Taking Advantage of Your WTC Delaware Membership

July 25, 2019

One of the advantages of being a World Trade Centers Association member is the ability to work with other Centers on behalf of World Trade Center Delaware companies and the state's, Delaware’s, industries, academic institutions, and agencies. This is integral to our mission of expanding trade between Delaware and the rest of the world.

In May, we attended the U.S. Commercial Service Trade Winds Indo-Pacific Forum and Mission in New Delhi, and the Ghana Trade & Investment Forum in Washington, D. C. In June, we hosted a delegation of women entrepreneurs in from Peru in Delaware and exhibited at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Maputo, Mozambique. For each activity, we relied on WTCA partners or resources.

Trade Winds is the U.S. Government’s single largest trade mission and this year was no exception. Over 100 companies and 600 individuals, U.S. Government trade experts, and representatives from countries throughout the region participate in this event. WTC Delaware met with almost 20 U.S. Commercial Service officers from Embassies throughout the Indo-Pacific region. One of the highlights of our trip was to visit with WTC Noida, where we were hosted by Ms. Khair Ull Nissa, the executive director and her staff. WTC Noida is a planned city in Uttar Pradesh and a satellite city of Delhi. It is replacing Mumbai as the second-best realty destination, is ranked as the Best City in Housing in India, and is considered to be India’s greenest city with the highest green cover of any city in the country. A business incubator has already opened in the center of its state-of-the-art complex, and the two newest office towers were fully occupied with electronics companies as soon as they were completed. Many of these companies could be partners to those in Delaware.

WTC Delaware was pleased to work with WTC Accra to introduce Delaware companies in the environmental, risk management, agricultural, and drone technology sectors to Ghanaian companies and government agencies at the Ghana Trade & Investment Forum. Just a week later, we welcomed a Ghanaian company to membership in WTC Delaware, and are working with them as they seek to open a manufacturing site in Delaware.

Collaboration is key to expanding networks. Working with the Delaware Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners, WTC Lima, and the World Association of Women Entrepreneurs, our senior business consultant, Dinette Rivera, organized a delegation of Peruvian women entrepreneurs. During the week, they met with a wide variety of Delaware businesses and the Governor. A visit to Peru is scheduled for Delaware companies in the fall.

WTC Delaware was selected to exhibit at a second U.S.-Africa Business Summit in a row. Twelve Heads of State and more than 1,000 American and African private sector executives, international investors, senior government officials, and multilateral stakeholders attended the Summit this year, a recognition of the importance of the continent as an emerging economic powerhouse. Six out of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world are located on the African continent.

The high points of this trip were invitations to a dinner hosted by the President of Zimbabwe and a luncheon meeting on healthcare with cabinet ministers and healthcare technology experts from a variety of countries. Since the Summit, WTC Delaware has taken companies to Washington to meet with several Ambassadors and commercial attaches.

Delaware is known as the “incorporation capital of the world.” Working with other World Trade Centers and collaborators from government and industry, we are facilitating partnerships between our innovative biopharmaceutical, healthcare, advanced manufacturing, banking and fintech, port and logistics, environmental services, and agricultural companies and those of other cities and countries. Membership in the World Trade Centers Association also helps us to present Delaware as a strategic, competitive location for companies that want to set up a business or find a partner in the U.S. With WTCA support, we bring the world to Delaware and Delaware to the world.

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Global Trade, Powered by Women

March 9, 2026 - At World Trade Center Delaware, we’re honoring International Women’s Day by converting visibility into export deals, market access, and measurable growth for women-led companies across the state. Why this is a strategic priority for WTC Delaware When the World Trade Centers Association issued its International Women’s Day Call to Action, World Trade Center Delaware had to turn the moment into action because Delaware’s women-owned incorporated businesses aren’t a feel-good feature. They’re a global growth engine. Women own about one-third of businesses globally, yet their participation in international trade remains under-leveraged creating one of the largest unlockable opportunities for export growth worldwide. In Delaware, women own ~42% of businesses (approximately 30,400 companies), representing a ready pipeline of high-potential exporters across priority sectors. Our role is to reduce structural obstacles, increase resources, and create credible pathways so businesses can move from interest to execution. Our Results-Driven Call to Action Women Exporter Pipeline (IWD Week Launch): We’re building a targeted pipeline of women-led companies ready to export or scale internationally, with a clear next-step plan for each participant (market targeting, go-to-market pathway, and support needs). Export Acceleration Office Hours: Dedicated 1:1 advisory sessions focused on outcomes—market selection, partner introductions through the WTCA network, trade resources, and export readiness actions businesses can implement immediately. Women in Trade Connector Roundtable: A structured connector session pairing women-led firms with export enablers (logistics, compliance, financing, and service partners) and international contacts to generate qualified leads and actionable introductions. Spotlight with Purpose: We’ll highlight up to three Delaware women-led companies in global trade, selected as honorees from the nomination pool. Each honoree will receive a feature story as part of a formal news release, dedicated social media recognition, and inclusion in a press release issued in April. The objective is to drive partnerships, procurement conversations, and market-entry opportunities—not just recognition. March 8th marks the public announcement of this initiative, with the nomination window open through Friday, March 27, 2026. How to participate Nominate a women-led business (or yourself) and share one target market + one export objective for 2026. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, March 27, 2026. Direct nominations should be submitted at the following link: https://web.wtcde.org/atlas/forms/prospect/7 WTC Delaware will align selected participants with the right resources and introductions to move from intention to international growth—because “we the people” are the most powerful voice. Nomination criteria (WTC Delaware – International Women’s Day) Eligibility Delaware-based company (headquartered in DE or with a significant DE operating presence). Women-led (meets at least one): Woman founder/co-founder and active in leadership, or Woman CEO/President/Managing Partner, or ≥51% woman-owned. Export readiness Fits at least one: Currently exporting, or Actively preparing to export within the next 6–12 months, or Seeking to expand into new international markets. Strategic fit Clear product/service offering with a defined customer or industry use case. Ability to support growth responsibly (capacity, supply chain, or delivery plan). Required nomination details Company name, website, and primary contact. Brief description (1–2 sentences) of product/service. One target market (country/region) and one 2026 export goal (e.g., distributor, first purchase order, partner MOU, regulatory pathway, licensing, etc.). Top 1–2 support needs (e.g., market research, introductions, financing, compliance, logistics). Selection priorities (if nominations exceed slots) Companies with specific, time-bound export objectives. Potential for near-term outcomes (qualified introductions, partner conversations, pilot opportunities). Diversity across sectors (e.g., biotech, food/ag, manufacturing, consumer goods, services). Commitment to participate in one WTC Delaware activity (office hours, roundtable, or follow-up). Read More

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

February 3, 2026 - What Does Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and the World Trade Center Delaware Have in Common? There’s a moment in life when you realize you’re no longer operating in your comfort zone and that the only way forward is to rise into a higher version of yourself . I traveled solo for 26 hours, one way, to Tanzania, Africa, to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the Lemosho Western Route. With a strict 33 pound weight limit, meeting 12 strangers to trek 7 days to summit and then immediately descend (which is just as difficult). Reaching the summit, Uhuru Peak at 19,341 feet above sea level. Some describe the climb as starting at the equator and ending at the North Pole. We went through 5 distinct climate zones ending at the Arctic Zone. Just for reference Everest Base Camp in Nepal is 17,598 feet and Delaware is about 60 feet above sea level. For me, that moment wasn’t a boardroom or a keynote stage. It was on the slopes of Kilimanjaro where ambition meets thin air, where confidence gets quiet, and where leadership becomes less about what you say and more about how you move. And here’s what surprised me most: I’ve read almost every leadership book on the market . I’ve studied frameworks, strategies, and systems. But for 7 days, I witnessed something no book can fully capture a perfect orchestra of teamwork , guided not by ego or titles, but by one common goal and the collective will to succeed. On summit day (Day 7) , we started from Barafu Camp at 15,331 feet and spent 10 hours trekking roughly 3 miles to the glacier peaks at 19,341 feet, Uhuru Peak. Three miles doesn’t sound like much until you’re doing it in the dark, in the cold, at altitude, with every breath earned. It was intense, humbling, and completely outside anything that felt familiar. And yet we as a team of 12 strangers came together and did it. The Summit Wasn’t “Mine.” It Was Built By A System. Our climb took 74 Tanzanian locals working in disciplined coordination: cooks, camp managers, support staff, guides, and porters all doing their part with pride and precision so our team of 12 could keep moving safely and steadily. People celebrate summit photos. What they don’t always see is what the summit represents: preparation, logistics, risk management (the Barranco Wall aka the Death Wall at 12,795 feet), steady problem-solving, and relentless attention to human needs, hydration, warmth, nutrition, timing, morale, and sleep was critical. That’s not just mountaineering. That’s leadership. Out Of Your Comfort Zone Is Where Clarity Lives On Kilimanjaro, I wasn’t in control of the terrain, the weather, or the altitude. I couldn’t “power through” on will alone. The mountain which the locals called "Her Majesty" demanded respect, pace, humility, adaptability, and a willingness to let the process shape you. Global growth is the same. When Delaware businesses expand internationally, they enter conditions that can’t be forced: new regulations, unfamiliar markets, cultural nuance, logistics, currency risk, and relationship-driven trust building. It’s exciting but it’s also uncertain. And uncertainty is where strong leadership either sharpens or slips. The work of WTC Delaware is to help companies navigate that shift with confidence turning complexity into a plan, and a plan into action. The Turning Point: We Became A Team, Not Just A Group Very early in the climb, we realized something that changed everything: As 12 strangers from completely different worlds we had the same goal, we were stronger as a team than as individuals. That decision made long before summit night became our advantage. We moved with awareness of one another. We checked in. We slowed down when someone needed it. We kept each other focused on the next step, not the whole mountain. That’s why all 12 of us summited which is very uncommon . It wasn’t luck. It was alignment. It was shared responsibility. It was each person refusing to let the team fracture under pressure. And that lesson is directly transferable to what I believe Delaware needs to win globally. International growth doesn’t happen through isolated effort. It happens through ecosystems, businesses, legislators, educators, investors, trade partners, and institutions moving with shared purpose. That is the platform we are building at WTC Delaware: a system where companies don’t have to climb alone. Pressure Reveals What Matters Summit night strips everything down to essentials. It’s cold, it’s long, and it’s honest. There’s no room for ego only execution. In global trade and investment, the “summit night” moments show up too: tight timelines, high-stakes negotiations, supply chain disruptions, and decisions made with incomplete information. That’s where leadership becomes practical: · Communicate clearly · Manage risk without losing momentum · Keep people steady when conditions get hard · Stay focused on outcomes, not noise On the mountain, every step mattered. In building WTC Delaware’s next chapter, every decision matters the same way because our members deserve results, not just activity. The Common Ground So what does summiting Kilimanjaro and leading WTC Delaware have in common? Both demand: · Humility to operate outside your comfort zone · Discipline to keep moving when it would be easier to stop · A support system strong enough to make success repeatable · Team alignment that outperforms individual strength · Measurable outcomes that prove progress On January 26 at 12:40 p.m., 12 climbers which included myself, supported by 74 support staff , moving as one team, step by step, into a glacier-lined world above the clouds reached Uhuru Peak 19,341 feet, the Roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. Now, I’m bringing that same blueprint home : build the system, align the team, respect the conditions, and keep climbing together!!!!! Come Join us on February 10th from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. at the University and Whist Club, 805 North Broom Street, Wilmington DE 19806 for a complimentary breakfast and a chance to Meet and Greet. Read More