Each year, more and more women set out on the journey to become successful founders and CEOs

of their own companies. While these business-savvy ladies are inspirational to women with dreams of launching a startup, entrepreneurship remains a traditionally male-dominated territory, and there are still some significant obstacles that many female business owners have to face. Here are five of the biggest challenges of women entrepreneurs today, and how to overcome them.

Women entrepreneurs think they need to act like men.

ost female business owners who have attended networ!ing events can relate to this scenario" #ou wal! into a crowded seminar and can count the number of women there on one hand. When women entrepreneurs have to tal! business with primarily male e$ecutives, it can be intimidating. %When you own a business, you&re constantly negotiating deals with many different people,% said Hilary 'enga, founder and CEO of women&s swimwear company, (run!ettes. % any times, with female owners, men thin! they can be dishonest or give her a bad deal because she&s a woman ) something they probably wouldn&t try with another man.% [5 Lessons for Women Leaders] (o compensate and protect themselves, women often feel as though they need to adopt a stereotypically %male% attitude toward business" competitive, aggressive and sometimes overly harsh. *ut 'enga believes this is the wrong approach to ta!e. %*e yourself, and have confidence in who you are,% she advised. %+on&t try to be a man. #ou made it to where you are through hard wor! and perseverance, but most importantly, you&re there. +on&t conform yourself to a man&s idea of what a leader should loo! li!e.%

Emotions and nurturing skills can affect their business.

(hough trying to act li!e a man doesn&t guarantee success for a female entrepreneur, allowing her %feminine% ,ualities to stand in the way of getting things done isn&t necessarily recommended, either. *y nature, women are more emotional and nurturing, which can sometimes be a hindrance to running a business.

%-or men, a business is mostly about the bottom line, but for women, it&s more than that,% said +elia .assi, CEO of WomenCertified, home of the Women&s Choice /ward. %We get emotionally connected, and that can hold us bac! from ma!ing the tough decisions. ale board members and investors get frustrated when we&re not as ,uic! to fire or ma!e dramatic business changes that could impact employees& families.% .assi noted that women also tend to be very relationship-based in business, placing a high premium on building up relationships that they hope will naturally lead to a sale. Connections are highly important to success, and nurturing strong professional relationships can go a long way. However, .assi reminded female entrepreneurs to also be direct and stay focused on their business goals.

Women often lack the support of other female business leaders.

0ong before she founded online women&s eyewear bouti,ue 1ivet and 2way, CEO 2arah *ryar wor!ed with undergraduate female engineering students at the assachusetts 3nstitute of (echnology. (hese %trailbla4ers,% as *ryar described them, felt insecure about being in the minority as women who e$celled in math and science, and longed for more camaraderie and support from female peers in their field. %(he main challenge for female entrepreneurs is just li!e the challenge for female engineering students" (here just aren&t enough of us,% *ryar told *usiness5ews+aily. %(here aren&t enough women to be role models, act as sounding boards, do deals with ) in short, to create normalcy for women in leadership positions.% +espite the ,uic!ly growing number of female e$ecutives and business owners, finding fellow women entrepreneurs to connect with isn&t always easy. Womenfocused networ!ing events li!e /merican E$press O.E5&s CEO *ootCamp are good places to start, as well as online forums and groups specifically created for women in business. %Opportunities to lead do e$ist for women,% *ryar said. %We just need to continue to support and promote women in the limelight to encourage others to come along for the ride.%

Many women have to balance raising a family with running their business.

Wor!-life balance is often a goal of entrepreneurs across the board, but mothers who start businesses have to simultaneously run their families and their companies. %*eing a mother while running a business is very challenging,% 'enga said. %(here are ways to balance your time, but the perception is that you could be more effective running your business if you didn&t have to deal with !ids.% 'enga has learned to not ta!e shortcomings on either front too seriously, and to not beat herself up over the little things, li!e missing a class trip with her children. % omtrepreneurs% have dual responsibilities to their business and to their family, and finding ways to devote time to both is !ey to truly achieving that elusive wor!-life balance.

Women entrepreneurs are afraid of failure.

/ccording to *abson College&s 6786 'lobal Entrepreneur onitor, the fear of failure is the top concern of women who launch startups. -ailure is a very real possibility in any business venture, but .assi believes it shouldn&t be viewed as negative. %#ou need to have massive failure to have massive success,% she told *usiness5ews+aily. %#ou may need 877 %no&s% to get one %yes,% but that one %yes% will ma!e you more successful tomorrow than you were today.% *ryar offered similar advice for female entrepreneurs, encouraging them to wor! through the moments of self-doubt that every business owner faces. %Wor! hard at ignoring that inner voice that may discourage ta!ing action, spea!ing up or getting outside your comfort 4one,% she said. %3t&s something 3 struggle with myself, but 3 !now fundamentally that 3 wouldn&t be a CEO today if 3 hadn&t ta!en chances to assert myself.%
In recent years, a record number of women have been breaking out of corporate life and embracing entrepreneurial careers as an alternative to inflexible work practices and outdated systems. Although women still face glass ceiling and somehow fail to achieve maximum potential,there are evidences to suggest that most countries have now realized the potential contributions women make to the nations economic growth.

Female entrepreneurship has brought in a new revolution as we witness women emerging as business owners in economic sectors they have not previously occupied. !here are more flexible work arrangements allowing women to balance both

In

recent years, like other developing countries of the world, Bangladesh has been focusing attention on the most disadvantaged group in the society the women. eali!ation has gradually dawned on all

concerned that a society cannot afford to waste half of its human resources by discrimination on grounds of se". #his increasing awareness on the part of the government has led to the adoption of national policies to facilitate a development process involving women in all spheres particularly in economic activities focusing especially on entrepreneurship development. #he overwhelming ma$ority of women in Bangladesh are not only poor, but also caught between two vastly different worlds % the world determined by culture and tradition that confines their activities inside family homesteads, where they are regarded more as a commodity necessary only for bearing and rearing children and the world shaped by increasing landlessness and poverty that focus them outside into various economic activities for survival. In Bangladesh, the women entrepreneurs, who have accepted the challenges of life and have emerged as leaders in the socio& economic development, earn for themselves and for their families or contributing towards the socio& political upliftment of the women. In our country women lack assistance is in the access to credit, provision of skill training, and market facilities. Women entrepreneurship in the rural industries is a new arena in the socio& economic environment of Bangladesh. In view of the need to bring the rural womenfolk in the development stream of the country, both the 'overnment, the (')s and other related agencies have provided ample opportunities to promote entrepreneurial skill among women. Income& generating activities, credit facilities, skill training, market opportunities have all combined to pave the way for the emergence of entrepreneurial development among women in rural Bangladesh. Women have achieved good prospects in industry, especially the small and cottage and micro&home& based ones. #heir present involvement in manufacturing and in the recent trends of their involvement in construction activities in growing numbers is likely to continue. Women have emerged as e"porters and their control of e"port& oriented industries, are promising areas for enhanced female participation and employment. Women*s growing involvement in the construction of civil works gives evidence to their potential regarding market growth opportunities and should be encouraged. #o stimulate female entrepreneurship and create further employment opportunities, training programs for relevant issues, need to be provided to women currently in business. Where women have access to market information and display of products they can increase their business acumen, especially with respect to demand for a wide& range of products they might choose to produce. #ypes of +roduction ,nits and #rades include the common small scale production units such as -andicrafts with various types of raw materials, -andloom Weaving . /pinning, Basketry, Mat making, Manufacture of 0oir products. 1ishing (et making, +addy husking by 2heki, )il production by 'hani, 3ute production and sale, 3ute goods production. +ottery, 0ane and bamboo products, /eri culture, /ilk weaving, -oney Making, /creen print . Batik, Embroidery, 2ressmaking. #ailoring, +uffed ice Making, 1ood production4 packed or retail sale of dry food5, 1ood +rocessing, Wood craft . 1urniture, Molasses making, Biri4 indigenous cigarette made with special leaves5 production, Milk production units, dairy and milk products, 2yeing and printing, Book Binding, 0onfectionery, ,rea Molasses Block4 cattle feed5 etc., (ursery and -orticulture production. 6itchen gardening, poultry rearing4 sale of eggs, poultry, chicks5, goat and sheep rearing, cattle fattening are common agro& based occupations. Women entrepreneurs should be provided special facilities to develop their enterprises. #hese include7 485 2evelopment Banks with separate advisory service cell for women9 4:5 /eparate counters in counters in commercial banks for women9 4;5 <rrangement of e"clusive fairs to promote products manufactured by small . cottage based units9 4=5 1i"ed >uota of stalls for women entrepreneurs at e"port fairs9 4?5 /pecial market facilities both in the domestic and the international arena.

'overnment resources are limited. Infrastructure development and other broad sectors of economy demand and consume ma$or share of the national development budget. It is thus sometimes said that poverty alleviation goal receives more palliatives than substance. In face of things as they stand, both the ')s and the private sector have a ma$or responsibility to promote entrepreneurship development for women. Without that the advancement of women will remain a far cry. Role played by BSRS for women entrepreneur development: )n behalf of the government B/ / has arranged some policies and schemes to promote the development of women entrepreneurship. @ery few women entrepreneurs have so far taken loan from B/ /. #his is due to the loan granting process and the formalities that are re>uired to meet make a bit difficult for women to get the loan amount. -owever B/ / with the help of some other (')s* has taken initiatives such as7 485 /etting up of a Women Entrepreneurship 2evelopment 0ell9 4:5 Identification of women entrepreneurs of Bangladesh9 4;5 +lanned +ublication of a directory of women entrepreneurs with their addresses, forms of business, products manufactured etc.9 4=5 )rgani!ing entrepreneurship development training9 4?5 0o&organi!ing convention of women entrepreneurs, discussion meetings on the problems and prospects of women entrepreneurship in Bangladesh in the grass root level 4A5 <rranging market opportunities. Women in ICT: Bangladesh View: 'eneral perception of I0# sector comes as a non discriminatory sector. With intellectual labor as its capital, I0# can become as a magic wand to disseminate all ine>uality. #his year marks 4March BC5 the DEth International Women*s 2ay 4IW25. +ursuant to the declaration by the /ocialist +arty of ,/<, the first (ational Women*s 2ay was observed across the ,nited /tates on 1ebruary :C, 8DBD. But in the :nd International 0onference of /ocialist Women, held in 0openhagen in 8D8B, it was resolved to observe an annual women*s day as a uniform international action. #he date was nominated in recognition of the ,nited /tates* 'arments workers* demonstration, which was held on March BC, 8C?A. #he purpose of the demonstration was to increase the wage and reduce the working hours of the 'arments workers. 'overnment of Bangladesh started to observe the International Women*s 2ay since March BC, 8DC=. International Women*s 2ay stands for e>uality between women and men. 2uring International Women*s Fear in 8DA?, International Women*s 2ay was given official recognition by the ,nited (ations and was taken up by many governments throughout the world. International Women*s 2ay is a time to reflect on progress made to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an e"tra ordinary role in the history of women*s rights. In our country also women are being seen in frontlines to fight against hunger, poverty and environmental degradation. /o, on this day, let us think about empowering women also through I0# 4Information and 0ommunication #echnology5. Because it is an essential part like other goals for winning the fight in the lives of women. It will increase resources in their hands to be self reliant and empowered and reduce discrimination against them. It is a part of placing their issues at the forefront of policy action.

Micro&credit for self&employment empowers women*s decision&making capacity. Gikewise, an amount of money, which women need to be I0# e"perts and to establish I0# firms, will help them earn more money and to be more empowered. :BB? has been declared as the Fear of Micro 0redit by the ,nited (ations. #his is why 'overnment of Bangladesh as well as the non governmental organi!ations 4(')s5 should start to distribute small loans among interested women to encourage them to be self&reliant by learning and working in I0# sector. #he third of the Millennium 2evelopment 'oals 4M2's5 of the ,nited (ations is to achieve gender e>uality and empower women. It seeks to rectify the disadvantages through policies and programmes which build women*s capabilities, improve their access to economic and political opportunity guaranteeing their safety. /o, I0# will definitely play a supportive role to reach this goal soon. How an ICT help women! I0# can benefit women in many ways. It can facilitate their participation in different sectors and different regions. It can provide the information women need to improve their own well&being and that of their families. #he introduction of computers into offices has improved the >uality of work and scope for women in data entry, analysis, programming, clerical and administrative occupations. More over I0# allows them to e"change views, opinions and information so much, which may not be possible through other media. I0# has a strategic link with poverty reduction. #he Internet, email and mobile phones top the list of new tools. I0# can directly empower women as well as the poor people by offering access to services historically unavailable to them because of high cost or lack of infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. (ow buying&selling or renting I0# e>uipment itself is a source of income. Mobile phone has already ushered in such income among many a rural woman in Bangladesh. #he computer training institutes in our country should set the course curriculum in accordance with the need and demand of our country. <ccess to the Internet is still very limited for several reasons, like poor teledensity, poor electricity, poor affordability of computer and knowledge about the Internet. +ublic Internet access is very limited in the private telephone canters and cyber cafes. #hough the divisional head>uarters and some district towns have access to Internet, but the commercial use of Internet is limited due to the bandwidth limitation. 2espite the rapid fall in the cost of the Internet services, it is still high for the general people and students. #hat is why it is necessary that, H<ccess to Internet e"change should be at par throughout the country. H< high&speed national data network for the country connecting all important cities, district head>uarters and important upa!ilas should be established. B##B*s upa!ila level Internet pro$ect should be implemented. H#echnical assistance from internationally reputed companies should be sought to build proper networking infrastructure throughout the country. #he relationship with International #elecommunication ,nion 4I#,5 should be strengthened for reducing digital divide. H+roper use of 'lobal Information /uperhighway should be ensured. H<ll schools, colleges and universities should be brought under Internet network. #his is an emergency programme to be initiated earlier. <s a result women from rural areas will be able to get access to use of Internet as well as to be trained up on I0#. <ccess to I0# at university level has achieved a very limited success. #he I0# penetration in primary, secondary and higher secondary level is not satisfactory at all. )nly a limited number of urban schools and colleges have I0# facilities for education purpose. #here is a huge mismatch between the market demand and the courses offered. We do not produce ade>uate number of >ualified I0# professionals in our educational and training institutions to cater to domestic demand. #he migration trend of >uality I0# professional is alarming. /o, we should7

HImplement education programme in software engineering, computer communication and multimedia with curriculum that incorporates the latest technology. HIntroduce Ibasic computer skills* as a compulsory sub$ect for all students at Intermediate and 'raduate level. H+olytechnics and other training institutes should offer diploma in I0#. H,nemployed girls, women and youth should be encouraged and given priority for I0# training courses vis&J&vis market demand. H2iploma and trade courses should be introduced in distance education system through I0# network under )pen ,niversity. H < national speciali!ed training of teachers centre should be established for solving the problem of acute shortage of >uality teachers in I0#. H 1emale students and teachers of university and colleges should get free or subsidi!ed access to Internet. H<ll universities and higher educational institutions should be networked for better access to knowledge and information. H+rimary and secondary level education should be emphasi!ed for long run return in I0# industry. HMore training institutes on I0# for the girls and women should be established. +oor and meritorious students, unemployed girls, women should be given free of cost training, accommodation, training materials etc. H <fter completion of training, bank loan may be offered to them on easy terms to set up cyber cafK or computer, training institute in urban and rural areas. H*3<W/* talking software can be given free of cost from the educational institutes or 'ovt. offices to the visually impaired female and male students as well as the normal software to the disabled students. H'ovt. of Bangladesh, B##B as well as the mobile phone companies in our country should encourage more unemployed women to run business of phone, 1<L, computer compose, etc. ICT poli y : Women Issues -onorable +rime Minister has already declared I0# as the thrust sector. #he I0# policy aims at building an I0#&driven nation comprising of knowledge&based society by the year :BBE. <ccording to the I0# policy, to implement the target areas, we should work hard from now and take necessary initiatives earlier. )n the other hand, more female I# professionals should be encouraged to $oin in accomplishing the policy and to reach the goal of I0# also as a part of opening and building up their carrier. "imitations 2uring the course of this report, we faced a few problems in the department of data gathering. <s B/ / is founded on 8DA: but didn*t start operation until IC; on the other hand, they didn*t provide commercial loans to /MEs until late *DC. We focused on the I0# sector so, we collected Incubator . Con lusion #o be kept focused on the sub$ect of entrepreneurship during the course of this report was one of the most rewarding e"periences. <s we took B/ / to portray the investor outlook on entrepreneurship, in our view, a rare glimpse inside the corporate mindset toward /ME entrepreneur development has been unveiled. We have e"plored both the entrepreneurial and the facilitator viewpoints as we have also introduced 1orni" /oft Gtd. <s a case study to see the results of B/ / financing in entrepreneurship. We

tracked the growth of 1orni" /oft. We connected the reality with the theory of entrepreneurial development that we studied in this course, in the critical analysis section. We have also tried to analy!e the performance of B/ / by introducing numerical data for the past E years. We e"plored their loan disbursementMrecovery performance critically. In this paper we focused on the I0# industry. <s we were to produce this report on /ME entrepreneurial development, our view of I0# industry both as a thrust potential industry and an industry consisting /MEs largely made us focus on that. We also e"plored the participation of women issue in view of the I0# industry. <t the end, we followed the market trend and tried to piece together a case in point of the prospects and barriers9 and propositions for the I0# industry for entrepreneurial development.
work and careers.On the business side, however, businesses that women entrepreneurs run from their homes are relatively new.

Women empowerment programmes

Women empowerment programmes need a holistic approach so that rather than focussing on just one symptom problem we focus on a wide range of issues which are closely associated with women9s marginali4ation and discrimination. /ddressing these issues in an integrated manner will help us to find a wholesome solution towards total empowerment of women in all respects.

We very well !now that women have always been marginali4ed and relegated to the status of subjugated class in the society. (his has been happening from thousands of years now. (he legacy of discrimination and oppression of women is seen in the economic system, culture and social norms and political systems around the world. 'ender e,uality and women9s empowerment need action at the government and legal level where repealing of discriminatory laws and passing of new laws needs to be done to give genuine e,ual rights to women. -urther empowering women economically, socially and politically should be a priority. /bove all aggressive mass movements, mobili4ations and campaigns are needed towards creating awareness and ending woman abuse and transforming gender relations.

Women empowerment programmes" Empowerment through multiple channels 2o the !ey lies in women empowerment through economic self-sufficiency and higher awareness levels on social, political and legal issues through mobili4ation. (here is also a need to recogni4e and emphasi4e the diverse roles of women such as reproductive, productive and community management. (he contribution of women towards the growth and development of the society has to be highlighted and emphasised through various means and medium.

Women empowerment programmes" Empowerment of women at the grass root level 3n fact true and real women empowerment can only ta!e place when women are organi4ed and strengthened at the grass root level. (he women9s movement and a wide-spread networ! of 5on-'overnment Organisations which have strong grass-roots presence and deep insight into women9s concerns have contributed in inspiring initiatives for the empowerment of women and their role becomes even more important today and in the days to come because of the various forms of direct and indirect discrimination against women that still e$ist in the society.

Women Empowerment .rogrammes" (he holistic 'oals and Objectives of total women empowerment"

8. /dvancement and development of women in every wal! of life. 6. Creating an environment through positive economic and social policies for development of women and reali4ation of their full potential. :. (he de-jure and de-facto enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedom by women on e,ual basis with men in all spheres of life that is political, economic, social, cultural and civil. ;. E,ual access to participation and decision ma!ing of women in social, political and economic life of the nation and the world.

<. E,ual access to women to health care, ,uality education at all levels, career and vocational guidance, employment, e,ual remuneration, occupational health and safety, social security and public office etc. =. 2trengthening legal systems aimed at elimination of all forms of discrimination against women. >. Changing discriminatory societal attitudes and community practices by active participation and involvement of both men and women. ?. ainstreaming a gender perspective in the development process. @. Elimination of discrimination and all forms of violence against women and the girl childA and 87. *uilding and strengthening partnerships with civil society, particularly women9s organi4ations.

Women empowerment programmes" 'ender perspective -urther for total women empowerment programmes we need mainstreaming of a 'ender .erspective in the +evelopment .rocess of the nation and the world. 3n this regard the following below mentioned topics and issues become paramount in terms of understanding and e$ecution at various levels"

8. Economic Empowerment of women-(his includes issues li!e .overty Eradication, icro Credit, Women and Economy, 'lobali4ation, Women and /griculture, Women and 3ndustry B 2upport 2ervices 6. 2ocial Empowerment of Women- (his includes issues li!e Education, Health, 5utrition, +rin!ing Water and 2anitation, Housing and 2helter, Environment B 2cience and (echnology :. Women in +ifficult Circumstances-(his includes issues li!e Ciolence against women, 1ights of the 'irl Child B ass edia

Women empowerment programmes" 'ender disparity and gender discrimination 'ender disparity manifests itself in various forms, the most obvious being the trend of continuously declining female ratio in the population in the last few decades in 3ndia. 2ocial stereotyping and violence at the domestic and societal levels are some of the other manifestations of discrimination against women that can be seen in one or the other way in most parts of the world.

Women empowerment programmes" 0ife of dependence ost importantly we need to recogni4e the fact that women are still economically very wea! and majority of them are forced to live an e$istence of economic dependence across the world. (herefore conception and e$ecution of total women empowerment programmes at every level and at every sphere of life is a must.
!hese are usually smaller businesses dealing with basic products and providing other online services. Against the belief of many people who assume that these are temporary settings, these businesses are very stable and are proving to have higher survival rates. !his is affirmed by data that illustrates that the average age of businesses which owners run from their homes is around six years. !his survival rate, compared to other form of businesses, is significant to the local economic initiatives. "ased on these facts, women entrepreneurs are forming a very important subgroup within the economy. #ur interest in this agenda is likely to benefit entrepreneurs, institutions and those who are actively involved in policy formulation. In addition, this book sets out to provide support and to act as a guide to established and aspiring female entrepreneurs.$ome checklists and practical tests have been used to make the decisionmaking process easier for both groups of entrepreneurs. $elfemployment and entrepreneurial activities are decisions that cannot be taken lightly. %or most women, families tend to take the first priority so the book has acknowledged this fact and a balance of arguments have been presented.