Launch of the European Network of Female Entrepreneurship Ambassadors

Posted by: Krishna De | Posted on: January 9th, 2010 | 12 Comments | Posted in: Ireland, More clients, Network

Did you know that despite the fact that more than 58% of Irish graduates are women, women make up less than 5% of the top management of companies and only represent 30% of European entrepreneurs.

Late last year European Commission established a new initiative to highlight and promote women entrepreneurs as a key to economic growth and job creation

The network was officially launched by An Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan TD on the 15 December 2009 at the European Commission, European Union House in Dublin.

She commented: “I hope this initiative will encourage women to consider starting up their own businesses. These extraordinary women are ideal role models for other women to emulate.”

Eddie McVeigh of the European Commission Representation in Ireland explained that though this network the EU “hopes to inspire women of all ages who may want to start a company but may lack the confidence to do so”.

Other speakers included Michael Coyle, CEO, Galway Chamber of Commerce and Carmel Brennan, Deputy President of Galway Chamber of Commerce.

The entrepreneurship ambassadors include Nicola Byrne founder of 11890 and I am also fortunate to be one of the ambassadors. I will of course share the details of forthcoming events and initiatives from this new programme over the forthcoming months.

In the meantime here are some of the speeches from the launch – apologies for the shaky camera – I hadn’t planned to video the event so did not have my tripod with me.