Across Guyana, women entrepreneurs are finding new confidence and structure through the AccelerateHer program, run by the Centre for Local Business Development (CLBD).
Since its launch in 2021, it has become a space where participants sharpen their skills, strengthen their confidence, and chart bold new directions for their businesses.
Over 190 entrepreneurs have participated in the boot camp phase, and 117 have completed the entire program cycle. According to Program Lead Nicola Panday, “Just over 100 are women-owned and led businesses,” underscoring steady growth in demand.
The program requires focus and commitment. Applicants first complete an online process defining milestones and pathways for achieving them. Shortlisted candidates attend a two to three-day boot camp, utilizing the Business Model Canvas and other tools to outline operations and set future objectives.
By week five, participants begin building their investment pitch decks—an exercise that builds investment readiness,” Panday said.
This deck encourages participants to think about their companies in terms of investment readiness, a skill many lacked before entering the program.
For many Guyanese women, the transformation has been both personal and professional.
Speaking at the annual Local Content Summit earlier this year, Local Content Supervisor at ExxonMobil Guyana, Natina Singh, said the company has designed investments to build local capacity with sustainability in mind.
“We’ve put a lot of focus on the Centre for Local Business Development and the programs that we run through there because they are focused on women-owned and led businesses, small and medium-sized businesses,” Singh said, adding “We are interested in building capabilities and capacity for sustainability…”
She said the AccelerateHER and ElevateAll run by the CLBD have already supported around 200 women and have resulted in a combined increase of USD16 million in revenue among participants.
Shania Sampson Finds Her Voice Through Baking Cakes For Shania Sampson, owner of Triple S Creations, the biggest lesson was knowing she wasn’t alone. “The part of the program that stood out to me most was being surrounded by strong women and hearing their stories, their challenges in the business world, and how they pushed through them,” she said.
Operating her cake business meant juggling customer service, inventory, finance, and countless other roles. Hearing how others faced similar struggles gave her a new perspective.
The program also introduced Sampson to tools she had never considered before.
“One that really left a mark on me was the TAM, SAM, SOM method,” she explained. These tools expanded her vision from serving her community to considering how Triple S Creations could capture a larger share of the dessert market. That broader outlook continues to shape her strategy.
Confidence, however, was her most remarkable breakthrough. “I’m naturally introverted, reserved, and quiet, and for a long time I thought that was a weakness in business,” Shania admitted. AccelerateHer helped her challenge that perception.
During the program, she launched her first major event, ‘Sip and Cake’. “Standing before a public crowd, I realized that confidence grows with every step of courage you take,” she said.
Building a Network of Women Entrepreneurs Beyond individual success stories, the program’s strength lies in its community. Panday explained that participants stay connected through WhatsApp groups, share resources, and even help promote the next cohort.
Photos captured during the program become part of their marketing, building visibility and pride. “We rely heavily on our previous cohorts during the program,” she said.
Word of mouth remains the strongest form of recruitment. The annual call for applications now attracts well over a hundred entrepreneurs, and the demand continues to rise. Each cohort is proof that women can supercharge their enterprises, given the right tools, support, and network.
