Network to globalize your business: How the Business Women in Trade (BWIT) program can help

If you’re a women-owned business looking to export, one of the best sources of knowledge you’ll ever encounter is other women who have been there (from Argentina to Zimbabwe), and done that (from selling through a partnership to opening an overseas plant).

But since women tend to be underrepresented in international trade, where’s the best place to find them?

The answer is networking. Networking is a strategic way to garner greater success in your business's expansion, and you can benefit from leveraging networking opportunities from foreign, domestic and e-communication networks. To help you get started, there’s even the Business Women in International Trade (BWIT) program, which acts as a facilitator in business women's exporting aspirations.

As a Canadian government program, BWIT has a long record of credibility and legitimacy that allows us to partner with multiple organizations and associations in Canada and abroad. Our partners inform us on opportunities open to business women as soon as they become available; we pass these on through our website, monthly email and LinkedIn Group. In addition to our partners, we have access to the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) network with trade commissioners operating in 161 offices in Canada and abroad. The TCS provides valuable insights and business intelligence in your target market and can act as a hub to connect you to global markets.

At BWIT, we offer advice to support women entrepreneurs or business owners on minimizing the challenges that come with exporting into new and unfamiliar markets, as well as facilitate connections with various networks domestically and abroad. Through our wide range of programs and services, you can take advantage of opportunities for networking to leverage your exporting objectives. Some of BWIT's services include:  

• Website
• LinkedIn group
  
• Annual and monthly newsletter
• Women-focused trade missions
• Information about networking events
• Webinars

On March 29th, at 2:00 p.m, we’re teaming up with Export Development Canada for a webinar on How Women in Business Can Grow Outside of Canada.

I’ll be joining EDC’s Mairead Lavery and a panel of experts as we discuss:

•  Why it’s easier than you think to do business in the U.S. and internationally
• How to find new customers through trade missions
• Where you can attend networking events for women-owned businesses
• How to access financing, loans and venture capital to grow your international sales

You can also visit the BWIT website, join us on LinkedIn or email us to learn more about exporting, partnering and accessing unique opportunities for business women.