The Diverse Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Global Connect Entrepreneur Training Program unfolded over 11 weeks, with two-hour sessions each week designed to turn ideas into action and challenges into opportunities. The fall cohort brought together aspiring entrepreneurs from the United States, Jamaica, and Ghana, illustrating a powerful blend of perspectives, markets, and cultural insights. The icebreaker “What’s in Your Cup? – Spill Your Tea Global Connect Icebreaker,” conceived by student participant Maxine Blake of Jamaica, greeted participants at the start of every session and set a tone of candor, curiosity, and collaboration that carried through the entire series.

 

The course is comprehensive and fast-paced, and it’s understood that not everyone reaches the finish line. The program requires homework, weekly meetings with a business coach, and consistent class attendance, along with the completion of viable business plans. Our graduates reflect the ambitions with which they began—those who came to learn to win did exactly that.