Investing in women entrepreneurs fuels economic growth and drives innovation to address the critical challenges communities are facing around the world, noted White House adviser Ivanka Trump at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
“We need to get more men in women-related work fields and more women in work fields such as STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics),” said Ivanka on the second day of the summit themed on 'Women first, Prosperity for all'. She was speaking at a panel discussion that comprised Cherie Blaire, ICICI Bank chief Chanda Kochhar and Dell EMC Chief Customer Officer Karen Quintos, and moderated by Telangana IT minister K. T. Rama Rao.
The panel noted that technology is a great driver of entrepreneurship as it equips women to start their own businesses, reduces barriers to starting new businesses, and creates flexibility for the modern working family.
“The biases that exist in society have to be addressed, and men need to be a part of that conversation. Business outcomes are great when you have diverse thinking,” said Karen.
Noting that less than 25 per cent of female graduates participate in the workforce in India, Chanda Kocchar observed that support and recognition of work at workplace is key for women and will help them break the glass ceiling.
Emphasising on women-centric policy-making, Ivanka said, “Women comprise of half of the population. You need to take them and their issues seriously.” The US first daughter also noted that 90 cents of a dollar spent by a woman go back to things that create value for the society.
The panel members advised women to "stay the course" when things get difficult on their road to success. Cherie Blair, founder of Cherie Blair Foundation, said “We have to find solutions so women can do better at what they do without giving up on their enterprises. Capacity, confidence, capital—the three things women entrepreneurs need to flourish.”
The panel discussion touched upon key women issues including gender diversity at work and holistic approach to women empowerment.
