![Women Entrepreneurship Day 2021: Observing the contribution of women entrepreneurs to the world's economy.](https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/fit-in/640x430/filters:format(webp)/connect-gujarat-english/media/post_banners/330debed3bf44372877a8923f534fcd9a52510378ef6d67ea566c632b4b3e616.webp)
Every year on November 19, Women's Entrepreneurship Day is observed. The day is commemorated to recognise, support, and celebrate the vital contribution of female business leaders and entrepreneurs to economic development and growth.
Women, in particular, have a long history of being entrepreneurs. They've been shattering barriers and paving the way for other powerful women since the 19th century. Women have broken glass ceilings in a variety of ways, from starting home-based enterprises to scaling big teams. Oprah Winfrey, Cher Wang, Indra Nooyi, Falguni Nayar, Vandana Luthra, Kiran Shaw Mazumdar, Gina Rinehart, and other successful female entrepreneurs are inspiring people to pursue business through their success stories.
Women are thriving in companies today, as well as establishing themselves as independent consultants or freelancers. More women are prepared to take a risk in business since it allows them to create their own schedules, earn their own money, and pursue their passions.
The Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organisation is the brainchild of the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organisation (WEDO). The organisation is dedicated to empowering women and teaching leaders about the social and economic benefits of female entrepreneurship. As a result of these ongoing initiatives, the United Nations has declared November 19 as Women's Entrepreneurship Day every year.
The first event took place in the United Nations in New York City, with parallel events taking place in a number of other nations. In 2014, 144 countries celebrated the first Women's Entrepreneurship Day, which featured the awarding of the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Pioneer Awards.
Wendy Diamond, founder of Animal Fair Media and recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, established and implemented Women Entrepreneurship Day after assisting with the Adelante Foundation in Honduras, which provides microcredit to low-income women.
Women Entrepreneurship Day is observed to empower and assist women in business, as well as to encourage them to help alleviate poverty. Women-owned firms have emerged and grown globally over the last decade, accounting for 38 percent of all small businesses that keep the economy growing and developing.
Adetee Agarwaal, Founder, PinkAprons said, "My entrepreneur journey is definitely a roller coaster ride. I feel like a captain of a restless ship that is trying to reach the shore but giant waves and massive rocks are stopping its movement. One of the biggest challenges I faced as a woman entrepreneur is a patriarchal mindset or the elements of misogyny embedded deep into the psyche of the society. It's all about trusting your guts and believing your dream to make them come true one day."
Women are no strangers to entrepreneurship, according to Nupur Khandelwal, co-founder of Navia Life Care, and are well aware of the hurdles and problems. They've been breaking down social barriers, inspiring others, and paving the way in the industry.
Even though many women have written success tales, Surabhi Gupta, CEO of SAG Infotech, says there are still barriers to women entrepreneurship since investors and the public feels men are better suited for leadership jobs. This situation is fast changing, and women may now travel far, meet new people, form networks, and have broken down nearly all obstacles.
"The Modi government has also launched dozens of schemes that are aimed at empowering women," she said.
Women are no strangers to entrepreneurship, according to Nupur Khandelwal, co-founder of Navia Life Care, and are well aware of the hurdles and problems. They've been breaking down social barriers, inspiring others, and paving the way in the industry.
Even though many women have written success tales, Surabhi Gupta, CEO of SAG Infotech, says there are still barriers to women entrepreneurship since investors and the public feels men are better suited for leadership jobs. This situation is fast changing, and women may now travel far, meet new people, form networks, and have broken down nearly all obstacles.
"The need of the hour is to encourage female entrepreneurs to come forward with confidence since it not only leads to more female inventors but also produces more employment and aids in the reduction of the gender gap," she said.
According to Mona Singh, co-founder of India Accelerator, when a woman embarks on this journey in the current world of business, the challenges can be enormous. It takes a lot of effort to turn a dream into a business. "What has always kept me going is the impact that we have been able to create in society," she said.
Yogita Tulsiani, co-founder, iXceed Solutions said that women today are defying social norms and taking full control of their financial liberation these days. "Every day, hundreds of women-owned enterprises spring up, creating new job opportunities and delivering a positive change to society," she said.'
Women are better at multitasking, creativity, money management, negotiation skills, honesty, resilience, compassion, and bringing everyone along, according to Dimpy Dewan, co-founder of Hanchens.
"These are exactly the skills required to be a successful entrepreneur in building things ground up. I congratulate all the women entrepreneurs who have broken the age-old shackles and preconceived notions, rules, barriers and paved the way for other women to come to the forefront to be and lead the change," she said.
Women entrepreneurs account for only 14% of all businesses in India, according to the National Sample Survey.