Guyana Women in Business Expo Marks 10th Anniversary

The Women in Business Expo will mark its 10th anniversary with a two-day event at the Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown, Guyana, on October 24 and 25, 2026, bringing together 30 women entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.

Founded in 2016 by Guyanese fashion designer and entrepreneur Sonia Noel, the Expo has given women-led businesses opportunities to gain visibility, connect with customers, build networks, and expand their market reach. The 2026 edition, titled Women in Business Expo 30, forms part of Noel's wider 30 Years of Style, Purpose & Impact celebrations, recognising her three decades of work in fashion, entrepreneurship and community development.

Key Highlights:

• Women in Business Expo marks its 10th anniversary in Guyana
• 30 entrepreneurs will showcase products and services in Georgetown
• The event will combine AI training, fashion, and business development

The anniversary edition will feature a mix of entrepreneurs who participated in previous Expos and newer business owners. Organisers will highlight how several businesses have grown and expanded after using the platform to reach a wider audience.

The Expo was first held at the Pegasus Hotel in 2016 before moving online for several years following the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its return to the venue marks an important milestone for Noel, who has acknowledged the hotel's longstanding support for the initiative.

Beyond product showcases and networking, this year's programme will focus on digital transformation and business development. Dr Anthony Q. Bowen, a professor at Grand Canyon University, will lead a session on artificial intelligence and its growing role in business. The session will explore how entrepreneurs can improve their digital visibility and organise business information so that AI-powered systems can better identify and present their products and services.

Fashion will also feature prominently through the Designers' Quest auditions, which will select participants for an upcoming 30 Designers competition. The programme will include pop-up shops, fashion displays, entrepreneurial success stories and networking opportunities. Visitors will also have the chance to discover locally produced goods and support small businesses ahead of the Christmas season.

For Noel, the anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of entrepreneurs who have taken part in the Expo. She said the event will examine where participants began, the challenges they faced, and how their businesses evolved after receiving opportunities to grow.

The celebrations will begin on October 23, 2026, with the relaunch of Love Revolution, another initiative established by Noel in 2016. Built around the message that “Love is an action word”, the initiative promotes kindness, compassion, respect and community service. Its renewed programme is expected to involve schools, young people, families, businesses, faith-based organisations and communities.

The Expo forms part of Noel's broader anniversary programme, which includes activities in the United States and further events in Guyana. Through the Women in Business Expo, she continues to encourage the public to support entrepreneurs by purchasing from small businesses, recommending their products and creating connections that can contribute to their long-term growth.