Two Argentine Leaders Participate in a Business Mentoring Partnership Program in the U.S.

April 24, 2009

Ambassador Wayne with the participants

Ambassador Wayne met pn Aptil 24 with the two Argentine participants in the business mentoring partnership program sponsored by the Department of State, Fortune Magazine and Vital Voices. Laura Busnelli, Managing Director at Buplasa and Vanina Ubino, Argentina’s Food Bank Network Executive Director will be traveling tomorrow to the United States to participate in a program that connects the most powerful American business women with leaders from all over the world. 

“Women are crucial to the growth of any economy. We are proud that two Argentine women can participate in this excellent program providing them with the unique opportunity to share everyday skills and experience with business executive leaders,” said Ambassador Wayne.

The four-week program gives participants unique opportunities to develop their leadership management business skills. The program is divided in three phases consisting in intensive orientation in Washington D.C., New York and a three-week assignment in another U.S. city, including meetings with U.S. government officials, academics and representatives of business associations.

Laura Busnelli is Managing Director at Buplasa S.A.; a leading family-owned manufacturer of plastic pumps and caps for cosmetics, pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries with more than 20 years in business.  Ms. Busnelli became managing director of the company in 2000, at the age of 27.   Since then, she has led various initiatives resulting in company’s competitiveness increase and enabling Buplasa S.A. to tap new Latin American markets. Ms. Busnelli’s mentors in the United States will be Anrea Jung and Liz Smith from AVON.

Vanina Ubino is Executive Director of “Red Argentina de Bancos de Alimentos”, the National Food Bank Network, a non-profit organization including 14 Argentine food banks. The network was created in June 2003 as an initiative of the food bank sector to promote joint work and strengthen individual bank tools to reduce hunger and malnutrition around the country. Ms. Ubino’s mentor in the United States will be Helene D. Gayle from CARE USA, Atlanta.