CIPE operates in some of the world’s most challenging environments to build inclusive economic environments. As a follow up to Global Entrepreneurship Week and Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, CIPE is launching a series of articles to highlight innovative programs with local partners that advance key aspects of women’s economic empowerment.
Almost 40% of family businesses in Slovenia are run by women. Research has shown that businesses with women in leadership positions experience more growth that those without them. Women represent an important foundation for successful entrepreneurship and strengthen the economic environment in countries where they are better able to operate their businesses.
CIPE’s Center for Women’s Economic Empowerment (CWEE) has partnered with the Dress for Success Maribor affiliate in Slovenia since 2022 to support women entrepreneurs, who are also migrants from other countries, to register and operate businesses in Slovenia, thus contributing to local integration and economic growth. The partnership between CIPE and Dress for Success Maribor – Slovenia seeks to increase the influence of businesswomen and drive their leadership impact to create lasting change. The project creates opportunities and platforms for connections, growth, and leadership by providing women entrepreneurs who are starting over with the possibility to ensure their financial independence, legalize and formalize their stay in Slovenia, access safe working spaces, and strengthen their ability to manage their time and businesses.
Larisa Vidovic, originally from Bulgaria, and Larysa Podhostnik, originally from Ukraine, co-founded Dress for Success Maribor in 2021. Dress for Success Maribor – Slovenia wants women entrepreneurs to realize that they can succeed anytime and anywhere, despite the challenging personal circumstances that led them to leave their home countries and migrate abroad. The organization provides education and tools for women to secure jobs; mentoring to help women establish financial foundations and career growth upon which to build more stable and stronger communities; advocacy to help women succeed and promote entrepreneurs’ rights; and grants and scholarships for women to improve their small and medium enterprise (SME) growth and leadership skills.
Located in Maribor, Dress for Success’ women entrepreneurs live in the surrounding Styria region of Slovenia, but most have come from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Ukraine, and Moldova. Participants range in age from 20 to 60, and Dress for Success places particular emphasis on connecting these third-party nationals with Slovenian entrepreneurs and leaders to facilitate their integration. In addition, Dress for Success partners with government organizations and private companies interested in supporting integration, exchanging experiences, and explaining local laws to help them register their businesses and comply with local regulations. Given many of the personal challenges these women have faced, Dress for Success also provides support to develop professional skills, personal growth, and healthy working environments, particularly focusing sessions on self-confidence, self-esteem and setting goals. Dress for Success’s programming effectively helps these women entrepreneurs feel more confident, formalize their businesses, integrate into the local economy, and build networks and local community.
Dress for Success Maribor – Slovenia’s first joint programs with CIPE focused on highlighting the reality, challenges, obstacles, and opportunities for women in leadership roles and women’s entrepreneurship in Slovenia, particularly targeting Ukrainian citizens who had recently fled their country due to the 2022 war with Russia. A second conference attended by 65 women focused on negotiation skills. Dress for Success learned that 60% of participants were business owners in Ukraine and wanted to integrate locally in Slovenia to continue their businesses but did not know how. Almost 90% of them were highly educated, including doctors, engineers, psychologists, accountants, and other professionals.
After attending these conferences, participants decided to create a new Women’s Leadership Community in Maribor to provide support to women entrepreneurs interested in establishing, registering, or moving their existing businesses in Ukraine to Slovenia. One participant in the first conference series noted she had been living in Slovenia for two years but did not know how to register and operate her business from her home country until attending the training.
Dress for Success’ current program supported by CIPE is focused on helping women entrepreneurs in the beauty industry understand Slovenian regulations and improve their business operations to meet EU standards. Dress for Success found that one out of every four of their women entrepreneurs had qualifications, certifications, and job experience to work in the beauty industry back in their home country, including nail technicians, beauty therapists, hairdressers, health advisors, and others. Courses focus on access to funds and financial management, local legal compliance, business planning, career growth, digital skills related to the fiscal system, and basic accounting, among others. Sessions are taught in partnership with local companies and government institutions to facilitate integration into the Slovenian professional and business community and build those relationships for future career success.
Dress for Success Maribor – Slovenia is the affiliate of the US global non-profit organization Dress for Success Worldwide. Dress for Success Maribor – Slovenia was established in 2021 while the global organization Dress for Success Worldwide was established in 1996 and currently operates in 25 countries with nearly 150 affiliates. The head office is located in New York. The mission of Dress for Success is to empower women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire, and the development tools to help women thrive in work and life. Dress for Success has been on the forefront of advancing women in the workforce for nearly 25 years, serving more than 1.2 million women.
CIPE and the Center for Women’s Economic Empowerment – Within the wider Europe region, CIPE advances economic inclusion and women’s economic empowerment through four programmatic priorities. First, CIPE promotes women in executive positions and women on boards by supporting mentoring, networking, and corporate governance training for emerging business leaders in the region. Second, CIPE focuses on increasing women’s participation in the technology sector, through webinars and training on digital transformation and by highlighting economic opportunities to increase the number of women in ICT. Third, CIPE counters gender-based violence and harassment, both in the workplace and online to promote safe digital transformation. Finally, CIPE assists with women Ukrainian refugees in Central Europe to enhance their capacity and readiness to enter the region’s labor market.
“Only in cooperation with local representatives, will we succeed.”
Meet Liudmyla and Nadia, two participants in the CIPE-supported program with Dress for Success Maribor – Slovenia:
Liudmyla, age 48, originally from Kramatorsk, Ukraine, currently resides in Maribor, Slovenia due to the war in her home country. In Ukraine she built a career as an economist. Liudmyla became a member of the Women Leadership Community in February 2023, immediately after attending the inaugural event. Upon relocating to Slovenia in June 2022, Liudmyla actively sought opportunities to establish her professional journey in this new environment, exploring avenues such as employment, self-employment, and integration into the local society. Through engaging in various educational initiatives and receiving support from the Women Leadership Community, as well as collaborating with Slovenian specialists and partners associated with Dress for Success Maribor – Slovenia, Liudmyla has decided to pursue a career as an accountant in Slovenia. She is already in the planning stages of establishing her own small consulting agency, a testament to her resilience and determination in adapting to her new life and professional pursuits.
Nadia, age 33, originally from Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, currently resides in Ptuj, Slovenia having sought refuge from the war in Ukraine in 2022. With a wealth of experience as a professional manicurist and pedicurist, Nadia’s passion and inspiration lie in the field of beauty. In Slovenia, she embarked on a new professional journey, choosing to further validate her skills through studies — a crucial step toward realizing her dream of establishing her own manicure and pedicure salon in the unfamiliar yet promising land. Nadia joined the Women Leadership Community in June 2023, and it was a turning point for her. Through the support of Dress for Success Maribor – Slovenia and the community’s educational initiatives, she identified the optimal path for her professional development. Currently, Nadia is actively engaged in the process of establishing herself as an entrepreneur, taking significant steps towards realizing her dream of owning and operating a successful manicure and pedicure salon in her new home country.
Published Date: November 20, 2023