With the aim of strengthening and professionalizing the digital business of SMEs led by women, as well as supporting businesswomen and entrepreneurs to improve the effectiveness of their online sales channel, the Chamber of the Digital Economy of Uruguay (CEDU) created "Despegate", a mentoring program, which will run from June to November 2021.
The initiative, which will begin to receive applications from April 29 until May 4 in the first instance, will focus on the online marketing of products through websites, marketplaces and social networks, among others, and will seek to link SMEs led by women with active sales through digital channels with mentors with experience in different areas of online business. It will also offer the opportunity for networking and knowledge sharing for both mentorees and mentors.
Asked about the motivation for launching this pilot program, Ivanna Rocha, manager of CEDU, explained that "according to data released by the World Bank, inequality between women and men could be costing Uruguay 13% of GDP per capita. Only 12% of companies are owned by women and only 11% of management positions are held by women ...". The digital ecosystem is being built, and we believe that 'Despegate' can contribute a grain of sand in the balance, to contribute to gender equity".
The distinguished group of mentors will be made up of leaders from a diversity of businesses and ventures related to the digital economy. Participants will include Natalia Macri, Director of Exportable Supply and Vice President of CEDU; Beatriz Ponce de León, Chief Strategy Officer of Arbusta and CEDU board member; Natalia Borrazás, Head of Customer Care of MailUp; Lourdes Moro, Commercial Manager of Redelocker; Analía Ramírez, Marketing Manager of Jetmar Viajes; Ana Laura Olmos, Communications and Marketing Manager for Latin America at Evertec; María Noel Laborde, Co-Founder of ViaSendo; Florencia Pan Arcelus, Marketing & e-Commerce Manager at Mosca Hnos; Lucía Artecona, Marketing Manager at Mercado Libre; Mónica Maltzman, Project Manager at Onetree; María Berdun, CMO at L'Oréal; and Cecilia Auliso, E-Commerce Manager at FORUS.
Rocha also highlighted the great value that these experts can bring to the entrepreneurs who participate. "We believe that sharing experiences along the way is becoming increasingly important to leverage the development and growth of the digital ecosystem. The vast majority of CEDU members have traveled a good part of the road, they have a lot to share," she said.
This initiative has the institutional support of the National Directorate of Crafts, Small and Medium Enterprises of the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM-Dinapyme), the National Development Agency (ANDE), Uruguay XXI, the Uruguayan Chamber of Information Technology (Cuti), the Sembrando Program, the Organization of Women Entrepreneurs of Uruguay (Omeu) and the Uruguay Entrepreneur Network, eCommerce Institute and Digital Women of the Network of Women Against the Current (RedMAC).
The application form and requirements for participation in the "Despegate" programme are available on its website.
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