Emergingwomen.biz

About EWIB

Emerging Women in Business offers more than just a first class annual conference. We want to also be an ongoing primary resource for women to achieve their dreams and realize their goals while expanding their support network. Being informed is very closely related to being successful. EWIB assists in bridging this gap. This initiative was developed under the direction of the Rhode Island Coalition for Minority Investment (RICMI), in collaboration with its partners: the Center for Women & Enterprise, Bryant University and the Community College of Rhode Island. The co-chairs for the conference were Denise Barge, Executive Director, RICMI, and Carol Malysz, Director for the Center for Women & Enterprise.

The growth of women entrepreneurs in the United States has been spectacular. Today, there are:

• 6.2 million women-owned firms employing 9.2 million people and generating sales of 1.15 trillion.
• In Rhode Island, there are 35, 461 privately held women-owned firms which generate $5.5 billion in sales and employ 55, 205 people+
• Rhode Island is now 9th in the US in the start up of women owned businesses.

This growth in entrepreneurial spirit brings with it challenges in providing adequate and supportive resources for women without previous generational experience, particularly low/moderate income women and women of color.

Our Vision:

"We empower low and moderate income women to attain their business goals by taking the next steps through holistic support, networking opportunities and motivation, fostering growth and higher levels of individual and business success"