Marin Alsop Encourages Audience to “Persevere, Stick to Your Guns, and Give Back” at CWCC Downtown Luncheon

By Amy Smith, Public Relations and Communications Specialist

Holiday cheer filled the atmosphere at Maggiano’s as guests mingled, chatted, and awaited an inspiring presentation by Marin Alsop, Conductor Laureate of the Colorado Symphony and founder of the Concordia Orchestra.

If you know anything about Alsop, you are aware that her accomplishments as a conductor are lengthy and impressive, but that’s not what she talked about. Upon taking the podium, she shared personal stories of her music-centered upbringing and subsequent entrepreneurial challenges. As a child, she practiced and mastered a number of instruments including the violin, then she realized where her true passion lied: conducting.

Alsop also recounted the rush of uncertainty and confusion that she had to conquer in order to form an orchestra. She was able to do this through the mentorship of a gentleman she met in 1984, by the name of Tomio Taki. While Taki lacked interest in symphonic music, he willingly facilitated and guided Alsop as she founded the Concordia Orchestra. His business counsel, according to Alsop, “was a turning point in my quest”.

After years of growth and success, Alsop developed the Taki Concordia Fellowship in 2002 out of a desire to emulate Mr. Taki’s lifelong commitment to mentoring young talent and exemplifying the entrepreneurial spirit needed to succeed. Alsop also spoke about OrchKids—an after school life enrichment and music education program that she started for young, inner-city children in Baltimore. The program seeks to connect children to their passion and widen their perceived range of possibility.

Through countless years of experience, Alsop advised guests to consider how to take a core business and adapt it to a changing society. She also reminded us of the importance of never giving up, remaining steadfast in our entrepreneurial goals, and using our talent and expertise to give back to society.

If you’d like to see Alsop in action and meet the 2011 Taki Concordia Fellows, join us for Orchestrating Leadership on January 6, 2011. This special event supports the Taki Concordia Fellowship and includes a “behind the scenes” glimpse of the Colorado Symphony with Marin Alsop tutoring the recipients of the Fellowship in a private rehearsal.  A luncheon follows the dress rehearsal where guests have the opportunity to interact with Alsop and the recipient.

Across Borders: A Snapshot of Women Entrepreneurship in Bangladesh

During Sadya Rahman’s (see previous post to meet our exchange intern from Bangladesh) internship with us, we became increasingly interested in the issues women entrepreneurs face in Bangladesh.  Some of the facts we found are detailed below.  If you’d like to learn more about female entrepreneurship in Bangladesh, this link is a great place to start:  http://www.cipe.org/regional/southasia/pdf/SituationAnalysis.pdf

Social Barriers

Because Bangladesh is a patriarchal society, women face an unceasing struggle for equality—both public and private.  Abdul Alim  states, “within the household and beyond it, men exercise control over women’s labor, their sexuality, their choice of spouse, their access to labor and other markets, and their income and assets through local decision-making and legal bodies” ₁. Often times, institutions and state legislation support this gender subordination despite the constitutional affirmations of gender equality. Researchers also note that entrepreneurial women are still expected to handle a majority of traditional domestic roles—even if they are married. This tends to create a double-workload for woman entrepreneurs.

 (1) Development in Practice; May2009, Vol. 19 Issue 3, p300-310, 11p, 4 Charts, 1 Graph

Financial Barriers

Stemming from the social barriers in Bangladesh, women often face financial and logistical challenges in business. Most do not have proper information regarding trade license and company registration, are unable to get access to various facilities of public and private institutions, and struggle earning loans from the Bangladesh Bank to start their businesses. The poverty, frequent natural disasters, and population density also make it difficult for businesses to thrive.

 Capacity Building

Even if women obtain the resources to start a business, they often lack the tools— such as marketing, production and design, finance, bookkeeping, and e-commerce—to maintain and grow their business. 

Types of women-owned businesses in Bangladesh

• Boutique clothing shops
• Gardening
• Livestock Training
• Fisheries
• Homemade food
• Beauty Parlors
• Tailors
• Carpet businesses
• Printing

Educational Level

A study conducted by the BWCCI indicates that

• 10.9% have post graduation degree
• 16.8% are graduates
• 26.7% have higher secondary education
• 34.7% have secondary school level education
• 6.9% have minimum primary education.
• 4% of entrepreneurs interviewed have no formal education.

 Top Four Motivational Factors Influencing Bangladeshi Women to Enter Business

• Inspiration from family/family had business
• To create self dependency
• Self Inspiration
• Extra Income for the family

CWCC Goes International with addition of Bangladeshi Intern

Sadya Rahman with Elizabeth Leake of CWCC

By Diana Cordova & Amy Smith

After a long, eight thousand mile journey across the Atlantic, Bangladeshi Sadya Rahman arrived in Denver prepared to embrace what she considers “the opportunity of a lifetime”. Through the Center for International Private Enterprise’s ChamberL.I.N.K.S (Leaders, Innovators, and Knowledge Sharing) program, she earned the special opportunity to travel to Denver for an internship at the CWCC.  As the Divisional Advocacy Coordinator of the Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BWCCI), Rahman brought her own expertise, along with many questions about operating an effective women’s chamber of commerce.

In her role at the BWCCI, she supports women entrepreneurship through advocacy by dispersing questionnaires, conducting research, and meeting with women entrepreneurs to discuss gaps and issues pertaining to women in business. After gathering data, she submits recommendations to policymakers to implement laws cultivating fairness and equality for women in business. The three main issues concerning women in business in Bangladesh are social barriers, capacity building, and financial barriers. Although these problems are still prevalent, women entrepreneurship grows stronger with each passing year.

During her six weeks at the CWCC, Rahman shadowed staff members to gain experience and knowledge about membership outreach, legislative advocacy, communications planning and tools, and financial management. She attended meetings and compiled information about the CWCC’s mentorship program, weekly newsletters, the leadership collaborative, leads groups, monthly luncheons, and business after hours networking events.

Outside of work, Rahman found time to explore the Mile High City. She took a stab at American cuisine, listened to John Denver (who happens to be her favorite musician), went shopping at the 16th Street Mall, experienced shortness of breath on a hike, and witnessed her first real snowfall—which she says was “like a piece of heaven”.

5th Annual CampExperience™ Joins LikeMinded Women for Education, Inspiration and Philanthropy

CampExperience™ was created for successful women interested in building their lives, careers and connections. It provides busy women a reprieve from their everyday lives, and an opportunity to reconnect with themselves and their peers. This very special retreat fosters education, personal growth and amazing experiences, in an environment of positive energy, creativity and playful fun. Our participants and speakers share their gifts and resources with important charities that benefit women. Click here for more information.