On Friday, September 20, 2024, the Women Building Business Bridges event, co-hosted by International Women Celebration and OCA Chapter Phoenix, gathered an energetic and motivated group of business entrepreneurs at the Saigon Center in Chandler, AZ. The event was a tremendous success, with attendees fully engaged throughout, soaking in the wisdom and experiences shared by an impressive lineup of speakers.
The day kicked off with a warm welcome from co-chair Mai Le, Founder and President of International Women Celebration, and Astria Wong, President of OCA Phoenix Chapter. The first speaker, Terri Kimble, CEO of Chandler Chamber of Commerce, provided valuable insights on the Programs and Resources for Small Businesses, followed by Mai Le, CEO of Asian Media Network who shared strategies on digital marketing as she presented “Choosing the Right Marketing Strategies for Your Business.
Next, Kiem Ho, CEO of Moonshot 11, offered an enlightening session on How to Brand Your Business, while attorney Chris Chan educated the audience on Protecting Your Brand & Intellectual Property. The event’s highlight was a stellar panel of speakers who captivated the audience with their personal stories of overcoming adversity and achieving success. Lin Sue Flood, Director of Community Engagement at Hospice of the Valley, Tran Tran, CEO of Axis Employment, Anjali Nennelli, CEO of Lotus Lab AI, and Elaine Szeto, EVP, Chief Innovation Officer and Founder of Integro Bank, shared their inspiring journeys, leaving a profound impact on all in attendance.
After a networking lunch, Monica Villalobos, CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, spoke about Programs and Resources for Local Small Businesses, followed by Kaaren-Lyn Graves, Executive Director of AZHCC’s Capital Readiness Program, who detailed strategies for Capital Readiness and Affordable Lending for Small Businesses. John Perry, CEO of E-Services, and his partner attorney
Andrew Ellis and provided essential tips on How to Build and Fix Your Credit Score, while Frank Rosenberg, FNP-C, delivered an insightful session on Affordable Health Care Plans for Small Businesses.
The day concluded with Chandler Vice Mayor OD Harris, Founder of Ready Set Go Foundation, who delivered a high-energy, motivational speech on Business Readiness. His message of perseverance, even in the face of adversity, resonated deeply with attendees. To emphasize his point, Harris used wooden pieces as a metaphor for the obstacles entrepreneurs face, handing each guest a piece to take home as a reminder to stay resilient. He encouraged everyone to write a personal motivational message on their wooden piece as a symbol of their commitment to never give up. This interactive moment left a lasting impression, energizing the crowd for their future endeavors.
The Women Building Business Bridges event truly fulfilled its mission, providing entrepreneurs with valuable tools, resources, and an empowered network to support their business journeys. Both International Women Celebration (IWC) and OCA Phoenix Chapter are nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, dedicated to fostering community empowerment and business growth. For more information about future events, visit www.intwomencelebration.org and www.ocaphoenix.org