HELSINKI, FINLAND– Nearly 700 women from around the world are gathered in Helsinki, Finland for a 5 day conference on “Power to Make a Difference” at the 27th Business and Professional Women (BPW) International Congress under the patronage of Madam Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, Elizabeth Benham, President of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, and Eijah Ailasmaa, President and CEO of Sanoma Magazines.

The first day kicked-off with a welcoming reception at City Hall hosted by the Mayor of Helsinki followed by an evening gathering at the South Korean Embassy hosted by H.E. Jung-Pyo Hong. The events were led by welcoming remarks launching the 27th Business and Professional Women Congress that promises to be productive working sessions addressing challenges and best practices toward achieving Millennium Development Goal number 3 – to empower and improve gender equality around the world.

The President of BPW International, Elizabeth Benham said, “This 27th BPW Congress is meant to bring together professional women to share ideas, best practices and challenges to improve the role of women in society.” The International Federation of Business and Professonal Women (BPW International) was founded by Dr. Lena Madesin Phillips in 1930. BPW International has become one of the most influential international networks of business and professional women with affiliates in 80 countries in five continents. BPW has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and participatory status with the Council of Europe, An organization that this year invited Mildred Espinoza, the two-time Emmy Award Winning Television Executive and General Manager at South-South News to be the Master of Ceremonies for the opening event and also a speaker on the topic of "Reshaping the views of women in life, career and media for sustainable shift.”

I am honored to be participating in this extraordinary gathering of professional women from all walks of life and all parts of the world. Who are here to share their life experiences and challenges with the hope of creating social and sustainable economies around the globe. The evening culminated with a brief tour of Helsinki the city that will be the stage for the 27thBPW International Congress igniting ideas and innovation for women empowerment around the world.