THE IWEC FOUNDATION GLOBAL AMBASSADORS PROGRAM
Peer-to-Peer Mentoring and Business Development Support Around the World.
Launched in 2016, the IWEC Foundation’s Global Ambassadors Program aims to expand market connections for businesswomen whose combined annual revenues are over US$25 billion dollars per year. The selected, carefully vetted Global Ambassadors empower these female entrepreneurs to form sustainable business connections with potential partners and enter new markets locally, nationally, and globally. Global Ambassadors, all of whom are past IWEC Awardees, provide constant outreach and introductions to peers in their respective countries and beyond.
Maureen Borzacchiello
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
Founder
Creative Display Solutions
New Jersey, United States
Maureen Borzacchiello, the founder of Creative Display Solutions, has proven to be a skilled executive and visionary entrepreneur during her career in the exhibit and event industry. Her company provides innovative and seamless experiences through the creation, management and execution of their clients’ exhibit and event programs and face-to-face marketing initiatives.
She is on the Board of Directors of Count Me In for Women’s Economic Independence among others. Awards include: NY State Senate 2008 Woman of Distinction and the Make Mine a $Million Business and IWEC Foundation Awardee. She has been featured on The Today Show, Inc. Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and others.
Gabriela Fiorini
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
President of the Board of Directors
Punta Sal Restaurants
Lima, Perú
Gabriela Fiorini serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the six restaurants Punta Sal, which are specialized in innovative Peruvian seafood cuisine. Punta Sal recently celebrated its 25th anniversary as one of the most important and renowned restaurants in Perú.
In addition to the business, Mrs. Fiorini is a member of the Executive Committee and Director of the Lima Chamber of Commerce as well as President of its Committee of Tourism. She is also one of the members of The Executive Committee of the Lima Chamber of Commerce Commission of Social Responsibility and of the Commission of Woman’s Development.
Jamila Gordon
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
Founder
LumaChain
Sydney, Australia
Jamila Gordon is the founder of LumaChain, a blockchain company that brings certainty and trust to global supply chains. Her former roles include being Group Chief Information Officer of Qantas Airways and CIMIC, and, prior to this, being a global executive with IBM Europe. She is currently on the board of Jayride Limited and on the Advisory Board of VentureCrowd.
Jamila’s personal story is remarkable. She came to Australia at the age of 18, having escaped the Somali civil war alone and being homeless in Kenya. A champion of diversity and inclusion, Jamila has served on a range of NFP boards including La Trobe University, CareerTrackers and CareerSeekers.
Harjinder Kaur
IWEC Global Ambassador
CEO & Managing Director
Comvision India
New Delhi, India
Ms. Kaur has 20 years of successful business experience. She is a dynamic, result-oriented entrepreneurial leader with a strong track record and the ability to resolves complex issues and to motivates staff to live up to their maximum potential.
She is CEO and Managing Director of Comvision (India) PVT Ltd. and Comvision Q Free, both leading companies in system integration, e-governance, and hardware/software solutions for automated toll management. Ms. Kaur founded her $5.0 million business in 1995 in India. In the last 21 years, she has provided one stop shop for IT solutions in e-governance as well as intelligent transportation.
She has received recognition in India Today being listed among the “Top 10 Women CEO’s of India” and “India’s Most Deserving Men & Women.” Ms. Kaur is also an ex-YFLO Chairperson, Hyderabad Chapter and a Governing Board Member of FICCI.
Renee Keeble
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
Founder & Managing Director
SA Commercial
Cape Town, South Africa
Renee Keeble began her career with one of the largest international financial services companies, moving into direct marketing 13 years ago and eventually managed the direct marketing division nationally. She very quickly realized the impact of this channel –and fell in love with the Contact Centre industry. In January 2007, Renee started SA Commercial Direct, armed with only her personal savings in the bank, pure determination, and the will to succeed. The company’s growth far outstripped expectations and within six months of operation, the business had to move from the Cape Town southern suburbs to the central business district, where they developed a brand-new contact centre.
As a locally grown business, SA Commercial (Pty.) Ltd. is a leading Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) operator to the private and public business sectors. SA Commercial focuses on enhancing customer experience through strong customer engagement programs, such as telephone capabilities and back office processing. In essence, the company provides the important link between a business and its clients. With strong experience in contact centre solutions, SA Commercial has established itself as the contact centre of choice amongst large corporations. It is one of the select few South African companies to hold an ISO9001 accreditation in the BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) industry and is also a registered and authorized financial service provider.
Donna Meredith
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
Managing Director
Keystone Corporate Positioning
New South Wales, Australia
Donna Meredith, Managing Director of Keystone Corporate Positioning, started her US$ two million business in 1997 in Sydney, Australia. Prior to co-founding Keystone, she was Group Brands Manager and Manager International Product at Qantas Airways Ltd.
In the last 18 years, Keystone has provided specialist marketing, management, and strategic consultancy services in Australia and around the world. Keystone is a ‘virtual’ company with a team of 20 employees and consultants that creates customized teams based on client needs. The company leverages strategic partnerships with creative, research and communications agencies to provide scalable, flexible client solutions. In 2012, Donna also became the Principal of Interaction Associates (IA) in Australasia. IA is an award winning global learning and development company headquartered in Boston.
Claudia Mirza
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
CEO & Co-Founder
Akorbi
Plano, United States
Claudia Mirza is the CEO and co-founder of Akorbi, the 34th largest language service provider in the world, and the 4th largest organization globally to have achieved organic growth. What started as a simple translation business is today a global provider of multilingual business solutions, including interpretation, staffing, contact centers, learning services and localization in 177 languages. Claudia’s vision and leadership have led Akorbi to become the 13th fastest-growing woman-owned/led company in the world, according to the Women Presidents’ Organization, and the #2,568 fastest-growing company on the Inc. 5000 with 166% growth in the last three years. Claudia is a published author in key industry publications, a sought-after speaker, an inventor with patents-pending, a mother of two, a mentor, wife, daughter and a philanthropist. She has been featured in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, TIME, Fortune and by Google as an advocate for small and women-owned businesses. As the 2016 US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s Woman of the Year, Claudia was invited to the White House to meet with the current administration representing small and women-owned businesses. Claudia is a Harvard Business School Alumni from the prestigious Owner/President Management (OPM) Program, Class 52 as well as a bipartisan voter focused
on women business issues and the global economy.
Tamara Nall
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
President
The Leading Niche (TLN)
New York, United States
Tamara Nall lives by the mantra, “to whom much is given, much is required.” She is the CEO of The Leading Niche (TLN), an award winning and internationally recognized company known for using data and cutting-edge consulting services to deliver ‘actionable intelligence’. TLN supports customers in global markets, including the United States, Canada, Europe, and Africa. The Firm provides big data, cybersecurity, intelligence, Health IT, regulatory/compliance, and investigative/examination consulting. Mrs. Nall has won many awards and been featured in the media. She holds an MBA from The Harvard Business School as well as a BS and BBA. She and her husband reside in New York City.
Maria Rios
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
CEO
Nation Waste, Inc. (NWI)
Houston, United States
Maria Rios is the President and CEO of Nation Waste, Inc. (NWI), the first female Hispanic-owned waste removal company in the United States and one of Houston’s largest minority-owned companies. NWI is a fully-certified, commercial waste disposal company specializing in construction, demolition, commercial/industrial non-hazardous waste removal, portable toilets and recycling services.
Fortune Magazine named Maria Rios as one of the 2013 Fortune Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs in the U.S and in 2014, Goldman Sachs honored her as one of its 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs. In 2015, Maria Rios and NWI were featured on CNBC’s Blue Collar Millionaires, a docu-series profiling big personalities who have gained wealth “by getting their hands dirty…and rolling up their sleeves…with a can-do mindset.” Maria Rios is a proud graduate of the University of Houston.
Poonam Sagar
IWEC Foundation Global Ambassador
CEO
PT Infotech Solutions
Jakarta, Indonesia
Poonam Sagar is an IT entrepreneur, consultant, and mentor with special interest in digital media, online applications, and e-commerce, based in Indonesia.
She is the co-owner of an international technology company focusing on niche broadcast media software solutions and e-commerce solutions for retailers (www.infotech.co.id). Poonam is also the founder of the successful community information hub for Indians in Indonesia (www.indoindians.com), and has also been involved with several startups.
She is an alumnus of IIM, Ahmadabad, and has three post-graduate degrees in science, business, and technology. Furthermore, she is an avid reader and blogger (www.poonamsagar.com). She balances a fulfilling life of family, work, and contribution with a motto to Learn, Apply and Give Back.