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Mutual benefits a key theme of the Empowering Women Globally program at Bradley

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Women participating in the latest cohort of the Empowering Women Globally program at Bradley University's Turner Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation say they've learned valuable lessons about succeeding in business.

The program operates in three phases. In the first, a scholar from Brazil or India comes to the United States for a semester to learn more about female and social entrepreneurship. In the second step, the professor returns to their home country and works with the students who partner up with female entrepreneurs. And in the last step, the students themselves come to the U.S.

Student Isabella Del Nero worked with a jewelry maker to help develop a web site and partnerships with two gift shops to help sell her products.

"I think it's very interesting and very beautiful to see our skills being used to make a better world, and to make, especially women, being able to show her business," she said.

Helena Liang, another student, worked with a baker to elevate her product.

"They don't have a lot of skills or like experience to kind of showcase her talent, so we kind of gave that right support so we could show the real quality of her product. And it was beautiful to see the real impact," Liang said.

Dr. Paola Mazzilli is a professor at ESPM, a business school in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She's also responsible for the current crop of students. She said it's a mutually beneficial partnership.

"The entrepreneurs are learning with our students, but they are also learning with them," Mazzilli said.

Komali Olla is a student program coordinator from India, currently pursuing a master's degree in computer science. She said the program benefits not only the women participating from other countries, but also those at Bradley University.

"Not only are they are getting a benefit with this program, also Bradley students are getting an idea how global business is really going on. They are getting an idea like how it's working in other countries, from both sides," Olla said.

Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.