GENDER AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP: WOMEN, COMMERCE, AND THE FINANCING GAP
December 7th, 2022 at 3:30pm ET
The entrepreneurship sector propagates the inequalities embedded in other sectors. This is especially true in the Amazon. In order for women and other minority groups to have more opportunities and space in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, it is important that some characteristics are considered throughout the supporting process. Come and discover some initiatives that have managed to put this into practice to transform the reality of women in the Amazon

Carolina Alves de Jongh
Janela 8
Carolina Alves de Jongh, mother of Lucas and João, is a business administrator and holds a master’s degree in social psychology. Founder of Janela 8 , she works to expand women’s rights and protagonism. Janela 8 supports organizations in reducing inequalities and increasing the role of women. We operate on three complementary fronts: Planning, Implementation and Evaluation & Research. Discover some of our projects here.

Cecilia Zanotti
ANDE
Cecilia is chapter head of ANDE in Brazil. She has a degree in business administration from EAESP FGV and has been working with management of social impact organizations and projects for 20 years. She was the manager of social mobilization of Seja Digital, an entity created to operationalize the change of analogue TV signal in Brazil. An Ashoka Fellow, she founded and directed the Bagagem Project for 9 years, an organization focused on community-based tourism. The Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) is a global network of organizations that propel entrepreneurship in developing economies. ANDE members provide critical financial, educational, and business support services to small and growing businesses (SGBs) based on the conviction that SGBs will create jobs, stimulate long-term economic growth, and produce environmental and social benefits. Ultimately, we believe that SGBs can help lift countries out of poverty.

Mayro Castro
Invest Amazonia
Mayra is an Amazonian native with extensive experience in international partnerships, project design, cultural translation and team leadership. She built and headed the Swiss government scientific consulate in São Paulo (swissnex Brazil). She also coordinated and built the partnership arrangement for a ETH-Zurich project (AtlantikSolar) in the Amazon, powered by the Swiss government, Government of the State of Pará, System of Protection of the Amazon (SIPAM), among others. She has created her own brand mayracastro.pro as a connection & partnership builder to forge collective intelligence based on win-win, strategy, enthusiasm and value generation.

Amanda Santana
Tucum
Amanda is an indigenous Founding Partner and Creative Director of Tucum Brasil. For 10 years she has been working in the development and appreciation of indigenous arts with their communities and organizations in the Amazon. Founded in 2011, TUCUM promotes the art and traditional craft of native Amazonian populations as an important revenue source for local communities. Selling the merchandise online, the company creates strong business partnerships with cooperatives, producers and artists while creating economically balanced relations and fostering ethics, legal compliance and sustainability. TUCUM provides direct support, structuring handicraft supply chains in collaboration with associations, families and especially women. The process celebrates diverse cultures and forms networks between traditional artisans and society. After nearly doubling revenue last year, the company is poised for growth.