support women-owned businesses (WOBs) and promote gender equality in the corporate world.
Last October, U.S. Embassy, the Luso-American Foundation for Development and IBM Portugal promoted a series of workshops for women entrepreneurs in Terceira and in São Miguel islands. This time, the goal of the Azores visit is to implement another Connect to Success component, the Corporate Mentoring Program, in the archipelago. With this program experienced professionals from the corporate world will be matched with WOBs to support their growth, by giving them the necessary tools to succeed and grow their businesses.
Kim Sawyer and António Raposo de Lima will be meeting with eight of the largest companies in the Azores (BEL – Fromageries, EDA, Grupo Bensaude, Grupo Finançor, INSCO, NOS, SATA, Unileite) that are interested in putting together groups of volunteers for the Corporate Mentoring Program.
During this visit, IBM Portugal will also formally announce that it is committed to mentoring one Azorean WOB, during the next edition of the Corporate Mentoring Program beginning in January 2017.
On December 5, at 4pm, at the Hotel Azor in Ponta Delgada, a press conference will be held, during which Embaixatriz and entrepreneur Kim Sawyer and IBM Portugal CEO António Raposo de Lima will give remarks.
Media outlets interested in participating in the press conference should contact the press office at the U.S. Embassy by December 2, at 21 770 2436 or by e-mail to MorenoMV@state.gov.
