Today, at the turn of the 21st Century, no industry is off limits to women! Women entrepreneurs are finally making their presence felt across the world. Slowly but surely they are beginning to conquer the corporate sector. Women leaders are bot only breaking into male-dominated industries but also taking them by storm, from technology companies to manufacturing enterprises, you name it.
The outcome of this has been significant to say the least. It has simultaneously enhanced work-life balance advocacy, diversified workforces, and significant increases in earnings across the business vista. It is evident that women as business leaders aren’t here to play around, and their influence is helping contribute to a host of advancements in the industry as a whole.
Leading from the front
Back in 1972, about 402,000 women-owned businesses in contrast to 12.3 million. Presently, women entrepreneurs make up 43% of all global entrepreneurs and as per market gurus, FemTech companies comprising beauty, fashion, and fertility businesses alone, are estimated to reach a whopping $50 billion by 2025.
And not just in the business world, there are instances of women emerging as matriarchs and leading entire communities towards progress and prosperity. For example, Dutch immigrants who settled in what is New York City today in the 17th century lived in a matriarchal culture? In this society, women received wealth and land, and as a result of this inheritance, they started their own businesses and prospered. Even in India, the north-eastern state of Meghalaya which is home to the famous Khasi tribe is one of the last practitioners of a matrilineal system. The women there have always presided as the head of the household as part of tradition.
The struggle is constant
However, being a women in a patriarchal society also means bearing witness to a history replete with challenges. The struggle is, indeed, constant. As a woman, most people have and will continue to underestimate your abilities and professional goals. It is imperative that you keep on inspiring yourself and steer away from all negativity. In order to develop the kind of confidence that leads to professional success, self-discovery is an essential key for women to transform into leaders in a “man’s” world.
Don’t stop Believing
Today, in a bid to commemorate Women Entrepreneurs Day and pay tribute to their tremendous contributions, it is important that you never stop believing in your vision. Every day presents a unique opportunity to confront your core weaknesses and greatest fears. The real prize in the process is the feeling of conviction, and not merely fame and accomplishment! Not all changes result in improvements. Sometimes it involves the invention process. Madame Curie is a wonderful example of a woman achieving the ultimate prize in a society where the idea of a female scientist was scoffed and ridiculed. She proved the forces of patriarchy wrong at every step simply through dedication and sheer will power.
Or take the instance of Savitribai Phule, an Indian Social Reformer, educationist, and poet from Maharashtra who is regarded as the pioneer of the Indian Feminist Movement. She was credited with opening the first school which catered exclusively towards women education, a concept hitherto unheard of in those times. The annals of history are full of such amazing women figures that endured great hardships and covered great lengths to break gender stereotypes and shatter the status quo.
Turning Weakness into Strength
Essentially speaking, always remember that being a woman is not a hindrance. It’s more of a strength. Usually, we emphasize distinctions that tend to fall along conventional gender lines when we discuss success in terms of how it is defined and experienced by men as opposed to women. It is necessary to note that women play the ‘game of life’ on hard mode. They are constantly fighting against the mental obstacles and egos of men.
Also, it’s not always comfortable nor practical for women to compete directly with men. The basic learning here is to not get sucked into fighting such biases. It’s a complete waste of time, energy, and resources. Instead, focus on your areas of expertise, assemble a reliable support network that works for you, and let your work do the talking rather than your gender. Utilize your natural abilities with persistence, patience, and a no-nonsense attitude.
Conclusion
Today, women are introducing a new perspective to a field that is largely dominated by men. For men in business, having attributes like building confidence, accepting failure, and hyper-targeted messaging may come as an inheritance. However, the tide is turning, and the cycle will undoubtedly continue as more women start their own businesses and share their experiences with other women. If the trend of female entrepreneurs keeps going in the same direction, women may very well make up a sizable portion of the population of business owners.
(The author is Dr. Somdutta Singh, Founder & CEO of Assiduus Global Inc. and the views expressed in this article are his own)
