Strengthening Women-Led Enterprises for the Global Marketplace
The UWI MECC WENC Project is designed to strengthen the capacity of women-led enterprises, empowering them to take part, or take greater part, in the global marketplace.
Vision 2030 noted that higher capital gains and increased GDP could be secured from value-added production, innovation, and global participation. This Project builds the capacity and mindset of entrepreneurs to be innovators who produce value-added products in the marketplace. Together, we develop robust business models and strong startup mechanics.
Facilitated by dynamic knowledge creators, the project couples comprehensive group workshops with individual coaching and mentoring sessions, utilizing best-practice assessment tools before and after intervention to guarantee sustainable commercial growth.
Project Partners
MECC (UWI Mona)
Provides social enterprise incubation, business structuring, diagnostic assessment, and commercialisation guidance.
WENC Caribbean
Regional network connecting women founders across Jamaica and the Caribbean diaspora.
Development Bank of Jamaica
Institutional sponsor powering capacity-building grants and financial readiness support.
Programme Objectives
Key strategic priorities guiding the empowerment, commercial resilience, and global market expansion of participating women-led enterprises.
10%+ Global Sales Growth
Ensure global competitiveness and guarantee financial sustainability, targeting at least a 10% increase in international sales.
Innovation & Sustainability
Foster development and innovation so entrepreneurs adopt at least one technological or business innovation and one sustainable practice.
Knowledge Exchange & Diaspora
Foster strategic partnerships with the public and private sectors, as well as the international diaspora through shared knowledge opportunities.
Value-Added Production
Align with Vision 2030 goals to transition enterprises into value-added producers capable of capturing higher capital gains and market share.
Programme Measurements & Diagnostic Assessments
The UWI MECC team applies global best-practice assessment tools to evaluate each woman-led enterprise, guiding goal setting before intervention and measuring impact afterwards.
Skills & Needs Assessment
Baseline evaluation of individual founder and team competencies, operational capabilities, and pressing enterprise development needs.
Enterprise Resilience Assessment
Comprehensive diagnostic of enterprise operational stamina, risk mitigation preparedness, and market adaptability.
GrowthWheel 360° Assessment
360-degree holistic evaluation across Business Concept, Operations, Organization, and Customer Relations to establish strategic focus and track post-intervention capability growth.
Programme Training Modules
Nine structured modules delivered through cohort workshops and individual advisory to build resilient, market-ready, and investor-grade ventures.
Overcoming Challenges in Entrepreneurship
Building resilience, conquering entrepreneurial hurdles, and cultivating problem-solving agility.
Building Successful Women-Led Ventures
Strategies for driving sustainable leadership, organizational culture, and scaling women-led teams.
Legal Considerations for Small Businesses
Corporate structuring, contracts, intellectual property protection, and regulatory compliance.
Business Model Development
Designing scalable, value-added business models, market positioning, and revenue mechanics.
Accounting & Taxation
Bookkeeping best practices, tax obligations, reporting standards, and financial compliance.
Finance & Financial Management
Cash flow optimization, unit economics, working capital management, and investment readiness.
Artificial Intelligence
Leveraging modern AI tools and automated workflows to accelerate productivity and operational output.
Digital Marketing
Digital brand growth, omnichannel customer acquisition, analytics, and global reach strategies.
Pitch Preparations
Crafting compelling investor pitches, storytelling, and presenting with clarity and conviction.