2009 Press Releases
American Businesswoman Joins Forces with Palestinian Business Community to Promote Entrepreneurship
August 11, 2009
Jerusalem
Karen Kerrigan, American businesswoman and advocate for entrepreneurship, traveled to the West Bank as part of the U.S. State Department’s International Information Program for Speakers. A number of Palestinian organizations and businesses hosted Ms. Kerrigan as she conducted several workshops and events from August 9 to August 12, 2009.
Ms. Kerrigan joined prominent Palestinian business people at the Young Entrepreneurs Palestine First National Entrepreneurship Conference, on August 9, 2009 in Ramallah. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad gave the keynote address, while Ms. Kerrigan participated in a panel discussion that focused on managing and overcoming the challenges of entrepreneurship.
Ms. Kerrigan provided guidance and words of encouragement to 19 young women who were part of the US Consulate General-funded Business Women Forum’s (BWF) Internship Program. The workshop, conducted in Ramallah, was followed by another session with members of BWF and other prominent Palestinian businesswomen. Ms. Kerrigan focused on building sustainable coalitions and establishing associations that create a strong network of entrepreneurs and small businesses. Ms. Kerrigan’s audience also included business students and graduates from universities in the Nablus area. In addition to the local business-student communities, Ms. Kerrigan conducted workshops with the staff of the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of the National Economy, and training sessions with one of Palestine’s most successful micro-finance organizations, ASALA.
This is the second program Ms. Kerrigan conducted in the West Bank with the U.S. State Department. She is president & CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, a founder of several business organizations, and serves on a number of government commissions and corporate executive boards.
For more information please contact the U.S. Consulate’s Press Office at 02-622-6908 or 02-622-6909 or Hassna Dajani at 054-678-8455.
