Women Entrepreneurship in India

Since ages India has been men-dominated country. But, time is changing now. Women in India have outraged the fact that since hundreds of years they had been following the orders of men. They now know their rights and duties and with the spreading awareness amongst the women they are now no less then the men. They are walking with men at the same pace in each and every field.

Following this latest trend, women are no less and backward any more. Many women have established their own economy i.e., entrepreneurial empire and are now ruling their world as they wished to. The hidden entrepreneurial potentials of women have gradually been changing with the growing sensitivity to the role and economic status in the society. Skill, knowledge and adaptability in business are the main reasons for women to emerge into business ventures.

"Women Entrepreneur" is a person who accepts challenging role to meet her personal needs and become economically independent. A strong desire to do something positive is an inbuilt quality of entrepreneurial women, who is capable of contributing values in both family and social life. This is great news. But, a part of women in some parts of the country still do not know their power. They don't know that they can break the domination over men and move on, walk on and fight for their freedom. They can live like princess in their own Disney world.

Some serious constraints faced by women trying to enter in this field are:

·         Lack of Confidence: women lack confidence in their strength and competence. The family members and the society are reluctant to stand beside their entrepreneurial growth.

·         Socio- Cultural Barriers: Women's family and personal obligations are sometimes a great barrier for succeeding in business career.

·         Market-oriented risks - Stiff competition in the market and lack of mobility of women make the dependence of women entrepreneurs on middleman indispensable.

·         Motivational factors - Self motivation can be realized through a mind set for a successful business, attitude to take up risk and behavior towards the business society by shouldering the social responsibilities.

·         Knowledge in Business Administration - Women must be educated and trained constantly to acquire the skills and knowledge in all the functional areas of business management.

·         Identifying the available resources - Women are hesitant to find out the access to cater their needs in the financial and marketing areas.

Apart from the barriers let's see what all qualities does an entrepreneur requires? They are:   

   Innovative thinking and farsightedness.

   Quick and effective decision making skill.

   Ability to mobilize and marshal resources.

   Strong determination and self confidence.

   Preparedness to take risks.

   Accepting changes in right time.

   Access and alertness to latest scientific and technological information

Many women have these qualities but they never got a platform to showcase their talents and hence they don't know their real abilities.

Lets' join hands and mark the beginning to raise the women and influence them, motivate them by showing them the various vibrant paths waiting for them. And all the women, who've read it, remember: "Nothing is impossible..." this is what you teach your students or children. Follow it for yourself as well..!!! Life will then be wonderfull.

Entrepreneurs and Entrepreneurship!!!

Have you ever thought of owning the world? Ever thought about reaching to such a height that the world always admires you and you become a quotable figure? Okay, leave all this. If I talk of small things then, did you ever think of starting your own company?

Once in a months' time I'm sure that you come across some stories in which a 14 or also at times a 12 year old kid started with some work and now he is a millionaire. The same time you end up thinking that you were at his place, enjoying the world.

What did he do to become such a person and reach a position that he is at now. While reading about them, you might have come across a word ENTREPRENEUR. Yes, an entrepreneur. A word which has helped middle aged, middle class children to end up their teenage life by being a millionaire.

You might be thinking who is an entrepreneur? Let me tell you, a person who takes the risk of entering into the market with some basic amount of money but strong innovative ideas to showcase to the world is an entrepreneur. A question hitting your mind straight away would be- what makes him so popular but? Well, it's all in his ideas, his confidence, his hard-working nature, skills and much more.

To become a successful person you should have the following qualities:

·         Hard work: he/she should be hardworking

·         Leadership: he/she should have good leadership qualities

·         Responsible: he/she should be responsible enough for anything good/bad happens to his team.

·         Focused: he/she should set his targets and should be determined to achieve them

·         Realistic: he/she should think practically

·         Positivity: he/she should have a positive approach

·         Character: he/she should have a good character.

Apart from all this, what lies in being a good entrepreneur? What benefits do you get?

One, you are the leader. You have to fight with the competitors around the world. You would not have to work under somebody anymore. And above all, the world would be open to you as a platform. You will be in direct contact to the consumers who would either eat/ throw away your product at once. You will be solely responsible for your ideas. You will be at either risk/ benefits. If it is a success you never know when you turn from a slum dog to a millionaire and if you lose, nobody knows what your future would be then.

So, If you think you are a good leader. You can take initiatives and you have the power to take risks and also, you are confident enough to present before the world your innovative idea in any field then............. Go for it. Maybe you can build the next interesting, motivational, influencing entrepreneur story and lead the world. And always remember: "where there is a will, there is always a way..!!!"

Not all Opportunities Matter...

And I was in a state of complete surprise when I signed-in my e-mail ID and read the very first un-read mail which was sent to me 2 hours ago.

The sender wanted to publish my work, damn ready to give me the platform I’ve been waiting for since past 4 months but, there followed a list of terms and conditions too and I went cold reading them. What should I do? Be happy for having my manuscript approved or be sad for the terms that to some extent were unacceptable?

OPPORTUNITY, it knocks only once and when it’s gone you’d probably curse yourself to death for having lost it. There are always many things that go into our mind when a new opportunity comes our way. At times, you want some experience only and the other times, you always want to end up earning and joining the millionaire’s league.

But, to gather the right and complete information about the work and its type is important too and believe me, in today’s fast paced world, there is no lack of opportunities. You just need to be at the right path, at the right time to take on the full advantage of it.

Dedicated to all the undergraduates of my entire city so that, they always think and act and do not just end up following the trend or one of their XYZ friends.

My own start-up Experience and Learning...

“And you think you’ll start up with your own start-up today and end up earning in millions tomorrow?” japed one of our batch-mate and friend.

“Dude! You don’t have that right skill-set and neither do you have any experience, how are you going to survive in this market where there are thousands other struggling for oneself?” came in another shot from yet another friend.

“Listen guys, all you need is just a strong idea to get your start-up working!!!” said Vicky (name changed) bluntly.

I was indeed in a state of surprise. Not knowing what to do. Support a rising, budding entrepreneur or join the league of all those de-motivators?

I chose to be the 1st one. After-all, I too wanted some adventure, some thrill in my life and what was more adventurous than being a co-founder of a company? I wanted to grab the opportunity and munch it at that particular moment. I never knew at that point of time that- 3 years later, it would still be a strugglers life; a life where we’d be fighting for our own identity; a life where we’d still be struggling to survive.

“But, Vicky! This won’t work! You need to be calm and patient. Being under-graduates, we won’t be welcomed everywhere. What we need to showcase is, our skills and our work (idea to be more specific) so that people know we are the real stars, the DOERS!!! We need to move on and work harder” was what I always said whenever we weren’t able to make it up with our customers.

Entrepreneurship... one word which defines your potential, your skills, your future, your character or rather your overall personality

I started with this journey in my 1st year of engineering... not knowing what the term is, that defined “Company owners/ Starters”. We registered a society and worked with our full dedication; everyday on a new idea (almost). Though not all the ideas worked, but, we never lost hope. It was then, in our 2nd year of graduation that we came across the term entrepreneur and yes! we finally knew who we were.

Entrepreneurs are crazy beings, lost in their own world. Their life is their own dream, their own world and their food ... nothing more than their work and their vision at large.

Today, I am a final year graduate, still supporting and helping my company grow with a dream to rule the world in the coming years. People laugh at it but what matters to me is my 100% dedication towards my work. We lose on many deals because people think we are novice but, we don’t mind. Every time we fall, we know for the next time that this won’t work. We learn from our mistakes and move on.

3 years of our start-up, and we’ve finally made it to a few government projects for the betterment of our own city. Next week, we’ll be opening our office which only adds to our excitement.

And so, life has proved to me- what matter is one’s will power. There’s nobody to stop you when you want to live your own dream; provided you are ready to take on the risk. You just need to work, search for the right guidance and if this is not possible then, start learning from your own mistakes and move on!

-Namita Jain

Co-founder, TDC