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Reference ID: 06CAIRO73
Created: 2006-01-04 14:30
Released: 2011-08-30 01:44
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Origin: Embassy Cairo
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
041430Z Jan 06
UNCLAS CAIRO 000073
SIPDIS
FOR IIP/T/ES (DURANT), IIP/G/NEA-SA (SCOTT), NEA/PPD
AND NEA/ELA
E.O. 12958: NA
TAGS: KPAO OEXC OIIP EG
SUBJECT: American Business Leadership Trainers Reach
Out to Women Entrepreneurs
REF: A) STATE 83422 B) 2004 STATE 261067
¶1. SUMMARY: American business leadership trainers Kay
Westerfield and Kathy Holland captivated audiences of
Egyptian women entrepreneurs and other business people
in workshops Dec. 8-15. The programs reached everyone
from veteran businesswomen in Cairo and Alexandria to
aspiring Minya entrepreneurs who could not read or
write but who were anxious to develop their micro-
enterprises. END SUMMARY.
¶2. Following paragraphs are formatted per reftels.
¶A. NAME OF SPEAKER AND DATE OF PROGRAM: Kay
Westerfield, Business Programs Coordinator at the
University of Oregon's American English Institute; and
Kathy Holland, who operates the business advisory firm
LongSherpa Design. Holland is former Divisional Head
of New Products and Markets at Nike. The workshops
were held Dec. 8-15.
¶B. SUMMARY OF TOPICS/VENUES/AUDIENCES: Topics included
"Leadership Tools for Professional Communication" and
"Entrepreneurship: Building Your Future." The 80
participants included grantees and organizations
participating in micro-finance programs financed by the
Ambassador's Self-Help Program and USAID microfinance
programs, as well as other contacts of the Embassy,
USAID, and American Center Alexandria. The workshops
were held in the Embassy Information Resource Center,
American Center, and at the Minya offices of the NGO
"Better Life Association." Six USAID grantees from the
city of Assiut Business Association traveled to Minya
to participate. In Alexandria, participants
represented 18 NGOs active in volunteer work.
¶C. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPEAKER: Westerfield and
Holland have extensive professional experience and
training abilities, but the key skills they
demonstrated in these workshops were the patience,
flexibility, enthusiasm, and good humor necessary to
engage participants with widely varying skills and
interests. Also key to the success of the program was
the Egyptian translator, Rabab Zeineldin, who shared
their enthusiasm for the subject and worked as a
seamless part of the team. She translated their oral
presentations as well as written material, which was
also later used in Manama.
¶D. QUALITY OF IIP SUPPORT: Excellent.
¶E. IMMEDIATE RESULTS: It was clear from the
participants' feedback after the workshops that
Westerfield and Holland reached the minds and hearts of
elite and non-elite alike, demonstrating a very
positive side of America. They not only imparted
useful business skills, they were able to help
strengthen bonds between American and Egyptian people
on personal and professional levels. Many participants
requested follow-on training. We recommend them for
future workshops in the region on entrepreneurship and
leadership skills for a mixed group of men and women.
We hope to expand their next visit to workshops in
other governorates.
¶F. PRESS PLACEMENT: The local Minya television
station participated in the workshop and filmed
interviews afterward with participants and Embassy
representatives. The Embassy did not have an
opportunity to see the broadcast of the story. News
bulletins on Alexandria television broadcast excerpts
of the workshop. The Alexandria TV English program "In
Focus" is scheduled to broadcast interviews with
Westerfield and Holland on January 3, 2006.
RICCIARDONE
WWeek 2015