Cork Foundation to host unique Irish/US female entrepreneur event

The Cork Foundation is bringing together women from both sides of the Atlantic to extend their contacts and broaden their marketplace. One Irish Entrepreneur will be selected to travel to NYC in December to meet with relevant industry leaders.  

Cork Foundation Strategic Advisory Board Member Anne O’Leary, CEO, Vodafone Ireland, will be keynote speaker on the night, which will welcome a host of female leaders from multinational and indigenous companies. Also in attendance for the events will be a delegation of 8 women entrepreneurs and business owners from the US.

Speaking at the launch of the event, Anne O’Leary said, “I’m delighted that so many inspiring women from Ireland and abroad will gather in Cork for an event that will celebrate the key role entrepreneurship plays in society and share their insights. Traditionally entrepreneurship has been male led but it’s encouraging to see an increasing number of women taking the leap and starting their own business. It’s events like this that are invaluable for networking and learning from peers in order for entrepreneurs to develop significant growth aspirations for their business.”

Founder and CEO of Leading Women Entrepreneurs, Linda Wellbrock, and Tara Gilvar, Founder and CEO of B.I.G. (Believe Inspire Grow), are the driving forces behind the U.S. involvement and have engaged with the Cork Foundation to create an exclusive opportunity for Cork’s budding enterprises. During the morning session, 10 female entrepreneurs from the region are invited to present their business ideas to the American delegates. One home-based entrepreneur will be selected to travel to New York in December where they will have the opportunity to meet with key individuals that can assist in the development of their company within the US market.

Wellbrock, who will be travelling to Cork along with Gilvar and the rest of the group, “We are delighted to be part of these events, which will be mutually beneficial for both U.S. and Irish entrepreneurs as we work to expand our business horizons. We look forward to sharing experiences with Irish women in our same position and offering our assistance in any way we can.”

Cork Foundation has created this networking event as part of their unique initiative that focuses on stimulating job creation and developing Cork as a pivotal location to start, locate and grow a business. The non-profit organisation, which was established in early 2013 by leading business figures, complements existing enterprise support services by bridging gaps in current funding models addressing many of the challenges facing Cork companies in accessing credit and finance.