This week Dr. Elvira will speak with Gina Stracuzzi, founder of e-Women: International Mentoring Network. They will discuss the importantce of supporting the capacity of women to succeed.
Ms. Stracuzzi worked in marketing communications for the commercial and nonprofit sectors, in U.S. and Europe for many years before deciding to do something different. She was motivated to make this change after adopting her daughter, Talia, from Guatemala and experienceing a country so rich in natural beauty yet struggling with vast poverty and inequities. This left an indelible impression, and guided Ms. Stracuzzi to a career change and fueled her desire to someday help her daughter understand the hardships people in her birth country face. After researching projects and efforts underway at the time to help Guatemala and its people, she came to understand that like a lot of developing countries, Guatemala is a class-driven society in which marginalization, poverty and chronic malnutrition are grimly interconnected. She decided to pursue a career in Global Health Communications by obtaining a graduate certificate in Global Health.
Since then, Ms. Stracuzzi has been working in the health and development field and as a coach to health professionals from around the world. She has traveled to Guatemala professionally, giving her additional opportunity to experience the country and its people more intimately.
Most recently Ms. Stracuzzi started e-Women:International Mentoring Network which provides coaching and mentoring to women in developing countries, like Guatemala, who are starting businesses and careers. Driven by the belief that when a person is mentored, two people grow, eWomen also gives the women who volunteer their time as coaches and mentors the opportunity for a rich and rewarding experience that has a direct impact on the life of another woman.
