Last week the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica hosted a speaker tour around Montenegro with an entrepreneurship expert, Samira Cook Gaines.
Posted by U.S. Embassy Podgorica on Sunday, September 24, 2017
Samira Cook Gaines co-runs Global Empowerment Solutions (http://www.globalempowerment-us.com/), an organization dedicated to creating sustainable entrepreneur eco-systems through partnerships, programming, and policy. Prior to running Global Empowerment Solutions, Samira was the founding director of the award-winning Women’s Business Center in Washington, D.C., which supports women entrepreneurs through training, counseling, mentoring, and business growth.
Posted by U.S. Embassy Podgorica on Sunday, September 24, 2017
Samira started her tour in Montenegro by participating at a UNDP panel discussion addressing different models of mentoring for women entrepreneurs. Women entrepreneurs at the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey were inspired and empowered by Samira’s real-life success stories and her practical advice for overcoming obstacles and seizing opportunities.
Samira also met that first day with members of the Union of Young Entrepreneurs of Montenegro for a workshop at the American Corner Podgorica. The workshop was focused around relatable, real life examples of business owners facing challenges in establishing and managing a business. “Entrepreneurs get misunderstood a lot,” Samira said, while encouraging the participants to persist in achieving their dreams.
Young entrepreneurs are joining forces with Samira Cook Gaines 2night @acpodgorica 2overcome obstacles to business management. #USguest2MNE pic.twitter.com/aWVHBaJ2k5
— US Embassy Podgorica (@USEmbassyMNE) September 25, 2017
The Embassy-supported program, Access Podgorica, also welcomed Samira at the American Corner Podgorica. Samira shared with the students interesting examples of businesses started by young people in the United States. In addition to practicing their English skills, the students learned what resources they need to start a business and how to write a great business plan.
In Cetinje, Samira met with a high school entrepreneurship group at the American Corner Cetinje. She challenged them to find solutions to problems they have identified in their communities. Those solutions, she said, can be the start of a great business venture.
Dobri #preduzetnici uce od najboljih,a #mladi od iskusnih.Samira Kuk Gejns je u AC #Cetinje sa preduzetnicama i gimnazijalcima #USguest2MNE pic.twitter.com/EyA4vKulfH
— US Embassy Podgorica (@USEmbassyMNE) September 26, 2017
Traveling to the south, Samira met women entrepreneurs from Bar and Virpazar and encouraged them to see challenges as opportunities to grow improve their business operations. She said that many successful Americans have embraced their failures and gone on to great achievements. Failures, she said, can help us find our way to our true passions. “Failing forward is what we like to say in America,” Samira added in her concluding remarks to a workshop hosted by Business Start up Center Bar.
Svaki izazov je sansa za razvoj-porucuje #USguest2MNE Samira Kuk Gejns preduzetnicama iz Bara i Virpazara na vecerasnjoj radionici u BSCBar pic.twitter.com/Q9m1S2vPd1
— US Embassy Podgorica (@USEmbassyMNE) September 26, 2017
We concluded Samira’s tour by heading north to Berane and Pljevlja. Samira was amazed with the North’s potential for economic development. She was particularly impressed with the participants at a workshop hosted by the Regional Business Center and the Regional Development Agency for Bjelasica, Komovi, and Prokletije.
Our #USguest2MNE Samira Cook Gaines is in Regional Business Center #Berane today w/small #business owners and municipality representatives. pic.twitter.com/wyDq2dexCk
— US Embassy Podgorica (@USEmbassyMNE) September 28, 2017
On the final day of the tour, Samira met with Mayor Djacic in Pljevlja and visited the Hussein Pasha Mosque and its Shadrvan, which was restored with funds from the U.S. Embassy Podgorica back in 2007. Later, at the American Corner Pljevlja, Samira spoke about passion as the main fuel for a business.
Uputili smo se dalje ka sjeveru i to u #Pljevlja sa #USguest2MNE Samira. Uzbudjena je zbog prilike da bolje upozna #CrnaGora i #preduzetnice pic.twitter.com/l9KhI0RB0e
— US Embassy Podgorica (@USEmbassyMNE) September 29, 2017
“What are you passionate about?” Samira asked the audience. “Think about it.”