LocationsWomen Entrepreneurs Are Powering Local Business in Belarus
June 26, 2025
A mentorship program is a structured engagement process that fosters dynamic and mutually beneficial relationships between experienced individuals (mentors) and less experienced individuals (mentees) to facilitate knowledge transfer and skills development.
"It was the mentorship programme that made me realise my experience could help others." Iryna Poplavskaya, entrepreneur
Just a few months after completing a mentorship programme for women entrepreneurs, Iryna Poplavskaya, an entrepreneur from the Homiel region, did more than overhaul her accounting firm’s business strategy. She founded the first entrepreneur support centre in Karma, a small town in southeastern Belarus.
Iryna is not alone in this endeavour. Two other alumni, Tatsiana Luk’yanovich from Kalinkavichy and Natallia Zavitskaya from Svetlahorsk, have taken a similar leap. Though their support centres operate independently, they share a common goal: offering a helping hand to fellow entrepreneurs navigating the challenges of doing business outside the capital.
Small enterprise, big impact
On 27 June, the world marks Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) Day. Globally, MSMEs make up 90% of all businesses, generate around two-thirds of jobs, and account for half of global GDP. In Belarus, as in many countries, they form the backbone of the regional economy, creating jobs and helping address social challenges by supporting women, young people and vulnerable groups.
But how can local enterprises become engines of sustainable economic growth? One answer lies in mentorship.
In 2024, Iryna, Tatsiana and Natallia took part in a mentorship programme launched by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with Belarus’ Ministry of Economy. They began as mentees - business owners seeking guidance. Today, they have taken on the role of mentors themselves, helping entrepreneurs facing familiar obstacles: limited resources, isolated networks, and underdeveloped markets.
Scaling up and giving back: Transformation through mentorship
Although each woman entered the mentorship programme with different goals, all three emerged with a shared ambition: to grow their businesses while supporting others. Each followed her own path of transformation, gaining the tools and confidence needed to take their venture to the next level.
Iryna approached the programme looking for help with branding and marketing. With her mentor’s support, she built a new website, developed a brand book, and boosted her social media presence. Yet the most significant change was personal.
"The most important thing I gained was confidence," she says. "I used to think that people working in Minsk or other big cities knew something I didn’t. But I realised that my experience is just as valuable and it can help others."
Iryna’s efforts paid off. She increased her revenue by 25% and gained 80 new clients. Then came her boldest move: founding a local support centre for entrepreneurs. In a town of just 13,000, where business owners often viewed each other as competitors, not allies, her centre created a new sense of community.
The centre now offers practical, step-by-step guidance for starting and running a business, from registering as a sole trader to navigating tax and legal requirements.
“Some things need to be explained in simple language, with real-life examples and practical advice” Iryna says. “I hope the centre will become a space for networking, where entrepreneurs find common ground and start collaborating.”
Tatsiana took a different approach. Her accounting firm was already successful, but she sought the right tools to level up. Her mentor, strategic planning expert Tatsiana Kushniruk, helped her conduct an in-depth market analysis, carry out customer development studies, and map out an expansion strategy.
Quickly putting new knowledge into practice, Tatsiana launched Kalinkavichy’s first entrepreneur support centre, offering free consultations, seminars, and training.
“There’s a similar centre in nearby Mozyr, but local business owners don’t use it – they simply don’t have the time” Tatsiana explains. “Entrepreneurs need something close to home – fast and convenient.”
The centre has boosted not only the local business community but also Tatsiana’s firm, raising its profile and attracting new clients. She has also set her sights on expanding further.
“Seventy percent of our clients are from Kalinkavichy and Mozyr districts, but I’d like to open branches in other towns across Belarus,” she says. “I already work with clients remotely, but physical centres would allow for even greater reach.”
For Natallia, efficiency was the priority. Running a successful accounting and consulting firm, she aimed to grow not only by attracting new clients but also by expanding services and adding value for existing ones.
With guidance from her mentor, Anastasiya Haikova, she refined her long-term goals, carried out market research, and doubled down on digital tools, including the CRM platform Bitrix24 and a dedicated customer support platform.
Natallia also invested in developing her personal brand and ramped up her presence on social media. Her entrepreneur support centre offers both in-person consultations and webinars, reaching entrepreneurs from across the country, from Homiel to Hrodna.
Despite expanding nationally, Natallia has never considered relocating.
“Success doesn’t depend on where you live,” she says. “It’s about your mindset and willingness to grow. I’ve wanted to help people since I was a child. Now I can. Accountants are like doctors - we help businesses stay healthy.”
Turning local insight into advantage
The three stories share a clear message: they prove that lived experience of local barriers can be a source of strength, not a shortcoming. Their centres aren’t top-down projects. They’re grassroots platforms built from within the community. The women behind them understand regional constraints, know the available resources, and can adapt best national practices to local realities.
Here, social mission and business goals have merged to create a sustainable, mutually reinforcing model. For Iryna, the centre expanded her client base; for Tatsiana, it opened new markets; and for Natallia, it became a proving ground for new services. Above all, the programme shifted their mindset – going local does not mean thinking small.
Today, their centres attract local business owners and spark change, not through abstract strategies but with practical, grounded support tailored to local needs. They have become hubs for regional business communities, proving that real progress begins with a deep understanding of the people and places they serve.
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