The CEI Women’s Business Center and the Portland SCORE Chapter are collaborating to host FocusME, a series of peer groups for female entrepreneurs. FocusME is a series of facilitated peer groups that provide a supportive network of other female business owners; a place to work on personal and professional growth, a sense of accountability, and an opportunity to learn from your peers’ experiences and expertise. This winter we are offering four virtual cohorts. Please note that in order to ensure that both groups are filled with businesses that are non-competitive and in similar stages of growth the WBC will make

Spokeswomen: a facilitated peer group designed to help female entrepreneurs become more persuasive and effective communicators. How does it work? Through this highly interactive 8-week online program, participants will develop their own personal style by deepening their understanding of persuasive tools and practicing storytelling through a range of speaking scenarios. Participants will practice delivering planned speeches, providing and giving feedback, initiating difficult conversations, and improvising. The Spokeswomen cohort will have a maximum of 8 participants in order to allow for ample speaking opportunities in the allotted two-hour meeting window. The cohort meets virtually for 2 hours weekly on Tuesdays from