“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.”
~ Brene Brown
Each ChallengeHER event is a new opportunity for women interested in government contracting to hear from esteemed speakers and panelists. The events are also designed to help women elevate their organization’s results in the federal space.
This week, we were fortunate to attend and participate in ChallengeHER in Silver Spring, MD. These quarterly events are hosted by Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) and sponsored by American Express and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Since Parabilis is an avid advocate for women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) and a proud corporate partner with WIPP, we travel the country to attend as many ChallengeHER events as possible. It’s how we help further the mission of providing WOSBs with access to information and opportunities to excel in the public and private sectors.
Speakers and Set Asides
This year, attendees were thrilled to join an intimate fireside chat with the highest leadership of the SBA, Administrator Isabella Guzman. Later, the U.S. Department of Education and our friend, OSDBU Calvin Mitchell, unveiled the newest WOSB set aside opportunities in honor of WIPP’s late leader and dearest friend and trailblazer, Candace Waterman.
The day was buzzing, to say the least. Attendees seemed elated with the programming and quality access to the right people, the best information, and lots of networking and matchmaking.
Takeaways
It takes courage to start a business. It also takes fortitude and grit to be successful in any industry. That’s why it’s essential to build a solid network of knowledgeable peers who can help ground you and support you in every step of your journey. This is why Parabilis is so proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with WIPP leadership and all of the outstanding partners who also share our commitment to helping WOSBs find success in business!
We encourage you to get involved with organizations that align with your mission. Be brave enough to show up and participate. Being in the room is so important, and making meaningful relationships is so much easier face to face! People like to do business with someone they know and trust, and you can share so much more of your quality characteristics by participating and sharing your experiences together.
The 2023 ChallengeHER DMV event was one we won’t forget any time soon. Still, we’ll be hitting the road again shortly. Next month, we are traveling to Philadelphia, PA for WIPP’s National Conference and Unity Week. Our team will be presenting a plenary session and participating in a panel discussion. If you are able to attend, we’d love to see you there!