Page 40 - BusinessWest November 14, 2022

Entrepreneurship
Match Makers
Women L
enore Abare was familiar with Valley
Innovators & Trailblazers
Helps Grow
the Women- led Economy
Venture Mentors (VVM) and even attended one of its events when she was dabbling with the idea of becom- ing an entrepreneur a few years ago.
“It all stayed in the back of my mind,” she said. “Now that I’m full-blown running my own con- sulting business, I knew it would be really impor- tant to align with other like-minded women who are hopefully beyond me, and learn from other people’s experiences.”
So she reached out to Women Innovators & Trailblazers, a VVM-affiliated program that match- es professional women in mentor-mentee rela- tionships. She was accepted into the program and found out last week that she was matched with Hope Ross Gibaldi, VVM’s executive director.
”
By Joseph Bednar
“Women understand the struggles, the unique challenges, and the system under which all of us are operating. There’s something unique about that relationship.
Seven years ago, WIT was the brainchild of
Liz Roberts, then-CEO of VVM; Ann Burke, vice president of the Western Massachusetts Economic
Hope Ross Gibaldi, executive director
of Valley Venture Mentors (left), and her mentee, entrepreneur Lenore Abare.
40 NOVEMBER 14, 2022 ENTREPRENEURSHIP BusinessWest