WEConnect International

We are continuing our series of showcasing women entrepreneurs who are also mothers and the unique obstacles they face. Today, meet Aakanksha Bhargava! In 2007, Aakanksha graduated with her MBA and began a career in her family’s company, PM Relocations Pvt Ltd (PMR). Taking over as CEO from her father in 2013, Aakanksha grew the business from 30 to more than 650 employees and built a global network across 150 countries. Although her success can be attributed to her training, experience, and knowledge, what cannot be ignored is her perseverance to overcome the barriers she faced as a woman in logistics, the boss’s daughter, a wife, and a mother. Motherhood introduced unique challenges that required Aakanksha to navigate new ways to work while also raising her daughter. She made a room for her at the office and brought her along on 65 work trips during her first year and a half at the company. Because of this, Aakanksha was able to establish relationships that accelerated her company’s growth and demonstrated how women can become leaders in the predominantly male field of logistics. Because of the decline in relocations during the pandemic, her business intake decreased. Her business decreased and she knew she needed to find ways to keep it going and her employees motivated. She also needed to be there for her daughter who was impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. Aakanksha met these overwhelming challenges and trusted in herself and her employees to accomplish the work under arduous circumstances. How was she able to do it? Using her skills to adapt, improvise, and persevere that had been strengthened during motherhood, Aakanksha contacted every client until she found one that needed her services to do something her company hadn’t done before—transport equipment to their employees’ homes. Now, PMR is working with over 15 clients in this space, moving nearly 2,000 laptops and desktops each week. Read more of Aakanksha's story: https://lnkd.in/enjrTtvt Aakanksha credits WEConnect International with connecting her with businesses that became partners and clients. “WEConnect International provides opportunities to meet the right people in a business. Sometimes you get lost and don’t know who to catch up with, and WEConnect International gives you that platform.” We are so grateful to have helped Aakanksha succeed at work and at home and to be part of her amazing and inspirational story. But our work isn’t done. There are so many more women entrepreneurs who could benefit from our support, training, and certification. We need your help reaching them. Please consider partnering with us. Make a donation today: https://lnkd.in/eeq375U7 #WomenInBusiness #SupportWomen #MothersDay #MothersMonth

Standard Chartered and WEConnect International are excited to announce a partnership to support supply chain diversity in emerging markets and developing economies. Through the agreement, the Bank will be launching a dedicated financing facility for certified women-owned businesses within its market footprint, alongside targeted financing solutions for WEConnect International member buyers. https://lnkd.in/eajbpT-k #SupplyChainDiversity #WomenOwned #AccessToCapital

WEConnect International is proud to announce the 2024 Top Global Champions for Supplier Diversity & Inclusion (SD&I)! This distinction recognizes leading corporations for their global inclusive sourcing practices including achieving significant spend with diverse groups including Minority-, Women-, LGBT-, Veteran- and Disabled-owned businesses. See the full list of awardees: https://lnkd.in/dUif7CcC Disability:IN National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) NaVOBA National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) WBENC

Last night, we proved that together, the power of our netWORK is what will ultimately elevate women’s netWORTH! 🙌 THANK YOU for joining us to stand up for women entrepreneurs and to celebrate the Top Global Champions for Supplier Diversity & Inclusion. #WEConnected

Earlier today, Kristine Mangan from Johnson & Johnson, Denise Naguib from Marriott International, and Sabrina Goicoechea from Moody's Corporation discussed how to transcend silos to expand supplier diversity efforts and impact. Tomorrow, more supplier diversity & inclusions leaders will gather at the Global SD&I Symposium, a world-class educational event designed to provide first-hand experience and best practices from expert practitioners including tools and resources to successfully implement and expand global supplier diversity and inclusion. 🌎 #WEConnected

Tonight's the night! We can't wait to connect with fellow supporters and champions for women's economic empowerment at the WEConnect International Annual Gala tonight in D.C. 👏 A HUGE thank you to our sponsors for your commitment to expanding opportunities for women business owners. 👏 ExxonMobil Amazon Accenture Google Johnson & Johnson Ampcus Inc Cargill EY JLL JPMorgan Chase & Co. Marriott International Merck Meta Procter & Gamble Walmart If you are joining us, share your favorite Gala moments with the hashtag: #WEConnected See you there!

For Linda Peers, BA, the origins of entrepreneurship started in her home kitchen in Halifax, Nova Scotia, when she first started experimenting with dairy alternatives for personal use. At the time, however, starting a business was not on Linda’s radar. “I didn’t wake up one morning and say, ‘Gee, I feel like starting my own company,’” she says. “It was just curiosity. I had been making my own coconut milk as a dairy alternative, and I thought, maybe I can enhance its value by using fermentation.” Read how that sense of curiosity helped Linda successfully build and scale The Cultured Coconut a probiotic powerhouse: https://lnkd.in/eqjqDr6h #WomenOwned #BuyWomenOwned #WomenInBusiness

The sudden loss of Mr. Sun Zhaohai in 2012 left the employees of Zibo Zhaohai Light Industrial Products Co., Ltd. wondering about its future. Despite facing the challenges of raising an infant son, Zhang Zhonghong, Mr. Sun’s wife, committed herself to managing the business. What came next was a series of obstacles: disillusionment, decreased business, tariff and trade disputes, environmental disputes, and a three-year pandemic. To get through this, she provided her employees with business knowledge and skills training, group development programs, and innovative production techniques. She also worked hard to meet the needs of her son while furthering her own skills and establishing the connections she needed to become a supplier to major companies. WEConnect International provided Zhang Zhonghong with the resources and connections she needed to capture the attention of large corporations and further its presence as a leader in the light manufacturing industry. Filled with gratitude, Zhang said, “I’m grateful for WEConnect International’s recognition, philosophy, support, and the learning opportunities it brings to women’s businesses. I completely agree with WEConnect International’s sense of social responsibility. It provides a platform for global women’s enterprises to exchange and support each other, grow and develop, and enhance opportunities and capabilities to participate in international competition. I plan to actively participate in their learning and networking activities and give back to the community.” Come 2023, Zhonghong increased her company’s export value from $17 million in 2012 to $30 million and grew its workforce to more than 100 employees. Read more of her story: https://lnkd.in/gK6zCYJf Zhang Zhonghong’s success is an inspiration for women entrepreneurs who are also mothers. We are grateful to have helped Zhonghong make the business connections she needed to secure partnerships with major international companies and further her commitment to giving back to others. We at WEConnect International know we can’t let Zhang Zhonghong’s story be an anomaly. We also we can’t reach more women entrepreneurs alone. We need the help of others like you who recognize the importance of helping all women entrepreneurs accomplish their goals. Won’t you join us? Please consider donating today: https://lnkd.in/eeq375U7 #MotherDay #MothersMonth #WomeninBusiness #MondayMotivation #WomenSupportingWomen

This Wednesday, a diverse gathering of thought leaders, corporate executives, government officials, philanthropic and civil society organizations, and inspiring women entrepreneurs will come together in Washington DC to champion women’s entrepreneurship and drive economic empowerment for a more equitable and sustainable future. 🌎✨ Will we see you there? Let us know in the comments below! Not yet registered? A few tickets remain. Snag your seat here: https://ow.ly/6OXO50RCNzh

Through Sourcing2Equal Kenya, we're lighting up pathways for more women-owned businesses to connect with corporate buyers! Our recent event, led by our Regional Director for Africa, Frida Owinga, was a powerhouse of insights and strategies drawn from her wealth of experience and expertise, along with industry best practices. But that's not all! We had an amazing lineup of speakers including Heather Kipnis, Alice Michira, Emily Okonjo, FCIPS, MBA, LSSYB, Rotarian, FCIPS, MBA, LSSYB, Rotarian, and @Carol Omanga! At WEConnect International , our mission is crystal clear: driving more resources and opportunities into the hands of women through inclusive sourcing initiatives. Don't miss out on the action - register for free on our website to stay in the loop with all the latest updates and events! #WomenEmpowerment #InclusiveSourcing #ConnectToSuccess #Sourcing2EqualKenya https://lnkd.in/d2UePWg