Womenable President and CEO Julie R. Weeks speaks to a meeting of public and private sector leaders in women's enterprise in the United Kingdom, convened by the Women's Enterprise Centre of Expertise in the West Midlands. Birmingham, England, 1 December 2009.

1. The Case for
Women’s Enterprise:
Observations and Recommendations
Julie R. Weeks
President & CEO
Womenable

2. Growing Evidence & Organisations

3. Growing Evidence & Organisations:
The Need for Connection

4. Three Observations
‣Building blocks do
not a building make
‣If you build it they
may not all come
‣Many hands can
make light work

5. Building Momentum Takes Time
Consider the Example of US WBCs
160,000 160
# of Clients Annually
Number of WBCs
120,000 120
80,000 80
40,000 40
?? ??
0 0
1989 91 93 95 97 99 2001 03 05 07 2009
Number of WBCs
Year # of clients served
Data courtesy of US SBA

6. From “One Size Fits All” to
“All are Welcome”

7. Building the Ecosystem:
Many Hands Make Light Work
Private sector partners:
corporations, educators,
Public sector
civil society
policies and
programmes
Foundation: Fact-based information
to provide knowledge, support action, Women business owners
cement partnerships & their associations

8. “Never doubt that a small
group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it’s the only thing that
ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead