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[list_item]The graduation ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Galab Donev;[/list_item]
[list_item]Applications for the Leadership Academy 2015/2016 will be received by April 12, 2015 at www.womeninbusiness.bg.[/list_item]
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The first graduates of the Leadership Academy of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria received their certificates at an official ceremony last night. They were given personally by Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of Sofia and an honorary member of the Council of Women in Business in Bulgaria, and Galab Donev, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy. The class of 2014/2015 consists of 43 women representing small and medium businesses and ladies with experience in a managerial position

“I would like to congratulate all ambitious ladies who today receive their diplomas. You are the face not only of the Academy, but of the business in Sofia and Bulgaria,” said Yordanka Fandakova. She stressed how important it is that the Leadership Academy is attended by ladies from all over the country, and expressed satisfaction that the majority are from Sofia.

Mrs. Fandakova recently announced that Sofia was ranked 30th in economic development among the 300 largest cities in the ranking of Global MetroMonitor and JPMorgan Chase in 2014 for the most rapidly growing cities in the world. “By drawing attention to women managers, the Leadership Academy ranks the city among the innovative education centers,” said Yordanka Fandakova.

Boriana Manolova, President of the Council of Business Women in Bulgaria and CEO of Siemens in Bulgaria, announced that the ladies of the first class will be invited to share their experiences with the ladies selected for the second class. The class of 2015/2016 of the Leadership Academy can be attended by ladies with 2-3+ years of experience in a managerial position, owners or managers of small and medium businesses, and others who want to develop their leadership skills, expand their business and take on greater leadership responsibilities. Applications are accepted no later than April 12, 2015 at www.womeninbusiness.bg.
“Women entrepreneurs, and men, can contribute to economic growth and higher employment, by creating new jobs,” said the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Ivaylo Kalfin to the ladies of the first Leadership Academy class in a letter, presented by his deputy Galab Donev.

“The Leadership Academy for ladies is a good practice that promotes the initiative and entrepreneurial spirit of modern Bulgarian women, supporting the development of skills needed to successfully manage their own business,” read the statement. Galab Donev stressed that in the national strategy to promote gender equality and the development of women entrepreneurs is an integral part of the gender equality goal in the economic and social field.

NSI data shows that in the fourth quarter of 2014, 36% of the self-employed persons (84,200 persons) and 28% of the employers are women. Compared to the same period in 2013, their number has increased by 2 percentage points.

The graduation ceremony was also attended by Lidia Shuleva, Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria in 2001-2005, Tsvetanka Mintcheva and Michele Amadei, members of the Board of Directors of UniCredit Bulbank, Maxim Meyer, Editor-in-Chief of Manager Magazine, and other members of the Council of Women in Business.

Expect more photos from the event on the Council’s Facebook page soon!Facebook страницата на Съвета скоро!