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How good are women as
entrepreneurs? Why don't we see more
Indian women entrepreneurs? We do
have very few Sulajja Firodia
Motwanis, Kiran Mazumdar Shahs,
Aga Khans, Shehnaz Hussians and
many more small-time entrepreneurs.But the big league is missing in India.
What seems to be lacking are stories of
first-generation women entrepreneurs,
or those who swerved from their
father's business to stand on their own.
What does it take to create that pool of
big-time entrepreneurs?
We have never really related to this
man-woman debate. We believe that
positive and negative capacity in any
area differs from person to person
we read studies on how women are
better than men in this and worse in
that and vice versa.... From our point
of view, any individual can work on
weak areas and surmount those
obstacles, and capitalize on strengths.
We are great believers in the
supremacy of will power and mental
strength over "natural" limitations.
Equality is a state of mind.
Society'sdefinitionof success is also
very stereotypical it's very dependent
on perceptions of desirable positions
and monetary cut offs you don't have
to be anMNC big shot to be a success
where are our village heroes?
There's nothing as inspiring,
moving or catalyzing as a true story of
hope and achievement against all
odds. Maybe such stories should be
de-womanized and placed in
mainstreammedia on par with stories
of any individual male or female.
Restricting such stories of hope to
primarily women's media or hyping
them up only on "Womens Day" only
sends out a message of being an
exception to the rule.
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An ILO report on Women
Entrepreneurs revealed, "Women have
a proportionately greater presence in
the informal economy and in
microenterprises; and they are less
represented in formal, registered
SMEs."Why is it so?
Because contrary to the premium that
Indian society places on "education",
the reality is that true courage and
mental strength grows
proportionately the lower one goes
down the socioeconomically
disadvantaged scale!
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Keeping in mind this paradox as
well as the familial and social
conditioning that reduces the
confidence, independence and
mobility of women, what steps /
programs / policies do you suggest for
women entrepreneurs?
Just treat themthe same. Conditioning
is only worsened when you start
making concessions.
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Does the Indian culture / societal
norms on women prevent them from
becoming better entrepreneurs?
Yes. Very definitely being a mother
and an entrepreneur is itself a
challenge worldwide. The distinction
between a mother and a father in role
and responsibility carries on long after
the actual birth process. Mothers are
assumed to do and be theremore than
fathers an assumption that most
children continue to grow up with. In
most parts of India, in addition,
unfortunately there is a strong
inherited and conditioned guilt that
any working woman carries of not
doing enough for the family be it
husband or child.
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Dowomenmake bettermanagers or
better leaders?
Women don't. Neither do men.
People do.
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Despite significant gains, women
still make up only 10% of senior
managers in Fortune 500 companies,
less than 4%of the uppermost ranks of
CEO, President, Executive Vice
President, and COO; and less than 3%
of top corporate earners. Why does it
happen? What are the possible
reasons?
Number of female employees to start
off with isn't the same. And perhaps
less women aspire for these positions,
for whatever reasons. Also yes,
acceptance from male colleagues
across all levels is not a given.
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Women today have more
opportunities than ever, to pursue their
desired goals.Yet,we seemany of them
walking away from their dreams.
When women enter the professional
arena or start families, they are often
forced to see that "ambition and
passion for recognition" is unwomanly.
Do women lack ambition? (many also
associate ambition with egotism or
selfishness) How can women become
ambitious about ambition including
cultivating connections with people,
who have the power to advance their
workandpubliclypraise their success?
Yes this is a pervasive problem
ambition is marketed as egotistic and
selfish for women. It is each person's
own battle to realize this insidious
conditioning and resolve.
As girls move from adolescence to
womanhood, should they give up on
ambition? For appearing more
womanly, should they suppress their
ambitiousness, cede recognition to
men and abandon their dreams?
Pulled apart by their personal and
professional life, many seem to quit
their jobs.
Somehow, it's our belief that the fault
of misguided perception of what is
"unseemly" for a woman but
acceptable from a man, lies with all
women-not just men.
What's the role of the family
members and relatives in preparing
women for greater responsibilities?
Who should anchor the role of a
cheerleader, amentor and a coach?
Children should.
