The U.S. Embassy inaugurated the fourth cohort of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Pakistan at the Lincoln Reading Lounge, National Library of Pakistan, on March 9, 2024.
This year’s group of 150 participants are from Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karachi.
Bettina Malone, Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, introduced the AWE initiative, designed to foster entrepreneurship. The program incorporates peer-to-peer learning and local mentorship to assist participants in establishing their businesses and exploring innovative scaling opportunities.
During her address, Malone underscored the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs, stating, “When women are successful, communities prosper, and countries thrive.”
Guided by established Pakistani entrepreneurs, the 150 participants of AWE 2024 will embark on a rigorous three-month online training program developed by Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management and American natural resource company Freeport McMoran.
Through AWE, participants would acquire fundamental business skills and engage in weekly discussions with experienced local mentors and U.S. experts. AWE’s objectives include nurturing entrepreneurial expertise, facilitating access to funding opportunities, expanding business prospects, and enhancing entrepreneurial success rates, according to the U.S. Embassy statement.
Five of the U.S. Mission to Pakistan’s Lincoln Corners in Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karachi will spearhead AWE Pakistan 2024 with assistance from the Pakistan American Cultural Center.
After their AWE journey, the women entrepreneurs would have the chance to vie for seed funding from the U.S. Mission to Pakistan to further develop or establish their enterprises. Upon completion, participants will join the global AWE network, offering additional growth avenues and access to the community of U.S. exchange program alumni.
Supported by the U.S. Department of State, this global training program empowers women worldwide, leveraging public-private partnerships, local collaborations, and U.S. Exchange Alumni networks to stimulate business growth. AWE has catalyzed prosperity in over 100 countries, aiming to enhance economic potential and prosperity for all in Pakistan.