Taking part in ITU Telecom World 2019 for the first time are 24 EQUALS fellowship winners, talented female entrepreneurs from developing countries around the world who are exhibiting on the showfloor, pitching their innovative solutions and participating in the SME Programme. After enjoying the event’s vibrant Opening Ceremony, the entrepreneurs had the chance to meet with Doreen Bogdan Martin, Director, ITU’s BDT (Telecommunication Development Sector), Paul Mitchell, Senior Director, Tech Policy at Microsoft, and Manager of Technical Support of Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, Martin Koyabe.
The event’s SME programme got underway in the afternoon and the winners joined the SME Workshop, exploring how to tell a story and pitch to capture an audience. They then had the chance to put these skills directly into action as they began pitching for the prestigious ITU Telecom World awards. Entrepreneurs from India, Guatemala, Bangladesh, Argentina and Kenya pitched their innovations in areas spanning aerospace tech, cybersecurity for SMEs, e-market places and health technology solutions.
Networking is a key component of ITU Telecom World events, and EQUALS delegates joined the Event’s Gala Dinner, where they were able to meet and network with other influential event participants. Kenya’s Mercy Njue from Botlab met with the Minister from Sierra Leone, and the Director of Finance from Sierra Leone’s National Telecommunication Commission, as well as the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation.
The EQUALS delegates will continue a full programme of activities, workshops and masterclasses within the SME programme, culminating in the ITU Telecom World Awards Ceremony on the last day of the event.
