EWI gets visibility through RaiseForWomen Campaign Milestone and The Huffington Post

Many thanks to all who contributed to Empowered Women International through the online giving event: RaiseForWomen hosted by The Huffington Post, The Skoll Foundation, and Half the Sky Movement.

With your support, so far, we raised $2,293, and a gift of exposure from HuffPostImpact through their Facebook and Twitter accounts (see the prizes below).

The campaign will continue until June 6, and the next bonus challenge started at today for $4,000. Here’s the deal…

The charity that raises the most by May 27 @ 12pm ET will get an additional $4,000.  

Please share our link http://www.crowdrise.com/GiftFreedomandOpportunity/fundraiser/empoweredwomenintl with your friends and help us meet our goal of$15,000 by June 6. 

Many thanks for all your support and dedication to the cause of Empowered Women International.

Learn more about the prizes here. http://www.crowdrisepromos.com/raiseforwomen/index.html

In Letter to the Editor, Good Things Happened on Spring2Action

The April 17 Spring2Action online philanthropic and giving event was a day filled with excitement, energy and dedication. The whole Alexandria community came together to raise money and left a lasting and meaningful impact on all of the non-profits involved during the event.

Perhaps the most important footprint this special day left was none other than here at the headquarters of Empowered Women International. With the help and support of everyone involved we were able to raise $30,497 and won an additional $2,850 in prizes from ACT for Alexandria.

This huge milestone for EWI and the women in our Entrepreneur Training for Success was recently documented in a letter Marga Fripp wrote to the editor in Alexandria Times, which was laster picked up by the Nonprofit Roundtable e-Newsletter. The letter, “When city residents get together good things happen,” highlights the mission of EWI and what it stands for, and expounds how people with similar visions coming together can accomplish huge results in a single day. With ACT for Alexandria’s meticulous work, our contributor’s relentless support, and our wonderful board members, volunteers, and staff we have made great strides to make the world a better place leaving a lasting legacy and a community of change-makers.

We thank Alexandria Time’s for publishing the letter and deeply gratified for the generous and continuous support of all who made Spring2Action a day to remember!

To read the letter, please visit:

http://alextimes.com/2013/05/when-city-residents-get-together-good-things-happen/

Marga Fripp in Montgomery College Publication

As a stand-out graduate of Montgomery College, EWI Founder & Visionary Marga Fripp has been featured in the college’s publication about her story and Empowered Women International. With an oversize picture of an always-smiling Marga, the article talks about her life story, how she traveled from Romania to a foreign country that would become later on her permanent home and the abode to her biggest dream.

Marga Fripp on the Montgomery College publication

From simply wishing to find ways to integrate, to helping and teaching other women to pursue their creative talents, then to founding Empowered Women International, Marga has mobilized and transformed hundred of women into savvy business women and community leaders. Her determination, passion, energy, and creativity has helped her and EWI succeed throughout these past ten years and beyond. Her story never ceases to amaze and ignite interest; she is the ultimate embodiment of success, accomplishment and hope. Her story is a quintessentially American story.

We thank the Montgomery College for including our Marga into their publication and a huge shout out goes to all the people who work tirelessly towards EWI’s success!

Photo courtesy of Ernesto Rivera, to learn more about him go to his personal blog:

http://ernestoarivera.wordpress.com

Upcoming Event! “What Color Is Your Money?”

Renowned CPA, International Chartered Accountant and our ETS Financial Coach Tope Ganiyah Fajingbesi is officially launching her book entitled “What Color is Your Money?.” The event will be held on Tuesday, May 21st at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW, DC 20001.

The program will begin at 6pm and end at 8pm. Get ready to find out your money color is and how to rock it, hear the story of the “2 Benjamins” and get some free gifts! There will also be opportunities to buy signed copies of the book at the event.

Admission is free and you can bring your friends along, but please take a second to RSVP at

http://ourfinancialcoach.com/events/

The inspiring and motivating effect of ETS: Networking and Power Coaching Class

On Monday, May 6th the ETS class was about Networking and Power Coaching. A very special thanks goes out to our guest speaker, Hope Katz Gibbs of Inkandescent PR and a big shout out to our board members Kate Campbell Stevenson, Shirah Cohen, and Joanne Clark for making it an insightful evening.

All participants introducing themselves in the beginning.

The ETS Networking and Power Coaching Class is designed to show students the personal and professional journeys of successful women entrepreneurs. The session was formatted to address topics ranging from successful careers and businesses, to networking strategies, sales strategies, effective leadership, and overcoming fear and developing confidence.

ETS participants listening attentively to our four panelists

The first part of the session included a panel discussion with each panelist talking about their own strategies, drawbacks, and the secret ingredients they used to become successful. The women also addressed candidly the financial strategies they used to get where they are today. From knowing how to fund their businesses, to getting loans, to using savings, all were important and required savvy and quick thinking to launching their business.

All our panelists (starting second from left) Hope, Kate, Shirah, and Joanne. Shirah inspired students by sharing her personal story. She said she became an entrepreneur the day she declared to herself and the world that she was an Independent Consultant.

The second part of the session consisted of a small group activity in which students had to interact and ask questions to guest speakers and their peers. They spoke of networking, marketing, being effective personally and professionally, overcoming barriers, and most importantly, being an active member of the community at large.

Joanne, power coaching a small group (from left to right), Julie, Joanne, Gabriela, Angela and Sarah.

The last part was exchanging ideas, learning from each other, and reporting back to the rest of the class about what they learned, sharing handouts, teaching tools and resources. The greatest inspiration was the welcoming embrace of the guest speakers and their stories.’ A growing sense of motivation was apparent, to walk the line and reach that end zone, regardless of any drawbacks and barriers.

Kate (second from left) intently listening and power coaching (from left) Tyesha, Annette, Tenisha, and Kira.

Again, thank you Hope Katz Gibbs of Inkandescent PR and board members Kate Campbell Stevenson, Shirah Cohen, and Joanne Clark, who tirelessly galvanize the entrepreneur spirit of our ETS students. Also a huge shout out to our Entrepreneur Coach and Program Manager Alexia Muchisu ,who spices up our ETS classrooms, and our instructor Sharmila Karamachandani, who is constantly sowing the seed of knowledge to our ETS students and beyond. Much love to all of you from the EWI Team!

By Hanna Yamir, Program Associate Intern

Coach’s Corner – It’s All About the Customer

By Howard Feinstein, EWI Board Member

A weekly blog for EWI students and graduates, passing along news, events, articles of interest, and tips on growing your business.  We are all on this journey together, and no one – certainly not yours truly – has all the answers.  Accordingly, I hope you will periodically contribute your ideas and news to this forum, c/o khfeinstein@verizon.net.

Monday, May 13 — Today I would like to focus once more on the overriding importance of customer service.  I was again reminded of how crucial this concept is to a growing, successful small business by a piece in last week’s Washington Post by Thomas Heath, entitled “Wash, rinse, ka-ching! Repeat.”  The article is on the Post’s weekly Washington Business page in the first section; this page appears every Monday.  Make this page a Monday morning habit, and you will regularly discover ideas and inspiration which you can use in your own business.

The piece tells the story of two sisters, both working mothers, who started a local hair salon – a highly competitive business to be sure, but one in which nurturing customer loyalty is the path to success.  Rather than paraphrase the story, here are some quotes from the owners, Stacy Dabney Ramirez and Lindsey Dabney Cabrera:

— “Presentation is your first impression.  I care about how the sugar is put in the jar.  I care about what the bathrooms look like.  I care about how things are placed on the shelves.  I try to remember people’s names when they come in.”

— “When asked why clients choose a certain salon, the top reasons have nothing to do with their haircut.  It is 90 percent customer service and 10 percent technical.  So we are invested in the customer service, although I don’t overlook the technical.”

— “We send clients handwritten thank-you notes, tossing in a $5 Starbucks gift card.”

Now, let’s think about that:  the key to the success of this start-up business, by the owners’ own admission, is not that they are necessarily Nobel- Prize-winning beauticians, but rather that they bend over backwards to make every customer feel special and appreciated.  As I have been emphasizing in this blog from its beginning, you may develop the perfect product or service, but unless you treat your prospective and continuing customers like royalty, you are not going to succeed in the demanding Washington market.  Make people feel wanted, and they will eventually form that 20% of your clientele that brings in 80% of your business.

Don’t take my word for it – ask some of our successful EWI graduates.  And the next time you are at the EWI office, ask Marga and Mary how they acknowledge our contributors, partners, teachers, trainers, hosts, etc.  Best of all, it takes very little in terms of time and cost.

Best wishes and keep in touch,
Howie

Alexia Takes Us Inside the ETS Classrooms

“Our students radiate energy, strength, determination, and hope…seeing them interact engagingly with the instructor, ETS grads and guest speakers is a powerful and rewarding experience!” Those are the words of our new Entrepreneurship Coach & Program Manager Alexia Muchisu Wendel, who, for the last three weeks has been attending our ETS classes in the Alexandria Durant Center.

Alexia Muchisu Wendel, Tope Ganiyah Fajingbesi (Financial Empowerment Instructor) and Sharmila Karamchandani

With 22 students in both Alexandria and Bethesda classrooms, Alexia was able to assess and witness the full evolution of the students. While the topics progressed from simply conveying business ideas to managing personal finances (led by Tope Ganiyah Fajingbesi) and learning marketing strategies to understanding the process of story telling, the students were able to demonstrate a desire for knowledge and the capacity to absorb information useful to launching their businesses.

For the “Telling your Story” session, our former ETS students: Velma Crawford, Lyzbeth Monard, Elda LaRue, Alison Sigethy, and Kudzai Gombakomba were brought in as guest speakers to share their experiences after the program. All had extraordinary stories to tell; from personal struggles to professional triumphs they seem to have seen it all. One of the most beautiful things in life is the ability to turn the saddest story into a positive and rewarding experience, a story that teaches us that mistakes are only a learning process. Our grads have exactly done this and been there, and seeing the reception they were receiving from our current students demonstrates that human interaction coupled with great ideas can foment lasting partnerships and a solid flow of information ultimately leading to success.

“Telling your Story” session with Velma and other ETS grads

According to Alexia, the driving force behind the success of the classes is our coordinator and instructor Sharmila Karamchandani, who infuses knowledge and experience into her teachings and shows a keen understanding of individual students struggles and potentials.

Kudzai Gombakomba, ETS grad and owner of KG Spotless, telling her story in the Bethesda ETS Class

The collaboration among students is stellar, “It makes sense to hear different perspectives even when it’s not within the same industry” says Alexia. Working well together, students made agreements and friendships sprung. Just recently Alexia noticed how two of our students Julie Hyo Park and Angela Sargents (both in the crocheting & knitting industry) agreed to work together since one liked knitting and the other liked finishing products, hence an informal partnership was born out of a simple conversation.

ETS Grads Clementine Simmons (mentor), Elda LaRue, Lyzbeth Monard and current student Floralba Camargo

The classroom allowed them to break the ice, it became a platform for expressing their thoughts and ideas and the confidence is now ceiling high, our students are now few steps away from reaching the tip of the mountain.

Alexandria ETS Class

With two months remaining towards graduation, with the support of our instructors, coordinators, mentors, trainers, and guest speakers and more, our students are ready to take over the world! Thank you Alexia for being there with our students, and thank you all who made this possible!

By Hanna Yamir, Program Associate Intern

An Inspiring Story with our Superstar, Sharmila

“No matter where you come from, you’re going to have these patches in your life that are going to be a struggle. But how do you overcome it? You do whatever it takes. Have that faith in yourself. That is the main lesson that EWI – and this country – has taught me.”

Sharmila Karamchandani

Born into a family of artists, Indian-born Sharmila started out drawing and painting and later studied graphics. She spends a great deal of her time teaching graphic design and various forms of art and volunteering. She completed ETS in 2006 and has since helped Empowered Women International by providing client services, assisting with her graphic design knowledge and abilities, and by instructing EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success class. In 2008, she was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award by the Virginia Career College Association.

“I’ve always dabbled in many different things and this is, I can say confidently, one orginization that has utilized all my talents and put it to good use.”

Watch this personal and powerful account by Sharmila on how EWI has helped her become EMPOWERED!

(Read more about Sharmila by visiting EWI’s website and reading her “Success Story”)

http://ewint.org/programs/success-stories/sharmila/

Nurturing Creativity with EWI Entrepreneurs, Tiffany and Breann

“Thinking in Cups”

 

 

Tiffany Carter and Breann Whitcomb graduated from EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success program in Fall 2011. They co-own “Thinking in Cups”, which sells one of a kind handmade hairpieces, jewelry and bath products.When Tiffany and Breann first got involved with EWI, they did not originally plan on utilizing its services. Instead, they approached the organization with an initial business hoping to donate money directly to the organization. However, this soon changed following a meeting with EWI’s Founder and President Marga Fripp. It quickly became clear that they still had a lot of work to do in order to make their business successful. As such, Marga suggested that they enroll in the ETS program in order to improve their business skills and reach their true potential as entrepreneurs.Things changed for the two once again during the initial ETS intake. Tiffany and Breann happened to show a few photos of some of their hobby projects to EWI staff members and were immediately encouraged to seriously consider these projects as a possible business venture. After that meeting, they decided to take the advice of the EWI staff members and change their business idea into one that allowed them to pursue their creative passions.

In less than three months, Tiffany and Breann were able to develop a strong product line, a solid business plan, an online shop and marketing materials to promote their business. They credit ETS as the birthplace of their new business. The course gave them the courage to work full-time in the creative industry pursing projects they were truly passionate about. Furthermore, the course also provided the tools necessary, through a holistic approach and a supportive environment, to begin building and later growing the business(es) of their dreams.

According to Tiffany, “At EWI, I was not only asked to learn to perform the technical tasks such as business planning, budgeting, marketing, etc., but I was asked to face my personal fears in order to grow and excel as a woman and a business owner. My most prized possession that I walk away with is a newly found confidence that I can carry with me in all areas of my life.”

Along with confidence and skill building, the training helped Tiffany and Breann conquer the always nerve-wracking elevator pitch. The pressure of trying to figure out a way to describe what they do in a concise way really helped them develop a clear idea of what they wanted out of their business. Through the help of their classmates, this lesson also helped them develop some very unique catch phrases that they were able to use to market their business. For Tiffany and Breann, it was a real pleasure to be surrounded by students, mentors, and speakers with such creativity, insight, love, and support. This was something they felt was very unique to the ETS program.

Aside from learning about business skills and development, Tiffany and Breann also learned a lot about the importance of self-care, personal wellbeing, and nurturing their creativity throughout the process of becoming an entrepreneur. As a business owner, it can be easy to get caught up in to-do lists, meetings, or orders and forget to take out enough “me time”. They are now much more mindful of treating themselves well in order to avoid burn out. ETS taught them that it is ok to have fun and enjoy what you do; work can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be hard.

Tiffany and Breann recognize the distinctive set up of the training as being extremely conducive to networking, reaching out to others, and building not only relationships, but also communities around their work. This has been really integral to the way they conduct business. Tiffany and Breann no longer just look for people to sell goods to; they are interested in building relationships with their clients, being active in their communities, and giving back- which doesn’t always equate to monetary donations. Through this they have found that gratitude and a willingness to share it tends to often be payment enough.

Based on the insight and experience they have gained through participating in the ETS program, Tiffany and Breann have the following advice to other entrepreneurs interested in taking their businesses to the next level:

“Often, we avoid risks for the wrong reasons. There’s a time and a place to be risk averse, but know that for every leap you fail to take, there’s an opportunity missed. Failure is just a lesson learned – which is needed to gain perspective on how to do better the next time around. We’ve been faced with our fair share of “leaps of faith” and wouldn’t have it any other way. Take risks. Take the leap. Love what you do, and don’t be afraid to tell everyone about it!”

Since completing ETS, Tiffany and Breann have been working hard and keeping busy with their new business venture. They are reaching out to boutiques and continue to be proud participants in the EWI Micro-Enterprise Program. They also are planning on selling their products at home parties and customized events.

Their products can also be found at EWI’s online store:http://www.etsy.com/shop/empoweredwomenintl.

 

 

 

 

“Vesica’s Splendor”- Tiffany Carter

Tiffany Carter-Owner, “Vesica’s Splendor”; Co-owner, “Thinking in Cups”

 

 ”Life is filled with many “Aha!” moments. Vesica’s Splendor was birthed from a series of those moments. From the realization that being creative was more than just a “hobby” for me, to the courage it took to leave my office job and pursue what I love full-time, the VS journey has been littered with  serendipity – teaching me to always keep an open mind, as I never know in what form inspiration will come. In chasing my joy, I have had the fortune to be surrounded by an amazingly supportive group of friends, family, and mentors. Vesica’s Splendor would not exist without them, and my goal is simple: To share with others the things I love in hopes that they, too, will be inspired to chase their joy. Oh, and the name? Vesica is borrowed from the Vesica Piscis, said to be a building block for some of the most complex constructs in the universe. It reminds me that from the humblest of beginnings, big things can happen – and that all those big things started off quite small. And Splendor (meaning: brilliant or gorgeous appearance, great brightness, adorn lavishly, etc.), well, I think you get the idea.” -Tiffany Carter 

 

Watch EWI’s interview with Tiffany to learn how becoming an Entrepreneur Training for Success Graduate has impacted her and her goals for the future as an Empowered Woman!

 

 

To learn more about Tiffany and her fantastic products, visit her website!http://www.vesicassplendor.com/

 

 

“Mimulus Design”-Breann Whitcomb

Breann Whitcomb- Owner, “Mimulus Design”; Co-owner, “Thinking in Cups”

“Hello! My name is Breann Whitcomb and I create, design and build items to transport your mind into a world of imagination. Colors and unusual themes are my specialty as well as the stories to go with them. Gaining inspiration from everything from leaves on the ground to electricity; I encourage the owners of my products to play in the lands I create for them and become the stories I tell.As a little girl I loved to take my mother’s old clothes and make them into something new. An old nightgown would become so much more with just a few safety pins and belts. My childhood love of interesting apparel and accessories has only grown through the years, leading me to expand my interests into unique body products, knickknacks and interior design. With my pieces, I hope to encourage people to come out of their shells and play “make-pretend” every day. I believe life is a lot more fun when you walk out of the house with a little more pizazz, a burst of color and a smile; ultimately, making people more confident.”- Breann Whitcomb

Watch EWI’s interview with Brea to learn how becoming an Entrepreneur Training for Success Graduate has impacted her and her goals for the future as an Empowered Woman!

To learn more about Breann and her products, visit her website! http://www.mimulusdesign.com/#

Paws for Peace Entrepreneur, Caryn Reitkopp

Empowered Women International sat down with Caryn Reitkopp, a recent graduate of EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success program and owner of “Paws for Peace.”

Check out her interview below where she celebrates sowing the well deserved fruits of her labor and how EWI had a hand in EMPOWERING ONE MORE WOMAN!

Tell us about your business.

While in the EWI’s Entrepreneur Training for Success(ETS) program last year, I developed the Paws for Peace curriculum for preschoolers to teach social skills, empathy, and promote humane education and kindness towards living things.  We use animal themes and puppets, to make connections with the children.  We also work with parents teachers as part of an all-inclusive program.  I am in the process of waiting for approval from the Maryland State Department of Education to have my teacher training workshops qualify for continuing education credits for teachers. I think what I’m teaching is a timely due to all the violence in the news and bullying behavior starting younger.

Congratulations are in order.  We understand you just got your first real client.

Yes – I am very excited!  This summer I will deliver 11 weekly classes to this preschool’s  29 children ages 2-5. They have chosen my Amazing Friendships Unit which we will end with a meaningful bake sale to raise funds for an animal charity of their choice.  The children will have baked home-made dog biscuits and other items to sell.  I’ve given my customer a discounted rate because this is a pilot and I need to get my name out there.  I’ll be able to take photos and testimonials that will benefit my marketing efforts.  I hope to sign schools up for fall too.

How did you find your client?

I found her during cold-call marketing when I was in ETS.  She had shown interest in the idea and was open to piloting my program.  After the ETS class ended, I called her again several times with no return calls and then finally e-mailed.  I just didn’t give up.  It took some work to reach her.  She had given me some ideas on an early call and I was able to incorporate her ideas which pleased her.  I had to make a LOT of cold calls and she’s the only one that was enthusiastic and seemed really interested.  I can see that patience is needed!

What advice would you give to other EWI entrepreneurs?

Don’t be afraid to stay on your path.  Accept feedback and change what needs to be changed. You find your niche by trying different things.  Believe in yourself.  Do odd jobs if you need to so you can earn money while giving yourself time for your business to catch on.  The worst thing that can happen is that you will fail, but you will have given it your best shot.  And new doors always open when you have the courage to take chances.

How did the ETS course help prepare you?

 The ETS course helped me put my idea down on paper and make it happen.  I had been dreaming of doing a business where I combined my love for animals with my background in early childhood education for over 10 years.  Each session was a step towards completing my business plan which had felt like too big of an undertaking before I took the course. I also enjoyed the networking with other entrepreneurs and supporters of EWI.  In addition, I found the social media information to be really helpful since I am even new to Facebook.

 How can other EWI supporters help you? 

I appreciate connections or introductions with any daycares, preschools, children’s programs, museums or other venues.  Just help me spread the word!!!  My website is www.pawsforpeaceprograms.com and my phone number is 301-502-4167.  I can be reached by email at info@pawsforpeaceprograms.com.

Caryn’s family at the beach