Staff Correspondent
Stephen F. Ibelli, Public Affairs Counselor at the U.S. Embassy, inaugurated the second cohort of the
Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) Program recently at the EMK Center in Dhaka. AWE, a global
initiative led by the U.S. Department of State, provides enterprising women with the knowledge,
professional network, and foundational materials essential for launching and expanding successful
businesses.
In collaboration with BRAC University’s Center for Entrepreneurship Development, U.S. Embassy Dhaka
is deeply committed to supporting young aspiring women entrepreneurs, promoting small and medium
enterprises (SMEs), and nurturing local women business leaders, especially those from historically
underrepresented communities.
As a flagship program promoting entrepreneurship through increased trade, AWE aligns seamlessly with
the U.S. Strategy of Global Women’s Economic Security, which envisions a world where women and girls
from diverse backgrounds can fully, meaningfully, and equally contribute to and benefit from global
economic growth and prosperity.
The second cohort of the AWE program is set to empower 90 participants from three distinct geographic
locations: Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet. Participants from Chattogram and Sylhet will join sessions at
the EMK Center virtually through Zoom. The program’s goal this year is to recruit participants from
historically underrepresented, indigenous, and minority communities, as well as women aged 20-45 who
have traditionally been excluded from participation in formal training programs. As a U.S. government
exchange initiative, AWE connects women with American learning and expertise, fostering stronger ties
among women entrepreneurs across diverse American and Bangladeshi markets.
The AWE Program is in collaboration with Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global
Management (ASU) and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation, the creators of DreamBuilder—a no-cost
online learning platform. This platform imparts fundamental business skills from a U.S. perspective and
offers access to soft-skills training to enhance participants’ overall business acumen.
The AWE Program is a comprehensive three-month course tailored for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
The program provides hands-on training in Bangla conducted by industry experts, focusing on core
business skills with an emphasis on sustainability.
AWE strongly emphasizes peer-to-peer learning, networking, and fostering cohesion among graduating
women entrepreneurs, contributing significantly to local prosperity and business growth. According to
the 2021 evaluation by the State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), 74
percent of AWE graduates reported experiencing higher incomes, and 29 percent hired additional staff
in their businesses post-program. This data underscores the capacity of AWE alumni to generate
revenue and create job opportunities in their communities.
By fundamentally empowering women, AWE actively promotes their full economic participation. The
study reveals that over 90 percent of AWE graduates reported increased confidence and higher self-
esteem, attributing improvements to specific skill sets such as independent decision-making, strategic
planning, and public speaking. These skills have proven invaluable for women-led businesses adapting
to economic challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The AWE project aligns
directly with the U.S. National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality.
