YEREVAN, Armenia — On October 29, the American University of Armenia (AUA) Extension hosted a webinar showcasing the Sarkis Cabayan Small and Emerging Business Development Program in Armenian Provinces with Scholarships for Women.
The event was attended by the donor himself, Dr. Hriar Cabayan, and moderated by Dr. Vache Gabrielyan, dean of the Manoogian Simone College of Business and Economics. The women entrepreneurs leading the discussion were Azatuhi Stepanyan, Hasmik Araqelyan, and Lilit Khalatyan, all three from Vayots Dzor, who depicted the unique business challenges they were able to overcome using the knowledge and skills they gained in the Cabayan program.
Panelist Azatuhi Stepanyan, founder of Sunny Art, creates hand-painted silk scarves and paintings inspired by Armenian cultural symbols. Hasmik Araqelyan runs ARI Camp, an outdoor recreational complex with gazebos, playgrounds, and family-friendly activities right by the Arpa River. Lilit Khalatyan owns and operates the Meghvik Bakery, which has grown from a small take-away shop into a pastry production business.
In their presentations, each of the panelists focused on the merits and impact of the Sarkis Cabayan program, underscoring how it has enhanced their skills, inspired continuous learning, and encouraged them to plan ahead for new growth and diversification, while grounding their businesses for sustainable future growth. They also spoke about how their efforts have created new jobs and knowledge sharing through networking and greater public involvement.
The women took pride in their increased advancement through self-awareness and continuous learning which, they assured, became vital elements of their progress. The program had helped them discover that running a business required more than the skills they initially possessed, specifically skilled leadership, communication, and the ability to adapt to constant change in the business environment. Moreover, as local business owners, they also described the benefits derived from their deep knowledge of the region, understanding of local customs and needs, and the competence to serve their communities effectively. At the same time, they mentioned a few disadvantages, such as limited access to international markets and difficulty finding larger customer segments.
The discussion also brought together Women in Business program graduates from the earlier cohorts in Gyumri, Vanadzor, and Vayots Dzor, as well as the current one in Goris, facilitating a rich exchange of experiences and insights among the participants.
The event wrapped up leaving a distinct impression that by combining local insight with professional development, women in Vayots Dzor are not only building successful businesses, but also shaping communities, creating new opportunities, and remaking entrepreneurship in their own provinces.
AUA Extension is the non-degree educational program of the American University of Armenia (AUA), with programs especially geared to meeting the educational needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds and occupations, as well as governments and corporate organizations. Extension courses are intended to expand participants’ knowledge for personal growth and professional development to best suit individual goals and career choices. Thus, Extension helps students reach their highest potential, whether for admission to AUA or for expanding knowledge and skills to become more competitive in the labor market. Additionally, AUA Extension provides testing services on behalf of various standardized tests for college admission and exams for international professional certification.