Daryl Harrison Rand, President and CEO of HarrisonRand, a northern New Jersey based advertising and marketing agency, will lead a delegation of businesswomen from New Jersey and New York to India as part of the “Friends of India” Mission, the sixth of its kind, beginning October 23, 2015.

As former president of the New York Chapter of the International Advertising Association and the IAA World Board, Rand observed that very few women ever got the chance to attend world congresses or participate in global organizations.

“I wanted to give women an opportunity to have conversations on a global basis,” Rand said.

The chance would present itself to Rand in the form of an annual themed event she was planning for the IAA.

“I was introduced to a group of women that would help me mount an authentic Indian ball at the Pierre,” Rand said.

“When the party was over, the relationship began.”

As part of the sixth “Friends of India” Mission, prominent businesswomen will travel to Jaipur, Delhi and Agra to continue to establish and build relationships with similar-minded Indian women entrepreneurs and mission participants.

This year’s delegation is distinguished by some of the region’s most senior businesswomen, including: Dr. Sue Henderson, President of New Jersey City University; Linda Bowden, New Jersey Regional President of PNC Bank; and Ilene Jablonski, Vice President of Marketing, Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, along with other senior professionals representing a diverse roster of disciplines.

Supporting Rand’s delegation is the U.S. State Department, Office of Global Women’s Issues; the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry; the Confederation of Indian Industry and Consul General Mulay and the Indian Consulate in New York. Additional dialogue regarding the delegation’s commitment to women’s empowerment and gender parity has been initiated with the World Economic Forum.

“It is a privilege to lead this delegation of talented business leaders,” stated Rand. “Each delegate is a distinguished member of their sector and is eager to exchange their experience and know-how with their Indian counterparts. We are expecting significant outcomes from this initiative.”

The Missions are a product of Rand’s vision to form linkages between American businesswomen and their Indian counterparts, with a focus on entrepreneurship, culture, education, business strategy, and government relations. This concept dates back 10 years and has hosted 90 women who have participated. Children’s Hope India, Inc., a philanthropic organization dedicated to women’s and children’s issues, and the Taj Hotels have lent their support to the biannual Missions.