Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mary Kay Inc., knows that “the world needs more women entrepreneurs.” She recently stated that “almost half of all women entrepreneurs claim to be driven by the desire to contribute to the societal good.” With this in mind, Mary Kay has partnered with six United Nations agencies and The Women’s Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA) to release a timely and necessary online entrepreneurship certificate program for women.
Accessible to millions of women via ITC SheTrades and on the WEA websites, the Online Entrepreneurship Certificate Programme curriculum comprises 27 interactive modules
supplemented by over 200 videos. The program is free for users of shetrades.com, and those who complete the curriculum will be rewarded with certificates for each of the seven stages of business development learned: deciding to become an entrepreneur, developing the idea, business modelling, pitching the business, funding the venture, building up the team, and setting up the business.
Announced during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 76), the program will officially launch on the 18th of January for beginner and veteran entrepreneurs alike. It intends to equip its participants with the skills to design and set up economically viable businesses, and it will be supplemented at the national level with on-the-ground training for women.
