GENDER ISSUES

Growth of women entrepreneurs world over

US- Women own 25% of all businesses CANADA- Women own 1/3rd of all small businesses FRANCE- Women own 1/5th of all businesses
Phenomenal increase post world war

Women entrepreneurship in India

Women compromise 48% of the total population Businesses owned by women are insignificant, amounting to less than 1% of the total businesses in India Moderate Investment: 70% of enterprises set up by women range between Rs.1 lac to Rs.5 lac

Areas chosen by women entrepreneurs

Retail trade Restaurants Hotels Education Cultural Insurance Manufacturing

Reasons for choosing these areas

New challenges and opportunities for selffulfillment To prove their mettle in innovative and competitive jobs Balance family responsibilities and business lives

PROBLEMS FACED BY WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

Lack of confidence and motivation Lack of knowledge about business opportunities Lack of knowledge of formulating a business plan Lack of information Problems in offering margin money and guarantees Marketing Lack of infrastructure Psycho- social barriers (poor self image, cultural values, role conflict, lack of freedom of expression, etc)

TYPE OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

CHANCE ENTREPRENEUR
Lucky to come across opportunities Start business without any preparation, clear goals or plans

FORCED ENTREPRENEUR
Compelled by circumstances

CREATED ENTREPRENEUR
Properly identified, motivated, encouraged and developed through EDPs and other govt. initiatives

SUCCESS FACTORS
Communication skills
Good in articulating ideas & expressing themselves

People skills
Very effective in reading emotions & deciphering gestures, postures etc..

Web thinking
Ability to gather data from the environment & construct intricate relationships between the pieces of information

Consensus building
Good negotiators, view situations in win-win terms

Build and nurture good relations

Development of friendships & use of effective networking, for maintaining long term client relationships

FUTURE CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS

WORK/HOME ROLE CONFLICT
Inter role conflict; pressures from entrepreneurial role & homemaker become incompatible

CLOSING THE FUNDING GAP

Women depend heavily on personal funds & personal loans Funding Gap: difference between the desired level of available capital and the actual level available

SERVICE SECTOR
Growth of economy, increased opportunities in service sector Low barriers to entry and exit Mainly labour intensive (restaurants, boutiques, florists)

CHANGING PREPARATION
More formal training, greater economic opportunities & changing social morals