Abridged Borderbuster 6/6/05

CONTENTS

If you are not a subscriber to Borderbuster, here's a glimpse of what you missed this month:

1. Welcome From The Publisher
2. Feedback From Our Readers
3. Thomas Friedman on Globalization*
4. Business and Cultural Tips: Have Some Fun!*
5. A Show of Support*
6. How I Went Global: Ongoing Series // GlobeTrade.com*
7. A Reader Asks: Q&A*
8. Everybody Loves a Freebie -- repeat: FREE OFFER*
9. Managing Brands in Global Markets
10. Think Global: Bio-prospecting*
11. A Global Good Neighbor Ethic for International Relations*
12. On Foreign Soil*
13. Laurel’s New e-Book: “GODZILLA Global Marketing!”
14. Take A Walk On The Wild Side (TAWOTWS)*
15. Wind Behind Your Sail*
16. Miscellany*

*Indicates exclusive to Borderbuster subscribers only.

Sample section:

6. HOW I WENT GLOBAL: ONGOING SERIES* -- GlobeTrade.com
*Subscriber Exclusive*

Globe-trotting In Tunis
By Laurel Delaney

I am honored to have been invited to serve as a U.S. Envoy for The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a Presidential initiative founded to support economic, political, and educational reform efforts in the Middle East. The three-day forum took place in sunny Tunis, Tunisia (North Africa) from May 24-26, 2005 featuring practical business training for more than 200 women entrepreneurs from 16 countries and territories in the Middle East and North Africa. My role was to lead an expert roundtable discussion on [global] Internet Marketing.

The U.S. delegation also included Assistant Secretary of State for Education and Cultural Affairs Patricia Harrison; Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Elizabeth Cheney; and Vice Chair, Export-Import Bank, April Foley. The American businesswomen provided training under the auspices of WE, Inc., an American nonprofit business association advocating policy solutions that encourage business ownership by women, and assist entrepreneurs at all stages of their business development. I serve as the Global Markets Advisor for this organization and report directly to the CEO and President Karen Kerrigan, who is a remarkably gifted and passionate global entrepreneur.

The forum organizer was The Beyster Institute at the Rady School, University of California, San Diego, which continues to implement the Middle East Entrepreneurship Training in the U.S., also a Middle East Partnership Initiative. Dr. Ray Smilor is the Executive Director of this enterprise and also a passionate advocate to entrepreneurs worldwide.

The purpose of the forum was to build peer networks, learn from regional and American experts, and find new venture partners. As business owners and executives, attendees had an opportunity to recognize their leading role in economic reform through business expansion, entry into international trade, and dynamic joint ventures to take advantage of the opportunities offered by reformed economic systems and trade agreements.

I strongly believe the forum will help reshape the economic, political, educational and cultural landscape for businesswomen worldwide.

Internet Marketing plays an instrumental role in global expansion for small business owners. Why, just look at this e-newsletter! It accelerates the process of globalization as people worldwide research products, look for new markets, seek customers and manage their international supply chain. If a business is successful on the home front, then it is ready to become borderless. Any business today with a web site or blog is instantaneously global.

One of the goals I had set for myself during the Summit was to make going global accessible to everyone. In that vein, the mission was accomplished. I’ll explain how.

Within 48 hours after returning to Chicago, I received an email from Doaa Saber, a businesswoman from Qatar, who sat in on the Internet Marketing workshop. She proudly announced she had created her very first Information Architecture World blog. How’s that for progress? How’s that for pure entrepreneurship? I’d say it’s awesome. And in case she is reading this, “Congratulations Doaa!” We need more entrepreneurs like you in the world.

It’s clear to me that American women entrepreneurs are held in great respect and admiration by women throughout the world and that we have much more to offer in terms of advice and counsel. But I also believe the same holds true for the extraordinary and soulful Middle-Eastern and North African business women on what they can teach us. Let us not forget that it is not our similarities but dissimilarities -- and the sharing of those dissimilarities in a meaningful and productive manner -- that provide our greatest challenges and growth opportunities, both personally and professionally.

As I write this, there is a steady stream of messages flowing through my e-mail inbox with names popping up like Ahlem, Najwa and Sameera. And they all say the same thing: What a wonderful Summit and I am honored to have met you and so many other vibrant businesswomen. I feel exactly the same. The women (and men!) I met were generous, kind, and smart – all characteristics that lead to success. Serving as role models for one another and working together, we make a powerful difference in the world of business. See for yourself: The Global Small Business Blog.

All the very best to you, my readers, and all my new friends through the MEPI.

P.S. For more information about women’s rights in the Middle East and North Africa, please visit the work of the Freedom House.

Ms. Laurel Delaney is CEO and founder of GlobeTrade.com, and can be reached at 773-381-1700 or ldelaney@globetrade.com.

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