Dar to host ‘Dream Women Business Conference' May 11

Over 250 women entrepreneurs are expected to take part in a Vodacom-Dare to Dream Women Business Expo & Conference at the Golden Jubilee Tower in Dar es Salaam on May 11.

The Fifth Economic Women conference and Business Expo, whose theme will be ‘Building Business Beyond Tomorrow’, will be hosted by Dare to Dream Foundation in collaboration with Vodacom Tanzania and CRDB Bank.

Among the targeted beneficiaries are all women, including emerging female entrepreneurs running their own small and medium-sized businesses.

Vodacom Tanzania Vodacom Foundation Manager Grace Lyon said in the city at the weekend that the conference will feature industry leaders who will talk about global opportunities, business technology, marketing and financing.

Some of the prominent speakers at the conference will be Ugandan author and motivational speaker Rehmah Kasule, CEDA International founder and President Ambassador (rtd) Mwanaidi Sinare Maajar, Partner and Advocate of REX Attorneys, and Joy Nyabongo of Service Excellence.

Lyon said among the topics for discussion will be hints on how to turn small firms into marketable businesses, ways women-owned businesses can access financing, ways to build customer bases by tapping into growth communities with buying power attracting the perfect customers, ways to create loyal customers, and how to brand businesses how – all in line with Vodacom Foundation’s initiatives and programmes.

Participants who have not gone into business yet are expected to benefit by listening to accomplished and well-learned panelists, and gain marketable tools by attending workshops on how to turn their passion into thriving businesses they will ultimately be proud of.

The conference is seen as an opportunity for people to discover ways to turn their businesses into powerhouses and gain strategies they can easily implement and empower themselves.

Dare to Dream Foundation managing director Emelda Mwamanga said Tanzanian women are “determined to stay competitive despite a harsh economic environment and they aim to build businesses that endure”.

She cited lack of confidence and self-motivation among small women entrepreneurs as the main reason behind their failure to excel in business, adding that the conference would recommend ways to succeed.

“The event will bring together successful women entrepreneurs and those who are starting their journey to success. The novices will learn from those who have excelled through lectures, mentoring and one-on-one encounter,” she said.

According to Mwamanga, the event is designed to change the way small and medium women entrepreneurs operate and move them to “greater heights of success heights”.

“As the theme shows, the conference is designed to educate the women on how to operate sustainable businesses that will last for 30 and even more years,” noted.

She said experts from CRDB Bank, which is one of the major sponsors of the conference and expo, will speak on how best to access credit facilities and lead businesses to success.

“Participants will also learn on how to market their businesses using various channels, including the social media. Those with products will have an opportunity to showcase their products and speak on their products and businesses in general,” said Mwamanga.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN