Women's Empowerment Hub

24/11/2025

¿Quienes son Melbourne Innovation Centre?

El Melbourne Innovation Centre es una organización con sede en Victoria (Australia) que apoya a emprendedores, nuevas empresas y pequeñas empresas para que desarrollen, crezcan y prosperen. 
Provee asesoramiento, talleres, mentoría, formación digital y espacios de coworking/incubación. 

¿Cuáles son sus servicios principales?

Algunos de sus servicios destacados incluyen:
• Mentoría personalizada (“1:1”) y apoyo adaptado al estado, industria y objetivos del negocio. 
• Talleres y cursos en línea y presenciales sobre temas como marketing digital, estrategia de negocio, tecnología digital, herramientas de IA, etc. 
• Eventos de networking, formación para emprendedores migrantes, etc. Por ejemplo: “Developing a Business Model Canvas for Migrant Entrepreneurs (Evening Session – Spanish)”. 
• Servicios digitales de bajo coste para pequeñas empresas: desarrollo de sitio web/tienda online, redes sociales, branding, tecnología móvil, software, protección de datos. 
• Espacios de coworking/incubación para startups (cuando están en Melbourne).

Ya los conocías? Quieres saber mas de ellos?
Déjame tu feedback para que podamos continuar llevando este programa a mas emprendedores Latinos! 🙌🏽
Liliana

19/10/2025

🇦🇺✨ ¡Atención Emprendedores Latinos en Victoria! ✨🇦🇺

Este es tu momento para hacer crecer tu negocio y prepararte para las ventas más importantes del año.
📊 ¿Sabías que más del 40% de las ventas anuales de los pequeños negocios ocurren en diciembre?
Es el mes en el que las marcas con una buena estrategia digital triplican su visibilidad y aumentan sus ingresos.

💻 Por eso, te invitamos a participar en el Digital Solutions Program, una iniciativa financiada por el Gobierno Australiano que impulsa el crecimiento digital de los pequeños negocios.

🌿 Este mes contamos con 10 cupos totalmente subsidiados (100% gratis) para acceder a:
✨ 3 sesiones 1:1 de mentoría personalizada con la mentora y emprendedora social Liliana Bravo, fundadora de Casa Bonita.

Durante las sesiones recibirás guía experta para:
✅ Conocer y posicionar tu producto en el mercado australiano
✅ Diseñar estrategias efectivas para aumentar tus ventas navideñas
✅ Construir un negocio más sostenible, rentable y con propósito

📍 Requisitos:
✔️ Tener un ABN activo registrado en Victoria
✔️ Ser un negocio con fines de lucro
✔️ Contar con menos de 20 empleados a tiempo completo

🎯 Aprovecha esta oportunidad única para fortalecer tu negocio antes de diciembre.

👉 ¡Aplica ahora y prepárate para tus mejores ventas del año!

📩 https://forms.gle/ruXSeEvmxfjnR1iWA

Liliana 💫💫

🌿 Hola – Welcome to the World of Empowerment! 🌿 Congratulations on taking the next step to grow your business and strengthen your impact. You’re about to access personalised guidance through 3 x 1:1 mentoring sessions with award-winning social entrepreneur Liliana Bravo, designed to help y...

06/10/2025

Meeting Melissa Leong fooderati was a heartfelt reminder of how food — much like Casa Bonita crafts — connects us to heritage, memory, and legacy.

As a first-generation Colombian-Australian who loves food and writing (but often doubted her skills and voice), her book launch spoke deeply to me. It reminded me why storytelling matters — as a way to honour where we come from and what we pass on to our daughters.

I’ve watched Melissa on TV with my girls, and every time, I’m grateful they see a woman with dark hair— strong, articulate, and proud of her roots. Representation matters, and moments like this remind me why visibility, culture, and storytelling are so powerful.

Thank you, Melissa, for leading with authenticity and showing that our voices and stories belong. 💛

** I was honoured to gift Melissa a pair of handcrafted earrings made by Colombian Artisans — vibrant, full of colour, and rich in cultural tradition. Seeing her light up when she received them was such a proud moment for me and for the women who created them.

08/08/2025

Colombia: The Country of Beauty 🇨🇴
I’m proud to be part of this exciting event tomorrow, Saturday, August 9, where I’ll be holding stalls for Casa Bonita and the Business Mentoring Program, delivered in partnership with the . I look forward to connecting many amazing entrepreneurs with this valuable opportunity for growth and support.

This event is proudly organised by and the Embassy of Colombia, bringing together over 60 Colombian small businesses from across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Colombia is a country known for its exceptional coffee, stunning design, quality craftsmanship, and vibrant culture - you can imagine I’ll be recharging my batteries with all the music, food, and joyful energy of the Colombian community! 🇨🇴🎶🍴

📍 Location: Arrow on Swanston
488 Swanston Street, Carlton VIC 3053
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM AEST
📅 Date: Saturday, August 9

If you’re free, I hope to see you there!

05/08/2025

Migrant businesses are powering Victoria’s economy — and last night’s event reminded me why I’m so committed to supporting women and migrant-led businesses, especially in the Latin community.

📈 Did you know?
97% of Victorian businesses are small businesses
35% are owned by migrants
56% have at least one parent born overseas
47,347 Victorians have Latin American ancestry

There is enormous untapped potential within our Latin communities.
Last night’s event was another meaningful step toward strengthening those connections. It energised me to keep pushing forward with my work at Casa Bonita Lifestyle, the Women’s Empowerment Hub, and as the first Latin American and only Spanish-speaking mentor at the Melbourne Innovation Centre.

A special thank you to Commissioner Bill Papastergiadis OAM for leading this important initiative and bringing together an inspiring network of multicultural business leaders.

It was also encouraging to hear from the Minister for Small Business and Employment, Natalie Suleyman MP about the work of the Multicultural Business Ministerial Council. I took the opportunity to suggest that Latin American businesses deserve formal representation on the Council — a step I believe would make a real difference.

Always great to reconnect with Vivienne Nguyen, Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, especially after our productive roundtable last week.
I was also encouraged by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nick Reece’s enthusiasm to create more opportunities for Latin businesses. I look forward to continuing that conversation.

One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a migrant business owner — especially during my time running a retail shop — has been access to media and public exposure. I’m excited to explore future collaboration with the Melbourne Press Club, whose CEO Nick Richardson spoke about building stronger bridges with diverse communities.

Thank you to all the speakers, leaders and Latin Businesses in the room, including:
Melos Sulicich, CEO, Bank of Sydney
Bihong Wang, Chair, Multicultural Ministerial Business Council of Victoria
Nithya Gopu Solomon, Executive Leader

Silvia Renda, Cr. Rafael Camillo, Athena Andriotis, Nicolas Ojeda Amador, Tatiana Angulo, Karina Rosa Ojeda Rodriguez Mosaik Experiences

Let’s continue the work of building a more inclusive and thriving business ecosystem in Victoria — where migrant and Latin voices are heard, seen, and celebrated.

25/07/2025

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Australia-Latin America Business Council (ALABC) Gala Dinner for the first time — and it truly exceeded all expectations.

Throughout my career, I’ve focused on facilitating commercial opportunities for Latin American communities in Australia. This event was a fantastic opportunity to connect with established Australian businesses operating across Latin America, spanning a wide range of industries.

👏 Congratulations to all the nominees (among them, Y&S Accounting, Calima Workforce Solutions Pty Ltd), and especially to Cheeky Foodss for winning the Excellence in Business Award! Ricardo Mendoza's message about the power of partnerships truly resonated — it’s something I always emphasise to my students and mentees as a key to sustainable growth.

I had a great conversation with Ema Lawrence and Laura Burke (she/her) from Global Victoria, as well as with the Hon. Consul of Peru Jose Meza and Ecuador Arturo Cabrera Hidalgo, where we explored exciting possibilities to promote the Melbourne Innovation CentreMelbourne Innovation Centre subsidised mentoring sessions for startups, small businesses, and international students. I was proud to share that I am the only Spanish-speaking mentor of this program —and it is my joy to pass on my knowledge, experience, and networks to support the next generation of entrepreneurs.

It was also great meeting businesses committed to ethical gifting and social impact who I introduced the Casa Bonita sustainable and corporate hampers.

I'm truly looking forward to attending more networking events like this one. Thank you to ALABC and their team Kim Prior Lujan De Felice for a night filled with meaningful connections, inspiring stories, and new opportunities!

Y & S Accounting Papelón Sabroso Calima Group Pty ltd

06/06/2025

20/03/2025

Queridos empresarios latinos,

Los invito a un gran evento cultural organizado por la Embajada de Colombia el sábado 22 de marzo.

Visiten mi stand, donde estaré presentando oportunidades comerciales, eventos y programas de Casa Bonita y el Women’s Empowerment Hub.

Además, será una excelente oportunidad para hacer networking con otros negocios latinos. ¡No se lo pierdan!

Entrada gratuita – Registro obligatorio.

¡Los espero!

- - -

Dear entrepreneurs,

I invite you to a wonderful cultural event organized by the Colombian Embassy on Saturday, March 22.

Visit my stand, where I will be presenting business opportunities, events, and programs from Casa Bonita and the Women’s Empowerment Hub.

Additionally, this will be a great opportunity to network with other Latino businesses. Don’t miss it!

Free entry – Registration required.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Let's celebrate culture together

16/03/2025

See you there!! 🎉🎉

14/03/2025

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