Berkeley College Celebrates the Next Generation of Women Entrepreneurs – New Jersey Business & Industry Association

Event Overview and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Berkeley College hosted its 10th Annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Week at the Woodland Park campus. The event, titled “Trailblazers of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow,” was designed to celebrate and elevate women in business, aligning with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative focused on fostering an environment conducive to female entrepreneurship, thereby contributing to gender equality, quality education, and inclusive economic growth.

Contribution to SDG 5: Gender Equality and Empowerment

Promoting Women’s Leadership and Entrepreneurship

The event directly supported SDG 5 by creating a platform dedicated to empowering women and promoting their full and effective participation in economic life. Key activities included:

• Celebrating the voices and stories of accomplished women in business.
• Encouraging aspiring female entrepreneurs within the college and the wider community.
• Presenting the 2025 Women’s Empowerment Award to recognize influential female leaders who share their expertise and inspire future generations.

Addressing Intersectional Inequalities (SDG 10)

The event also highlighted the importance of reducing inequalities by showcasing diverse leaders. A notable contribution was made by Aamira Garba, CEO of LoveLee Wine, who sponsored the networking session. Her stated mission is to create pathways for more Black women to succeed in the wine and spirits industry, directly addressing racial and gender disparities within a specific economic sector.

Fostering SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

By focusing on entrepreneurship, the event promoted sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth. A masterclass titled “The Business of BOLD: How to Make Your Branding Impossible to Ignore” provided attendees with practical skills and strategic insights. Core themes for fostering entrepreneurial success included:

1. Passion-Driven Enterprise: Strategist Stella Cicarone emphasized that entrepreneurship must begin with passion and a commitment to building what one loves.
2. Brand Integrity and Identity: Speakers stressed the importance of being true to brand integrity, understanding the target audience, and leveraging tools like artificial intelligence.
3. Mentorship and Networking: The event has served for a decade as a crucial venue for aspiring entrepreneurs to find mentors, gain inspiration, and connect with women in prominent professional roles.

Supporting SDG 4: Quality Education and Lifelong Learning

The Role of Higher Education in Career Development

The event underscored the foundational role of education in achieving professional success, a central tenet of SDG 4. This was reinforced through several elements:

• Berkeley College alumna Stella Cicarone described her education as a “launchpad” for her career, highlighting the long-term value of formal learning and institutional support.
• The event itself functioned as a forum for continued learning, offering practical business education and career advice to students and community members.

Financial Support for Educational Access (SDG 1 & SDG 2)

In a direct effort to combat poverty (SDG 1) and hunger (SDG 2) within its student community, proceeds from the event’s ticket sales were allocated to the Berkeley College Foundation. These funds support critical student resources, including:

• Scholarships to ensure equitable access to quality education.
• Campus food pantries to address student food insecurity.

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

The article on Berkeley College’s Women’s Entrepreneurship Week touches upon several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting themes of education, gender equality, economic growth, and support for vulnerable students.

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   The event is hosted by an educational institution, Berkeley College, and emphasizes the value of higher education. An alumna, Stella Cicarone, states, “know that your education is your launchpad,” directly linking education to career success. Furthermore, the article mentions that event proceeds support student scholarships, which promotes access to education.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   This is a central theme, as the event is the “10th Annual Women’s Entrepreneurship Week.” Its purpose is to celebrate “the voices of accomplished women in business” and empower “future generations to lead.” The focus on women trailblazers and leaders directly supports the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The article’s core subject is entrepreneurship. By encouraging attendees to “pursue their passions” and build businesses, the event promotes job creation, innovation, and economic growth. It aims to give “aspiring entrepreneurs” opportunities to find mentors and inspiration, fostering the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   This goal is addressed through the specific mission of one of the featured entrepreneurs, Aamira Garba. Her goal is “to create a path for more Black women to flourish in the wine and spirits industry,” which is a direct effort to reduce racial and gender-based inequalities within a specific economic sector.

5. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   A direct connection is made to this goal when the article states that “Ticket sales for the event supported the Berkeley College Foundation and its efforts to provide resources to Berkeley College students, including … campus food pantries.” This initiative aims to address food insecurity among the student population.

2. Specific Targets Under Identified SDGs

Based on the article’s content, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

• Target 4.3: Ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.

  This target is relevant because the event is hosted by Berkeley College and promotes higher education as a “launchpad” for success. The fact that ticket sales support scholarships directly contributes to making tertiary education more affordable and accessible.

• Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

  The event, “Women’s Entrepreneurship Week,” is designed to achieve this by celebrating and elevating “accomplished women in business” and giving them a platform to mentor and inspire others. It focuses on increasing women’s leadership in the economic sphere.

• Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.

  The entire event is an initiative that encourages entrepreneurship. It provides a space for “aspiring entrepreneurs” to connect with mentors and gain inspiration, directly supporting the creation of new businesses and fostering innovation.

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of … race, ethnicity…

  This is specifically addressed by the mission of Aamira Garba, CEO of LoveLee Wine, who aims “to create a path for more Black women to flourish in the wine and spirits industry.” This is a clear example of promoting the economic inclusion of a specific demographic group.

• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

  The article connects to this target by mentioning that funds raised from the event support “campus food pantries.” This is a direct action to ensure students, who can be a vulnerable population, have access to food.

3. Indicators for Measuring Progress

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics that could be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

• Implied Indicator for Target 4.3:

  The amount of funds raised for scholarships and the number of students who receive them. The article states that ticket sales support scholarships, implying that tracking these funds is a measure of success.

• Implied Indicator for Target 5.5:

  The number of women participating in the event, both as speakers and attendees, and the number of women-led businesses that are started or supported as a result. The event’s 10-year milestone itself is an indicator of sustained effort in this area.

• Implied Indicator for Target 8.3:

  The number of aspiring entrepreneurs who attend the event and later launch their own businesses. The event’s goal is to “open doors to aspiring entrepreneurs,” so a key measure of its impact would be the creation of new enterprises.

• Implied Indicator for Target 10.2:

  An increase in the proportion of Black women working and succeeding in the wine and spirits industry. Aamira Garba’s mission provides a clear, measurable goal that can be tracked over time.

• Implied Indicator for Target 2.1:

  The amount of funding directed to campus food pantries and the number of students who utilize these services. The article’s mention of this support suggests it is a key outcome of the event.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: njbia.org