Congratulations Gianna!

It seems very appropriate to follow Gianna's amazing blog post from Laos with some good news: Gianna was nominated for the 2010 WOMAN ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD offered by the Women's Initiatives Organization. Criteria for Gianna's nomination included:

'-Successful despite the barriers that exist for women business owners

-Exemplify how business ownership and leadership is beneficial for women

-Have a positive impact on local community or the community at large

-Advance business through innovation'.

The Women's Initiatives for Self Employment is a Bay Area non-profit that provides training, access to funding and ongoing support for low income women in the US that want to start and grow a self-sufficient business. When you think about it, that is exactly what Gianna and her team provide for the women artisans they work with in Laos, Thailand and India. Only that these are countries that often don't provide such liberties for women.
Truly a well deserved honor. Rock on Gianna!

Here's the organization's website in case you know a woman you would like to nominate for next year's award:
http://www.womensinitiative.org/emails/WEY_Nominations.html#About