EY Cyprus, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Cyprus, Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) and Young Business and Professional Women Cyprus, presented Samira Cook Gaines, who discussed entrepreneurship, gender challenges and women advancement.

Samira Cook Gaines is Vice President of Business Development for the NCRC and Founding Director of the DC WBC, which supports women entrepreneurs through training, individual consultation, mentoring, and business growth. In honor of her work with small businesses, Samira Cook Gaines was recently selected as a White House Champion for Change in the area of entrepreneurship mentoring.

The presentation included a strategic road map for aspiring entrepreneurs, a discussion on entrepreneurial gender challenges, equal and fair entrepreneurship opportunities, equitable access to wealth creation and economic and business development, as well as inspiring case study examples from women entrepreneurs.

This event was organized as part of EY Cyprus’ global campaign towards gender parity. Specifically, in response to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Gender Parity Report 2016, which concluded it will take 117 years to achieve global gender parity in the workplace, EY aims to draw attention to the global gender gap issue and galvanize support from other organizations to accelerate change.

Stavros Pantzaris, EY Cyprus Country Managing Partner, said:

“A priority for us at EY and an economic imperative for our clients and our people, is gender parity. Women's advancement and leadership are central to business performance and economic prosperity. Indisputable data show that profitability, ROI and innovation all increase when women are counted among senior leadership.  In fact, recent EY studies show that companies which compose of at least 30% female leaders are more successful at achieving their organization’s goals.”

The event took place at EY Cyprus Nicosia Main Office, at the Jean Nouvel Tower, on 3rd November, 2016.