The BIG wegg® 10-Year Anniversary Gala in Chicago on 11/6/25!

Oh what a party and oh what a turnout!  Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us.  The pictures say it all.

More here.  Happy 10 Years wegg!

All photos courtesy:  Lisa Miller Photography

Interested In Learning What It Takes to Go Global?

©2023 Global TradeSource, Ltd.  All rights reserved.

Feel free to join us (I, Laurel Delaney, will be attending) for the 8th Annual Global Small Business Forum:  Navigate Turbulence in the Global Marketplace!  You can join virtually or in person in Chicago on Friday, October 20, from 8:00-11:30 AM CT.

Sponsored by Associated Bank.  Hosted by Foley & Lardner.  

Hear from business owners who know what it takes to go global successfully.  As a fellow woman entrepreneur, I know the benefits to expanding a business globally – now you can discover them, too.

To learn more and to register, visit:  https://bit.ly/3PyjTv0.  Specifics can also be found here.  Hope to see you there!

3 Chicago Women Entrepreneurs: The Kombucha Brewer, Pie Baker and Toffee Maven

NBC 5’s Food Guy Steve Dolinsky shares stories about three Chicago-area female entrepreneurs who focus on homemade sweets and sophisticated sips this holiday season.

The kombucha brewer, pie baker and toffee maven are also fighting for the same things: market share, new business and most importantly: respect in their industries.

Bring on good cheer and support as many women business owners as we can this holiday season!  

36 Chicago Resources for Women Entrepreneurs

As a sweet home Chicago kind of gal (born and raised in Chicago), I found the list below of Chicago resources for female entrepreneurs pretty darn good, with the exception of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global, a nonprofit I founded and manage, being left out.

The population of women-owned startups in Chicago is growing.

Women business owners have opportunities to thrive in Chicago, especially if they happen to be in tech.

Check out the list here.

Join Us 10/20 in Chicago for Our 3rd Annual Global Small Business Forum

Good afternoon Corporate America Escapers!  I wanted to let you know about a Forum my company is hosting on Friday, October 20, 2017 at 16 E. Pearson Street in Chicago from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central time.  It's our 3rd Annual Global Small Business Forum, sponsored by MB Financial, GlobeTrade.com and Center for International Business Loyola University Chicago. The forum helps entrepreneurs like you and small business owners take their companies global.  This year's theme is e-commerce and what a lineup of speakers we have.

Two in particular you won't want to miss:

1. Andrea Sreshta, co-founder of LuminAID.  LuminAID was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2015, received offers from all 5 Sharks, and made a deal with Mark Cuban, the company’s first investor.
2. Jennifer Bayon, Vice President of International Sales for Paris Presents.  Jennifer leads the brands’ business development in over 60 countries, outside the United States.

Here's the full lineup of outstanding speakers.  And we have an amazing group of local partners on this!

I hope to see you there to meet up in person!  To learn more and to register, visit:  http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com.

Meet Up With Us in Chicago at the First Urban Craft Distilleries in the U.S.

Through a nonprofit I manage, Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global, we have a really cool on-the-ground program coming up on Tuesday, September 19 from 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Central time in Chicago. For all my Chicago fans, I would LOVE an opportunity to meet you in person!

Here are the details on the program.

But let me add this:  Even though the program focuses on taking a business global (my passion), we will also have fun touring the world famous KOVAL Distillery.  Not hear of it?  Well then you've been living in a cave :-).  Read the phenomenal press about them here.

Anyway, hope you can join us.  If you are going and want to let me know in advance, email me at: ldelaney(at)womenentrepreneursGROWglobal.org.

Look forward to seeing you there.  To learn more and to register, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wegg-icnc-export-workshop-tickets-36226102247

Take It Global Gals!

If you are in or around Chicago on Friday, October 21st, join us for the world's best little Global Small Business Forum held at 70 West Madison Street from 7:30 a.m. -- 4:30 p.m.  My company, Global TradeSource, Ltd. (GSBB Media, LLC) is hosting it.  You'll hear from entrepreneurs and business owners -- men and women alike -- talking about how they expanded their businesses internationally.

Our sponsors this year are:  CEI, MB Financial, TradeUp and Nixon Peabody.  Without them, this program would not be possible.

To learn more and to register, visit:  http://www.global smallbusinessforum.com.  There's a fee involved but the good news is that you receive breakfast, lunch, all program content, and a copy of my latest Exporting book endorsed by Good to Great and Beyond Entrepreneurship best-selling author Jim Collins.  Students get a substantial discount.  Oh, and we are also auctioning off two really neat prizes:  an iPad mini and a Mio global health watch!  Eli's Cheesecake will be serving up something sweet and memorable for each attendee.

I hope to see you there! 

Illustration credit:  @2016 GSBB Media LLC, 2nd Annual Global Small Business Forum 2016.  All rights reserved. 

Inspirational Ideas From Women Entrepreneurs (NBC Chicago)

Flower Power Collage by Preschoolers for Auction

It's never too early to show your creativity and these young people from Mrs. Nicholson's TBPK Class, Room 006, "Flower Power," are doing an amazing job with just that.

"Flower Power" Description

Materials/ Description of Process: tempera paints and craypas. Ms. Nicholson's preschoolers at Audubon Elementary school created a stunning 20" x 20" flower collage (shown above).

Each preschooler (shown above) first painted a flower petal. After the petal dried, the children colored on top with the craypas. Beautiful and vibrant flower petals resulted. The flower's seeded center is filled with small photos of each child's smiling face!

Parent Volunteers: Laura and Jonathan Fairman

So, my fellow creative artists, aspiring women entrepreneurs and business owners, take a pause, check it out and make a bid. You'll do your good deed for the day.

Ms. Nicholson's TBPK Class, Room 006 FLOWER POWER

Note: Flower Power is available for viewing in person at Starbucks on Roscoe (and Seeley) Chicago, Illinois until March 31. Bid binders are located on the fireplace. The show is also a fundraiser for Audubon Elementary School.

Photo credit: here.

Leftover Holiday Cheer

It's a wonderfully cold snowy day in Chicago. I decided to capture the last little bit of holiday cheer in the neighborhood. Pretty soon, the sun will be shining and flowers will be blooming. Can't wait.

Hope you are doing something incredibly inspiring and entrepreneurial as you read this blog.

Outlook for Women

Bleak outlook for women looking for top positions in Chicago workplace but for women who wish to start and run a business, the outlook is good.

Here's what Hedy Ratner, co-founder of the Women's Business Development Center in Chicago says:

According to Ratner, more women are starting business for themselves instead of trying to move up the corporate ladder because of the resistance they face there.

Read more.