Archive for the 'Gender challenges' Category

How Women Around the World Access Small Loans to Start or GROW a Business

Published May 14, 2012 Economic growth , Enlighten Me! , Finance , Gender challenges , global women entrepreneurs , Inspiration , Sustainability practices , World entrepreneurship Leave a Comment
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In the article below, this question was posed to Jane Wurwand, founder of Dermalogica, a multi-million dollar business with offices in over 50 countries around the world:

If you were counseling a young entrepreneur just starting their business today, what is the most important thing you would tell them?

The most important element is to ask yourself if this is something that you really want. You have to really, really want it. You have to be willing to endure opposition, rejection and failure. This opposition only sharpens your love, if it really is the real thing. You have to be in it for the long haul. If you …

Read the entire interview here.

The key message in article:  Women worldwide should have their own money.

So Ms. Wurwand decided, “Why not give women around the world access to small loans to start or grow their own businesses in order to gain economic stability?  Voila:  joinFITE was born!

Illustration credit here.

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney

Worldly Women Entrepreneurs: Get Energized!

Published March 5, 2012 Economic growth , Education , Enlighten Me! , Gender challenges , global women entrepreneurs , Inspiration , World entrepreneurship Leave a Comment
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This article is part of the eJournal USA issue “Enterprising Women, Thriving Societies.“  I was asked by the U.S. Department of State to write the lead article, “Women Entrepreneurs Energize Economies.”

Women-owned companies are rising the fastest in the world’s emerging economies — particularly in Brazil, India, Vietnam and the Philippines. In fact, in many developing economies the rate of female entrepreneurship surpasses that in the world’s most industrialized countries, according to Joel Kotkin, a professor of urban studies at Chapman University in California.

I trust it will inspire all individuals — men and women alike — to pursue their dream of starting a business.  There’s even a section tips on how to start a business — don’t miss it!

Immediate download: PDF version (6.5 MB)

Photo credit:  Women exercise in gym in Bogota, Columbia, part of the fitness chain started by Gigiola Aycardi.

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney

Zimbabwe Female Entrepreneurs Face Funding Challenges

Published January 23, 2012 Country specific , Economic growth , Finance , Gender challenges , global women entrepreneurs Leave a Comment
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When it comes to obtaining credit from financial institutions, the perception is quite dismal from Zimbabwe women entrepreneurs a recent survey shows.

Yet, according to the study “An Analysis of the Enabling Environment and Potential for Women’s Empowerment” by Dr. Charity Manyeruke on behalf of the Women Alliance of Business Associations in Zimbabwe (Wabaz), a significant segment of female entrepreneurs have not attempted to obtain funding from financial institutions.

The negative perception might be getting in the way of at least attempting to make things happen.  Even so, it’s still challenging to get funding.

•  Based on the study, 34 percent of the female entrepreneurs who undertook the survey consider obtaining credit from commercial banks as “very difficult.”

Learn more here.  Related article here.

Illustration credit:  Dr. Manyeruke’s book

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney

When It Comes to Giving, Measure What Matters

Published January 13, 2012 Economic growth , Enlighten Me! , Finance , Gender challenges , Social Entrepreneurship , World entrepreneurship Leave a Comment
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When giving money, give to nonprofits that measure what matters to you.  That’s advice from Mary Ellen Iskenderian (pictured), President and CEO, Women’s World Banking.

Watch video here:  big think interview

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney

Women Are Essential to the Revival of the U.S. Economy

Published January 8, 2012 Economic growth , Gender challenges Leave a Comment
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As Kay Koplovitz (pictured) points out:

Women hold 80 % the purchasing power for consumer goods in the U.S., a sector accounting for a critical 70% of the U.S. economy. So we already know that women are essential to the revival of the U.S. economy.

Women are also a rising powerhouse in building the economy as founders of high growth companies.  Find out why by reading the entire article:

Women:  The Emerging Market in High Growth Businesses

Illustration credit here.

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney

Ease the Environment To Bring More Women Into Entrepreneurship

Published December 23, 2011 Country specific , Gender challenges , Inspiration 1 Comment
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How to empower women?  Declare 2013 as “Women Entrepreneurship Development Year.”  And in the case of Nepal, ease the environment to bring more women into entrepreneurship.

Minister for Industry Anil Jha said he is positive about the proposal. He said, “I am also positive about necessary amendments in policies that would ease the environment for women entrepreneurs.” Suresh Kumar Basnet, president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) requested the government to seriously implement policies to bring more women into entrepreneurship.

Learn more here.

Illustration credit:  Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs Associations of Nepal (FWEAN)

Make a Difference For Women in Conflict-Stricken Countries

Published December 15, 2011 Economic growth , Education , Enlighten Me! , Gender challenges , Inspiration , Social Entrepreneurship , Sustainability practices , Training (entrepreneurial) Leave a Comment
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Are you running a business?  Then you might want to offer your skills to emerging entrepreneurs the world over.  Find out about the difference Bpeace (Bpeace blog) is making in our businesses and the lives of many Afghans — leading to peace building in Afghanistan.

Learn more here.

Photo credit here (related to Bpeace)

Posted by: Laurel Delaney

Women Have What It Takes to Start and Expand a Business Globally

Published December 7, 2011 Conference , Country specific , Gender challenges , global women entrepreneurs , International business , World entrepreneurship Leave a Comment
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Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak, the prime minster of Malaysia, spoke at the Women in Leadership Forum in Abu Dhabi last month and presented data on female entrepreneurial activity. One of the questions she addressed:

“How do we transform businesses owned, or run by women, into top international companies and emerge as leaders in their respective industries?.”

Experts indicate the importance of networking while others say that obtaining managerial and technical skills along with accessing capital can also help fuel the growth of women-led companies.

Learn more here: Women Out to Bridge Gap – The National

Photo credit here.

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney

Where in the World Are Women Rising Fastest?

Published November 8, 2011 Economic growth , Enlighten Me! , Gender challenges , global women entrepreneurs Leave a Comment
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Where are women entrepreneurs rising fastest?  Forget the advanced country of the United States!  It’s Sao Paulo (related article here), Manila and Mumbai where women are leapfrogging to business ownership.  What are they selling?  Think simplistically:  mangoes and home-made blouses.

Women in these countries are newly empowered by remarkable gains in political representation, legal rights and, especially, education. But more important, they are rising in the 21st century’s key economic strata: as business owners.

Read the entire article here.

Illustration credit:  DCED

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney

Best Internet Entrepreneurs in the World: Women

Published October 25, 2011 Gender challenges , global women entrepreneurs , Social Media and Network Leave a Comment
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Find out why women make excellent entrepreneurs in the digital age.  Part of the growth for woman-owned businesses can be attributed to:

  • Sheer necessity
  • Balance of career and family
  • Four essential skills (listening, collaboration, communication and low risk-taking)

Read the entire article here.

Posted by:  Laurel Delaney

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