EPWN is GOING GLOBAL!

EPWN is dedicated to spreading the power of our women’s network around the world . Whilst our focus was initially Europe, our long term strategy is about looking for ways to expand into the new global economy.

Our Partners want it. Our members want it. An increasingly global workforce is driving it!

Our plans for “Going Global” are already shaping up and we have potential candidates for new city networks in Sao Paolo, Dubai and Singapore. As always, our network of volunteer EPWN members is supporting this work. So far this year we have been present at: Global Summit of Women in Kuala Lumpar; The International Alliance of Women conference in Sri Lanka; Global Women’s Forum in Brazil and have visits planned later in the year to Dubai and Washington DC.

Isabelle Heude, ex-EPWN-Paris member, who recently relocated to Sao Paolo is leading our efforts in Brazil along with our valued corporate sponsor Mercer. Our key contact there, Alberto Mondelli, is also keen to help spread the word about the value of gender balanced leadership. Isabelle tells us why she’s fired up to help:

“Ten years ago I worked as strategic consultant in Sao Paulo. The office was full of bright and ambitious Brazilian women.

I have spent the last ten years in Paris, and recently returned to Sao Paulo, where I reached out to my friends and former colleagues. Not a single woman was still in the corporate world, they all worked as coach, independent consultant or entrepreneur! They all shared that they had to step out of the “corporate race” because it was not possible to manage the face-time/ inflexible work life in Sao Paulo and the demands of their families!

Needless to say, all my former male colleagues are all high profile directors in big companies! I truly believe that this is a big waste of talent and I am convinced that PWN-Sao Paulo can be key in helping the women and the corporate community reach their best potential without sacrifice on the family front. That’s why I’m so eager to help launch the Sao Paulo city network.”

Faten Amamou, EPWN-Paris member is connecting us with her network in the Middle East. Another highly valued corporate sponsor, RBS, has expressed interest in being part of our global launches in Dubai and Singapore and will be hosting a session for senior business women this November, in Dubai.

Faten share’s our clear view of how a network in Dubai could help:

“The UAE’s strategic position as a bridge between East and West, provides a powerful platform for the world to come together . Today, it’s one of the most hyper-connected places on the planet, where more than 200 different nationalities mingle, daily.

The UAE is making many efforts to activate the contribution of its businesswomen in the national economy by providing them with business and commercial services, but also counseling in terms of health and education. UAE businesswomen typically run small, technology-enhanced, mostly service type businesses that often have international connection and are generally self-funded.

EPWN as one of the leading professional women’s networks has good experience in providing women with tools, networks and support they need to assume leadership. The time is right to share the know-how and the valuable experience of its members to mentor Emirati Businesswomen and Middle Eastern women in general.”

And, last but not least, in Singapore, a group of ex-pats are ‘testing’ the market.

Linked to our desire to Go GLOBAL is a re-branding project to evolve our name and brand. Stay tuned for more about EPWN’s new& improved brand!

We are always looking for opportunities to launch a new network so if you have any ideas, or have any contacts in Dubai, Sao Paulo or Singapore who you think might want to get involved please contact Michelle Brailsford, VP, New Networks & Sustainability for EPWN (www.europeanpwn.net)