"Grow Your Business" Program Empowers Refugee Entrepreneurs to Scale Up

Recognizing the entrepreneurial spirit and ambition within refugee communities, the collaborative initiative, "Grow Your Business," by ALBA Graduate Business School, IRC Hellas, and the Citi Foundation is providing targeted support to refugee entrepreneurs in Greece who have already established businesses and are seeking to expand and thrive. This program focuses on helping existing business owners overcome growth-related challenges and reach their full potential. 

"Grow Your Business" goes beyond basic business training, offering comprehensive guidance. The program emphasized The Market, where participants gained a deep understanding of customer needs and the local business landscape, from the "Introduction" to "Understanding Customers" and "The Greek Market." Strategic Growth was also a key focus, with the program emphasizing scaling sales through sessions on "Growing Sales," with review sessions to reinforce key concepts. Participants built strong Financial Foundations with modules on "Accounting in Greece," "Managing Financials - Planning," "Managing Financials - Cash Flow," "Costing and Pricing," and "Funding Opportunities." The program explored Marketing Excellence through dedicated sessions on "Marketing," with review sessions to refine approaches. Operational Efficiency was addressed as participants learned to optimize their operations through modules on "Managing Partnerships," and "Managing Resources," with review sessions to ensure practical application. The program also ensured Comprehensive Support, where clarity was ensured, and participant questions were addressed through "Q&A" sessions, and review sessions. 

Natalia Yaroshenko, a participant who organizes cycling and hiking tours to explore nature and relieve stress, shared her experience: "Grow Your Business has been instrumental in helping me take my tour business to the next level. The program provided me with the tools and knowledge to refine my business strategy, understand my finances better, and effectively market my services. I now feel much more confident in my ability to grow my business and share the beauty of Greece with more people." 

To further support the growth of these businesses, "Grow Your Business" will culminate in a major networking event. This event will bring together refugee entrepreneurs with Industry experts, speakers who will share their insights and expertise on key business trends, and business professionals, offering Networking opportunities to forge valuable connections and partnerships. 

This networking event will serve as a platform for refugee entrepreneurs to showcase their achievements, build relationships, and gain access to the resources they need to take their businesses to the next level. 

"Grow Your Business" aims to not only support individual businesses but also contribute to the overall economic development of Greece by fostering a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. By empowering refugee entrepreneurs to scale up their existing businesses, the program is creating jobs, generating economic activity, and promoting social cohesion.