Women Entrepreneurs Empower Women towards Entrepreneurship
Using innovation and entrepreneurial strategy city based Parul University created a platform for women to empower them towards entrepreneurship. “WE, Women’s Start-up Meet” provides a grand platform for recognising and appreciated the efforts of women entrepreneurs across the nation who made their mark in the economic and social development of India.
The two day festival hosted some of Gujarat’s most renowned female icons and business personalities such as Anar Patel, Founder, Craftroots- An initiative by Gramshree to provide empowerment to artisans especially women artisan and promote Gujarat’s craftsmanship, Dr. Falguni Vasavada-Oza, Professor, MICA, Ruzan Khambatta, Social entrepreneur, Ashu Manchandana founder and trainer at Life Training Institute and Miss India Pride of Nation 2019 winner Pooja Desai. The speakers share stories of their start-up journeys, which not only enlighten but also empower the budding female entrepreneurs of Parul University.
The Festival was held as part of the University’s series of events in celebration and honour of Women’s month along with the need for promoting and developing an ideal ecosystem for entrepreneurship in India. The event featured panel discussions, storytelling sessions, idea generation platforms and engagement sessions, all strategically designed to provide the women participants a wide exposure to new avenues of start-up opportunities.
During her opening remarks, chief guest Anar Patel shared her experiences and challenges coming up with her 12 year old start-up which is working towards bridging the gap between the Indian craftsman and the business sector. “I believe any start-up should be centred on promoting the values of the society and the nation, and this is the one thing we have done as women entrepreneurs. We have been actively engaged in promoting the dignity of our artists, while at the same time enterprising their creations”, said Patel.
The event also went on to act as a platform for honouring some of the women whose work in the start-up community has made an impact on India’s socio-economic landscape through awards and facilitations. The start-up meet also featured panel discussion, where the speakers discussed various topics such as the significance of entrepreneurship and key strategies to becoming an entrepreneur. In addition to its focus on the business sector, the event also focused on the aspect of women empowerment.
“Today entrepreneurship stands as one of the most highlighted elements of our societies, not only because of its economic significance, but also as a vehicle for empowering women. Being a student of business and a woman, I am more than delighted for the exposure which I have received from WE Start-up meet, as it has taught me and many other girls that it is possible to be a part of the entrepreneurship community” said Chelsea Pinheiro, a Business Administration student of the University.
This all female majority entrepreneurship gathering also acted as a career launching, idea shaping and nurturing platform for the women business aspirants of Parul University. It featured pitching sessions, where the participants got the opportunity of presenting their ideas before a panel of experts, and receiving personalised mentoring on how to navigate their business models. This festival was inline with the University’s agenda towards promoting entrepreneurship in India, and in particular, ensuring the collective inclusion of both men and women within the start-up community.
“Entrepreneurship presents women with a platform, not for them to look for the jobs but for them to create the jobs, and to not look into conventional domains of work but for them to create new domains, full of opportunities for women and young girls within our societies and within our nation. I believe this women start-up meet was instrumental towards encouraging and empowering our young girls, with the boldness to actively participate in the start-up community and bring change to the society”, said Dr Komal Patel, the University’s Managing Trustee.