Anaseini Tabuto Iotebatu is excited about networking and growth opportunities at the upcoming Academy for Women Entrepreneurs conference in Guam.
Proud Tongan Anaseini Tabuto Iotebatu takes multitasking to the next level as a mother of five boys, business owner, creative storyteller and Program Manager – and now Young Pacific Leaders (YPL) Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) participant.
“I’m always looking to grow and learn…with the goal of contributing to a more connected, resilient, and confident Pacific, where culture and innovation go hand in hand,” Anaseini says.
From April 21-25, 2025, she will join 25 YPL participants in the Where Dreams Become Reality Conference in Mangilao, Guåhan, as part of AWE, which unites Pacific leaders to develop leadership and hone entrepreneurial skills.
In 2019, Ivanka Trump, advisor to the U.S. President, announced the AWE initiative, demonstrating the United States Government’s commitment to providing women with the knowledge, networks, and access they need to launch or scale successful business. Implemented in nearly 100 countries (including seven in the Pacific – Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, French Polynesia, and New Zealand), AWE has an estimated 25,000 entrepreneurs around the world.
Young Pacific Leaders take part in the 12-month initiative, which involves online training via Arizona State University and Guam Community College supplemented with local speakers, networking opportunities and skill-building activities that support women as they develop their businesses, such as the Where Dreams Become Reality Conference, in Guam.
Hosted by Guam Community College, the five-day conference, will include presentations from expert speakers, workshops, networking sessions, and industry tours around the US territory.
Growth and learning opportunities
Anaseini, a Program Manager for the Humanitarian and Climate Program at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and who runs Tini Media, a photography and videography business in Tonga, says AWE is an opportunity to expand her network and extend herself.
“The Young Pacific Leaders Academy for Women Entrepreneurs felt like the right space to sharpen my business skills and gain new tools to take Tini Media to the next level, especially with our plans to expand,” Anaseini explains.
“I am hoping to walk away with fresh ideas, practical skills, and a strong network of peers who are just as passionate about building something real and lasting in the Pacific.
“I want to explore new ways of running a creative business that balances purpose and profit.”
Motivated to create something that serves others, not just herself, Anaseini says she has poured her heart into Tini Media because she believes creativity can inspire real change.
“It is about offering value, telling stories that resonate, and building a business that supports families and communities.
“I hope to help create more opportunities for people to tell their stories, share their knowledge, and be seen and heard—whether that’s through art, business, or advocacy.”
Fostering the next generation of Pacific women entrepreneurs
United States Pacific Regional Engagement Specialist Mara Hosoda Su’a says the Guam-based conference and year-long AWE initiative aims to foster the next generation of Pacific business leaders from around the region.
“Following the conference, the participants – some who will have established businesses already while others will just be getting started – will continue to meet weekly online to complete the Dream Builder Course business plans,” Mara explains.
“This will provide the participants with the skills and capacity necessary to create innovative and sustainable entrepreneurial solutions that address social and economic challenges in their home and island communities in the Pacific region.
“The YPL program sees the AWE initiative as a unique opportunity for young women in the region, to truly thrive in business and in return, contribute to the economy, and provide for their communities.”
Visit the Young Pacific Leaders website and the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs website for more details on these US Department of State initiatives.
