Comprehensive Financial Support & Resources for Women-Owned Businesses

WBENC LIFT is an integrated education and funding program for women entrepreneurs to provide comprehensive financial support and resources, including education, coaching, networking and funding opportunities.

Upcoming Events:

PROGRAM DATES

Current opportunities detailed below

LOCATION

Varies

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Program Details

For several years, WBENC has been partnering with Corporate Member leaders in the financial services industry to bring forward education and resources for WBEs, including workshops and coaching on access to capital, business plans, small business banking, and cash flow management. We launched the Financial Center of Excellence to coincide with our national events, with the goal of providing WBEs with access to small business bankers and financial experts, as well as additional learning opportunities on key financial topics, including funding alternatives and being bankable.

The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the opportunity to reimagine and expand the Financial Center of Excellence model and tackle the broader needs and challenges facing women-business owners in today’s challenging business environment.

WBENC LIFT is a product of that reimagining, with a comprehensive model designed to support WBEs year-round.

Some grants and opportunities may be targeted to specific geographic areas or industries.

Not yet certified? Learn more about WBENC Certification here. 

Upcoming Events

Thriving with Capital One In-Person Event: Crack the Code to Increase Sales Through Presence and Presentations  

February 1, 2023 @ 5:15 pm

Networking & Small Business Development Event: Crack the Code to Increase Sales Through Presence and Presentations

(In-Person Event and Reception in Scottsdale, AZ - open to ALL WBEs and small business owners)

Crack the code to increased sales revenue by learning about practical tools that you can immediately apply to improve leadership, communication, presentations, and influence. This session is an overview of The Authenticity Code™, a WSJ and USA Today best-seller and Axiom Gold medal award-winning book.  

PLUS:

Type of Event: In-Person, Interactive Networking and Learning Sessions - with Reception to follow for additional networking with small business owners, Capital One Supplier Diversity, Capital One small business bankers, and Capital One Ambassadors

Cost: Free (Pre-Registration Required)

Address: Capital One Café - Scottsdale Fashion Square
7014 E Camelback Road, Suite 1459, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Time: 5:15-7:30pm MST

Thriving with Capital One is on a mission to help small businesses thrive. These impactful sessions provide actionable takeaways and insights to help your business operate more efficiently and productively.

About the Speaker

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman  

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman is the founder and CEO of Inside-Out Learning for the past 20 years. Sharon has worked across the United States and Europe as well as Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand for clients such as American Express, GE’s Leadership Development Center, Boeing, ExxonMobil, E*TRADE, ARCO Chemical, AstraZeneca, Fannie Mae, Arizona Society of CPA’s, Volvo, and the National Reconnaissance Office. Inside-Out Learning is a WBENC-Certified business providing transformative learning programs that identify and change behaviors in professionals & leaders, teams, and organizations, so they can achieve exceptional results.  

Learn more & register

Thriving with Capital One In-Person Event: Crack the Code to Increase Sales Through Presence and Presentations  

February 1, 2023 @ 5:15 pm

Networking & Small Business Development Event: Crack the Code to Increase Sales Through Presence and Presentations

(In-Person Event and Reception in Scottsdale, AZ - open to ALL WBEs and small business owners)

Crack the code to increased sales revenue by learning about practical tools that you can immediately apply to improve leadership, communication, presentations, and influence. This session is an overview of The Authenticity Code™, a WSJ and USA Today best-seller and Axiom Gold medal award-winning book.  

PLUS:

Type of Event: In-Person, Interactive Networking and Learning Sessions - with Reception to follow for additional networking with small business owners, Capital One Supplier Diversity, Capital One small business bankers, and Capital One Ambassadors

Cost: Free (Pre-Registration Required)

Address: Capital One Café - Scottsdale Fashion Square
7014 E Camelback Road, Suite 1459, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Time: 5:15-7:30pm MST

Thriving with Capital One is on a mission to help small businesses thrive. These impactful sessions provide actionable takeaways and insights to help your business operate more efficiently and productively.

About the Speaker

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman  

Dr. Sharon Lamm-Hartman is the founder and CEO of Inside-Out Learning for the past 20 years. Sharon has worked across the United States and Europe as well as Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand for clients such as American Express, GE’s Leadership Development Center, Boeing, ExxonMobil, E*TRADE, ARCO Chemical, AstraZeneca, Fannie Mae, Arizona Society of CPA’s, Volvo, and the National Reconnaissance Office. Inside-Out Learning is a WBENC-Certified business providing transformative learning programs that identify and change behaviors in professionals & leaders, teams, and organizations, so they can achieve exceptional results.  

Learn more & register

Access to Capital Fridays, brought to you by Bridge built by Citi

February 10, 2023 @ 12:00 pm

Looking for business funding can sometimes be an overwhelming process. Join Bridge built by Citi for the first installment of Access to Capital Fridays to hear directly from Citi and two small and medium business lenders committed to improving access to capital for underserved communities. 

Learn about how to prepare for a loan application, what they look for in a loan request, and get tips on how to make your business ready for a bank loan.  

This program is open to ALL women-owned businesses. You do not need to be certified by WBENC to attend Access to Capital events. 

Bridge built by Citi’s mission is to democratize lending by making it easier and faster for small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) to access competitive banking products. It is a digital meeting place that efficiently connects SMBs to a diverse group of over 65 lenders by filling out one user-friendly loan request form for loans between $100,000 and $10 million.

This webinar is part of the WBENC LIFT Financial Center of Excellence program.

Speakers

Adriana Eiriz | Speaker

Vice President, Sales and Partnerships |
Accion Opportunity Fund

Adriana is the driving force behind Accion Opportunity Funds (AOF) efforts to reach small business owners by leading the Partnership team responsible for forging deep alliances with existing partners and establishing relationships with new partners to further expand AOF’s small business lending.

For over 25 years, Adriana worked across the globe fighting for the underserved, using cutting-edge technology, interpreting data trends, and growing deep-rooted relationships with clients and partners. Over the course of her career, she has led multiple sales/business development and marketing teams and managed strategic partnerships at companies such as MoneyGram International, Nexxo Financial Corp., Vivar Advertising, LLC (part of Quigley-Simpson), and Lexicon Marketing. 

 

 

Mary Ellen Bianco | Speaker

Senior Vice President and the New York Market Manager | Flushing Bank 

Mary Ellen Bianco is a Senior Vice President and the New York Market Manager for Flushing Bank.  Mary Ellen has over 20 years of lending experience and has an extensive background in financing companies in the New York Metropolitan area. 

Prior to joining Flushing Bank, Mary Ellen worked at other financial institutions including Bank Leumi, GMAC and Bank of America.  Mary Ellen has her BBA and MBA from Iona College and her JD From Pace University School of Law.  Mary Ellen has been involved with the Needlers Foundation for over 5 years and currently sits on the Board.

 

 

 

Rohit Mathur | Moderator

Co-founder, Director | Bridge built by Citi 

Rohit is the Head of Bridge built by Citi. He led the ideation, prototyping and creation of the platform. He has worked closely with banks and SMEs to understand their pain points and create solutions through the Bridge platform. Bridge (www.bridgebuiltbyciti.com) has grown from a few states and key banks in 2021 to national coverage with over 65 banks in 2023. He is passionate about working with regional, local and community banks to improve access to capital for underserved communities.

Prior to Bridge, Rohit was a Senior Transactor in the Loan Syndications team managing the Central Mid-Corporate market. Rohit started his career at Citi by helping to set up the SME Healthcare Finance team. Rohit has an MBA from Georgetown University in Washington DC and prior to graduate school was a management consultant with Ernst and Young.

 
Learn more & register
Current Opportunities

Thriving with Capital One

Thriving with Capital One is on a mission to help small businesses thrive. This new program is made possible through the Capital One Impact Initiative, which is addressing critical community needs in financial well-being, workforce development, housing, and small business support.

Thriving with Capital One provides educational resources on emerging topics, opportunities for mentoring, and discussion groups.

Learn More and Register

 

Chase for Business Curating Coaching for Entrepreneurs

Chase for Business Curated Coaching for Entrepreneurs allows WBEs to meet with expert entrepreneurial consultants for FREE, on your schedule, with educational resources curated for your business. You’ll walk away with actionable insights, a personalized game plan, and the strategic tools you need to grow your business on your terms.

Learn More and Register

 

Who Should Participate

The WBENC Lift Financial Center of Excellence is designed to support WBENC-Certified Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs).

The WBENC Lift Financial Center of Excellence Program will be focused on four core pillars of support:

WBENC LIFT Framework

LEARN

Delivery of targeted education, including virtual and in-person programs, digital resources, whitepapers, and more on topics specifically relevant to women business owners, including creating a funding pitch, financial sustainability, and business continuity planning.

INTERCONNECT

Exclusive networking opportunities including pitch and outreach programs designed to help WBEs make connections with financial institutions and other funding sources that will help them grow and sustain their business

FUEL

Establishment of a fund, in partnership with corporate financial institutions and others, that will include direct grants for WBEs, as well as partnerships with other national funding sources.

THRIVE

Facilitation of one-on-one and group coaching, counseling, and mentorship programs, focused on financial support, business plan development, and strategic growth.

Opportunities & Grants

Past Opportunities:

  • Wells Fargo WBENC Lift Grant
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