World Trade Center Utah (WTC Utah) co-hosted an International Women’s Day celebration on March 8 in cooperation with the Women’s Business Center of Utah (WBCUtah) and the Salt Lake Chamber. The event, moderated by EDCUtah president and WTC Utah board member Theresa Foxley, featured a panel of internationally successful women who all shared their experiences and insights as well as the obstacles they had to overcome while conducting business abroad.
“The Women’s Business Center of Utah is proud to celebrate the importance of women in our society by highlighting their accomplishments,” said Robbi D. Richter, WBCUtah program director. “It is a day to reflect on the vital role women play in Utah’s overall flourishing economy and employment vitality growth.”
In 2015, the McKinsey Global Institute reported that advancing women’s equality in trade, investment and commerce could add $12 trillion to $28 trillion to global gross domestic product by 2025, Richter said.
“WTC Utah would like to be a part of the solutions that address the challenges facing women as they pursue global economic opportunities,” said Suzette Alles, COO of WTC Utah. “Increasing international trade, and supporting women in their efforts to do so, helps companies grow, create wealth and become more resilient.”
On March 7, WTC Utah also participated in the 10th anniversary of the Women in International Business Conference organized by the World Trade Association of Utah (WTA). The event featured approximately 30 business, government and educational leaders representing Utah’s diverse international economy sharing their perspectives and strategies for success in a global marketplace. Nicole Sherwood, grant manager for WTC Utah, was among the panelists and shared insights on local resources to help your companies go global. WTA also honored Mary Beckerle, CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute, as International Woman of the Year for her dedication to advancing science across the world.
“As the state’s oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing international trade and commerce, we are proud to celebrate the global leadership of Utah’s businesswomen in transforming our economy into a major player on the world stage,” said Meghan Stettler, vice president of WTA and communications director for the Governor’s Office of Energy Development. “As the number of women-owned businesses continues to rise, we are committed to providing a forum of practical tools, solutions and connections to drive ever-greater success in meeting the commercial and cultural demands of an ever-evolving global marketplace.”
Last year, the Utah Export Acceleration Grant, which is made possible through a contribution by JPMorgan Chase & Co., enabled WTC Utah to award 36 grants to small to medium-sized businesses, including 10 women-owned businesses. The 2018 Utah Pitch Competition first-place winner, Harvest Lane Honey, is a women-owned business. “Winning the WTC Pitch Competition has allowed us to invest in our packaging to be compliant with our Canadian neighbors’ language laws,” said Mindy Waite, CEO of the Utah-based beekeeping company. “This will allow us to expand into the Canadian market where we currently have a demand. WTC [Utah] has been a great resource for growing our business internationally.”