Empowering South Pacific Dreams: GCC’s Initiative for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs

Guam Community College will organize a program for female entrepreneurs across the South Pacific.

GCC announced that applications are currently open for the Young Pacific Leaders Academy for Women Entrepreneurs.

The initiative seeks to empower and uplift the forthcoming generation of Pacific business leaders in the region, as stated in a release from GCC.

Facilitated by GCC, the program will comprise a 12-month leadership and business development virtual training initiative, targeting women of the Pacific from the 24 island nations within the YPL network.

In conjunction with the program, participants will gather at the GCC campus in Mangilao, Guam from April 21 to 25, 2025, for the “Where Dreams Become Reality Conference,” which will feature presentations from expert speakers, workshops, networking activities, and multicultural excursions designed to enhance participants’ entrepreneurial and leadership skills.

“Guam Community College is thrilled to host the Where Dreams Become Reality Conference for women entrepreneurs across the Pacific. Opportunities to engage with successful women in business provide the benefit of wisdom and experience in building a sustainable and prosperous organization,” GCC President Mary Okada stated. “We are eager to bring our decades of experience and achievement in training leaders throughout our society and impart that wisdom to these remarkable and driven women in business.”

U.S. Pacific regional engagement specialist Mara Hosoda Su’a mentioned that the conference and the yearlong initiative aim to nurture the next generation of Pacific women business leaders from the region.

“Post-conference, participants—some who will have established businesses while others will be just starting out—will continue to convene weekly online to work on the Dream Builder Course business plans,” Su’a said.

She noted that this will equip participants with the skills and abilities required to devise innovative and sustainable entrepreneurial solutions that address social and economic issues in their home and island communities within the Pacific region.

“YPL considers the AWE initiative as a distinctive opportunity for young women in the region, to truly excel in business and subsequently contribute to the economy and support their communities,” Su’a added.

Initiated in 2013, the YPL initiative is the U.S. government’s flagship program aimed at enhancing leadership development and networking in the Pacific.

Through educational, cultural, and regional exchanges, as well as seed funding, YPL aspires to enhance the leadership capabilities of youth in the region and fortify connections between the U.S. and the Pacific.

The YPL initiative concentrates on essential issues identified by youth in the region: education, environmental management, civic leadership, and economic and social development.

Applications for the AWE are now being accepted until January 15, 2025.

Prospective applicants should submit the application along with all necessary documents to [email protected].

For further information, contact (671) 735-5640 ext. 5410.