Tag: women business

  • The Business of Ayurveda: Why Women-Led Startups Are Thriving in This Space

    This article has been contributed by Akshi Khandelwal, Founder & CEO, Butterfly Ayurveda.

    Indian households have practiced Ayurveda for many years. What began as conventional treatment methods and home cures has now grown into a flourishing industry. We can observe its impact on everything from food and drink to skincare and wellness.

    Ayurveda has also gained popularity recently among entrepreneurs looking to bring its benefits to a larger audience in innovative ways. Interestingly, a notable portion of these are run by women. 

    What, though, is causing this trend? Why are women-led startups in the Ayurvedic industry doing so well?

    Ayurveda’s Increasing Market Potential

    The demand for Ayurvedic products has grown as more individuals are turning to natural & organic wellness solutions. According to some reports, India’s Ayurveda market will expand at a CAGR of more than 15 percent in the years to come. For women entrepreneurs, this presents a promising opportunity to enter and make a mark in the industry. 

    Factors Driving Women Entrepreneurs in Ayurveda

    1. Cultural Heritage and Knowledge

    Many women grow up learning Ayurvedic practices from their mothers and grandmothers. This inherited wisdom gives them authentic insights that go beyond textbook understanding. They’ve witnessed these practices in action, which lends credibility to their ventures.

    2. Consumer Trust in Women-Led Wellness Brands

    Customers are more likely to trust women-led brands when it comes to skincare and wellness. Many of these brands focus on transparency, sustainability, & ethical sourcing. Today’s conscious customers really appreciate these values.

    3. The Digital Revolution and Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) Model

    The rise of e-commerce has made it easier for women to enter the Ayurvedic market. They can directly approach customers with the aid of social media, influencer marketing, and online stores and no longer have to depend on traditional retail networks. A considerable share of women-led brands have successfully built strong online communities by engaging customers through content-driven strategies that educate and inform about Ayurvedic practices.


    The Rise of Organic Food Brands in India
    Organic foods’ popularity in India has grown in the past decade as consumers recognize the link between diet, health, and the environment.


    4. Government Initiatives and Funding Support

    The Indian government has launched a number of programs, including Startup India initiatives and Mudra loans, to encourage women entrepreneurs. At the same time, there is growing investor interest in women-led health & wellness brands.

    5. Creative Product Lines

    Unlike conventional Ayurvedic companies, several new women-led ventures are focusing on niche and unique product categories – personalized skincare, organic teas, Ayurvedic nutraceuticals, & menstrual wellness products. They are able to carve out a distinct space in a crowded market because of this differentiation.

    6. Sustainability and Ethical Sourcing

    Many female business owners are dedicated to sustainable business concepts. They value fair trade, eco-friendly packaging, and naturally sourced ingredients, all of which are in line with the global trend toward ethical consumerism. This emphasis on sustainability draws in a devoted clientele alongside building their brand reputation.

    7. Ayurveda Experts Venturing into Entrepreneurship

    Nowadays, a lot of female pharmacologists and Ayurvedic physicians are starting their own product lineups or working with entrepreneurs who wish to get into this market. Their business spirit and longstanding knowledge of Ayurvedic formulas are resulting in the development of superior, scientifically supported products.

    Obstacles and the Path Ahead

    Even with its progress, Ayurveda still presents difficulties for female business owners. A major challenge is securing funding. Bigger, more established brands continue to dominate the wellness sector. This makes it hard to draw in investors. Persuading stakeholders to invest in new Ayurvedic ventures can be an uphill battle. Strong business plans and a unique scalability vision would be necessary. 

    Funding for R&D and new product development is also crucial. When items are launched without adequate research, credibility and customer trust may suffer. To help entrepreneurs in creating high-quality, verified products, government agencies and investors need to offer greater assistance in this area.

    Another challenge is competition. Since well-known Ayurvedic companies have a large portion of the market, it could be challenging for startups to make an impression. Women entrepreneurs need to concentrate on developing strong customer trust. They can offer specialized products and innovate them further to stand out.

    Regulatory hurdles also add complexity. Businesses that use Ayurveda must follow strict government laws. This includes things like obtaining approval from organizations such as the FSSAI & the AYUSH Ministry. It can be expensive & time-consuming to make sure safety rules, quality control, and licensing requirements are met.

    The outlook looks promising, nevertheless. Women entrepreneurs can make their mark with strategic planning and persistence. For the women interested in Ayurveda, the message is clear: there has never been a better time to blend traditional knowledge with contemporary market needs.


    Top 10 Best Organic Beauty Startups and Products in India
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  • Restart Your Career With These Top 7 Returnship Programs for Women in India

    Women have always been an important part of some of the greatest accomplishments in the world. History has been created by them in every sector, especially the business industry, with the leadership qualities they are the head of some most popular companies in the world.  

    Even after facing a roadblock, they broke all the chains of shackles and are soaring high in the sky. The business world has seen some great women taking charge and leading from the front.

    Just like how women are playing big roles in every industry, there are women out there who have stopped working for different reasons. Those reasons range from taking care of their own self including mental and physical health, taking care of their families or some other pivotal reasons. As time passes, when they feel like coming back into the work environment, they might feel awkward and a little hard while re-launching their career.

    Nevertheless, various organisations have taken a step forward to eradicate this problem. Now we get to see a number of big companies organizing returnship programs. In this article, we will talk about the top returnship programs for women in India. So let’s get started.

    “I want every little girl who’s been told she’s bossy to be told again she has leadership skills.” -Sheryl Sandberg

    Google Next Innings Program
    Amazon Rekindle Program
    IBM’s Tech Re-Entry Program
    PayPal Recharge India
    Microsoft Springboard
    Accenture Return to Work Program
    Thoughtworks Vapasi

    What is Returnship Programs?

    There are people who leave their career behind and take their time off for many different reasons; it can be because of their child, to take care of their mental health or physical health, or learn some new things about themselves.

    When they decide to return to their job once again, they might need some help, because of that some organisation offers returnship programs to them.

    Returnship program is like an internship where instead of starting from the bottom you get introduced to your previous role and it helps you in understanding your role. Apart from that you also get to catch up with all the changes that have happened during your absence.

    Google Next Innings Program

    Google Next Innings Program Homepage
    Google Next Innings Program Homepage

    This program is for women who are looking forward to going back to their careers once again. Various experience leaders come forward to guide and mentor you. Some of the people who got selected, get a chance to work on Google Cloud’s core technologies where one not only get to see the development of the product but also learn and gain experiences from the experts. It is paid programme of 6 months and can be only done in Bangalore and Hyderabad

    To join this program one must have 3 years of experience, must possess a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or other technical related fields. Apart from that, a certain level of knowledge in programming languages is also needed. It is applicable for those women who have taken a break of 6 months or more.

    Amazon Rekindle Program

    Amazon Rekindle Program Homepage
    Amazon Rekindle Program Homepage

    One of the largest E-commerce platforms has launched this returnship program for women who have taken at least a 12-month break from their careers. This program is a ladder for those women who want to acquire the same position that they were in before their break.

    Those who want to apply for this program must come with previous experience in their position. After candidates join this program, information regarding interviews is provided to them apart from that they get mentored by experienced people as well.

    IBM’s Tech Re-Entry Program

    IBM’s Tech Re-Entry Program Homepage
    IBM’s Tech Re-Entry Program Homepage

    This program is for those who have taken at least 2 years of break from their careers and is thinking to return to their place. Women applying for this program must have experience before, the best part even if someone has taken a break of 20 years, they can also apply in this program.

    This program was launched in 2018 and it attains women to sharpen their skills and give them an opportunity to work with new technologies. Throughout the program, the candidates will be mentored by experienced professionals and the best from the rest will be taken for full time in IBM.

    PayPal Recharge India

    PayPal Recharge India
    PayPal Recharge India

    Available in Bangalore and Chennai, this program is for those women who have been working in the tech industry and has been away from their work for 1 to 5 years and is now thinking about returning to their job. Through this program, one gets to join PayPal’s boot camp and some also get into the skill-building programs and also get attractive job offers at PayPal as well.

    Microsoft Springboard

    Microsoft Springboard Homepage
    Microsoft Springboard Homepage

    The program offered by Microsoft in India provides an opportunity for women who have taken at least a break of 6 months from their careers. The applicants of the Springboard program must have experience of four years. The program is for 16 weeks and it is said to be a popular one for women who are trying to revive their careers after the break. Experienced leaders took the charge to mentor the candidates.

    Accenture Return to Work Program

    Accenture Return to Work Homepage
    Accenture Return to Work Homepage

    Accenture Return is 16 weeks paid returnship program, applicable to those who are away for at least 18 months or more. Job training is offered through this program, workshops are done to polish some skills of the candidate, especially their soft skills. After the tenure of the program is completed, Accenture offers full-time job opportunities to the candidates.

    Thoughtworks Vapasi

    Thoughtworks Vapasi Homepage
    Thoughtworks Vapasi Homepage

    Just like the above programs, Thoughtworks Vapasi is all about helping women make a comeback to their workplace after a break. Women must have at least three years of experience to apply for this program and have taken a break of 1 to 8 years. This program provides mentoring from experienced leaders and helps in enhancing the leadership qualities of the candidates. The program is hosted in the Bangalore and Hyderabad offices of Thoughtworks.

    Conclusion

    Women have proven their mettle again and again in every industry, the returnship programs help women to take charge of their career after the break that they took.  All these returnship programs provide valuable skills, mentorship and opportunities which helps Indian women to make a comeback in their professional life with a bang.

    FAQs

    How do returnship works?

    Returnships programs are internships offered to adults who took a break from their careers, they provide career opportunities by sharpening their skills, providing mentorships so that the candidates can go back to their previous job roles.

    Are returnships paid?

    Yes, many of the returnships are paid and are quite helpful for people.

    What is the benefit of the returnship program?

    Returnship program helps in learning new skills and new job opportunities are offered. It helps you get back to your work after a break and lets you start where you left off.

  • The Past, Present and Future of Women Entrepreneurship

    From fighting for equal rights to building individual opportunities, the world for women has been burgeoning day by day. Initially, in some countries, women are determined to stay indoors, looking after their children and running errands. Where their ideas/talents are tantamount to nothing and considered only for domestic responsibilities. But, some things weren’t the same, women took the place to change certain lifestyles over the past few decades.

    For instance, those women, who were locked up inside their home, cooking and taking care of their children, later came out as Models, teachers, doctors, CEOs, presidents, content writers, actresses and even implemented their ideas in starting up their own business.

    In this coming of age, many young women are looking forward to creating their own career path. One such career- Women Entrepreneurship, that impacted greater differences in the sectors of employment these days.

    Past of Women Entrepreneurship
    Present of Women entrepreneurship
    Future of Women entrepreneurship
    Things that will help Promote Women Entrepreneurship in the World
    FAQ

    Past of Women Entrepreneurship

    If we take World War II as an example in the development of women entrepreneurship, then I would say that there wasn’t any improvement. As women are there to treat soldiers who are wounded in the war.

    When world war II ended, the concept of women-centric aroused in the society, as many were a part of many businesses such as sewing, nursing, teaching and so on.

    Speaking of which, the term ‘feminism’ flourished in many countries, at that time women were fighting for their right to vote, equal wages and opportunities. Later periods emerged in many sectors, for instance, Back in 1739, it is cited that Eliza Lucas was the first female entrepreneur to take control of her family business in the US.

    Besides, Kalpana Saroj is the first woman entrepreneur of India and the CEO of Kamani Tubes, which is worth 112 million dollars.

    Kalpana Saroj
    Kalpana Saroj

    Top 5 Female-Founded Fashion Brands in India in 2021
    As Female Entrepreneurs are taking over the world here’s a story of 5 female entrepreneurs and how they embarked on their fashion startup journey.


    Present of Women entrepreneurship

    At the beginning of the 21st century, women entrepreneurship became an upsurge thing, as many young ladies came forward and cast their talent in various ways and reported an increase in women-owned business enterprises that are playing an essential role in developing the Indian economy.

    Even though they suffer a lot in the present society in regards to discrimination, pay & wages, gender inequality and so many. Not only the outer surface of the society, but also they face socio-cultural barriers.

    One such example, Oprah Gail Winfrey, who is famously known as The Oprah Winfrey Show Host, media representative and greatest Black philanthropist in U.S history.

    Oprah Gail Winfrey
    Oprah Winfrey

    As you know, she was once the richest African American of the 20th century. And ranked as the most influential woman in the world since 2007. Speaking of the present, Women entrepreneurship is gaining importance in India in the wake of economic liberalization and globalization.

    In the world of development, the Government of India implemented numerous schemes to encourage as many as young women in the field of entrepreneurship by introducing MSME Scheme, Annapurna Scheme, Dena Shakti Scheme, TREAD (Trade-Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development) Scheme, NSDM, DICs and many other women entrepreneurship schemes.

    Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world- Hillary Clinton.

    Future of Women entrepreneurship

    Speaking of gender equality in entrepreneurship has played a vital role in creating opportunities, innovation, and growth.

    Starting from Vandana Luthra, to Falguni Nayar, the founder of Nykaa, the women’s contribution in the entrepreneurship field is exceptional. However, over time, women are coming forward to entrepreneurship training, with their innovative minds and ideas, the future of women’s entrepreneurship is in good hands.

    Moreover, Indian Military services’ has opened hands to welcome young women is another start for a great future. In addition to that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Employment Generation Programme and other schemes have pitched in to support large to small enterprises.

    On the other hand, over 30% of the population are employed women, and 3% are self-employed. Having that said, the future of entrepreneurship in women’s hands not only creates opportunities for themselves but others too. Women are the epitome of love, passion, duty, and beauty so that their positive energy could be used in managing resources efficiently.

    Subsequently, the process of Women’s entrepreneurship is a natural one with the utter encouragement of women entrepreneurs on one side, the women empowerment is all set.

    Furthermore, women-owned businesses have rapidly increased in this pandemic, especially on social media. Plus, the requisite skill, knowledge, and adaptability in business are the main reasons for women to emerge into business ventures. Consequently, the role of a woman entrepreneur is a person who accepts challenging roles to meet her personal needs and become economically independent.

    Things that will help Promote Women Entrepreneurship in the World

    Meanwhile, the participation rate of younger women in the entrepreneurship field is higher than that of men. Yet, the women’s entrepreneurial role is limited and inadequate. The small-scale industries are the worst hit, with only 10% owned by women.

    So following this, three effective and immediate measures are suggested by experts:

    Promotion of women entrepreneurs

    Promotion of women entrepreneurs in micro-enterprises: with additional support from proper government and society, these upcoming women can cultivate sustainable, organized, and growth-oriented enterprises to a great extent.

    Institutional and Policy-based support

    There are still several government policies and regulations on businesses and industries out there. Nevertheless, certain modifications have to be made to ease the administrative hurdles for women entrepreneurs.

    Special Incentives

    Special incentives, tax rebates, duty cuts can be provided with women as supervisors. Women with great minds not only make the best out of the best but also lead the path for the next generation.  So sectors with the prerequisite of entrepreneurial talent as well as exceptional communication skills can right away approach these incredible women.


    Melanie Perkins Success Story: How Melanie Perkins Built Canva
    Melanie Perkins is an Australian technology entrepreneur and billionaire. She is the CEO and co-founder of Canva. Let’s look at how she founded and built Canva from scratch.


    Conclusion

    A strong desire to do something positive is an inbuilt quality of any entrepreneurial woman, plus, the capability to contribute values in both family and social life is what makes them stand out from others.

    Unlike men, who are capable of committing to social life, women have a self-role as well as a personal role like mother, wife, daughter. Entrepreneurial women have the impulse to focus on improving the living standards for women on education and personal development as well.

    On the whole, women entrepreneurs account for and will account for improved economic growth and stability within a country. They not only look for progression for themselves but also set inspirations for other women to start a business. Eventually, this vision will also help in reducing the gender gap in the workspace and overall a better place to live.

    FAQ

    Who is the most famous female entrepreneur?

    Wang Laichun, Oprah Winfrey, Shery Sandberg, Sara Blakely, Cher Wang, Folorunsho Alakija, Susan Wojcicki, and Indra Nooyi are some of the  most famous female entrepreneurs.

    Why India needs more Women Entrepreneurs?

    Economic Growth, Narrowing Gender Gap, Company Culture & Safety at Workplace, Funding/Investment to Women-led Startups and Social Change.

    What are the schemes provided by Government for women entrepreneurship?

    Government initiatives to boost women entrepreneurship are Mudra Yojana Scheme, Annapurna Scheme, Dena Shakti Scheme, and TREAD (Trade-Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development) Scheme.

  • Top 6 Popular Female-founded Fashion Brands in the World

    When it comes to fashion, women’s style and sense are considered the most superior ones! It’s never a waste to spend your money in a women-run business. And it’s pretty amazing how women are growing in every field.

    From bringing our very first cloth to creating an entire wardrobe collection for us, women have always been there. In today’s time, there are women at every top position and especially in fashion, you’ll find some fabulous women designers.

    Women, being considered to have the best knowledge of fashion sense and when these turn into designers or top-clothing brands’ owners then, the products are enchanting. From glamorous clothing to glitter handbags collection to sexy and bold lingerie, women have created a huge range of products. And you’ll be amazed at how some of the most famous brands across the globe are owned and run by women. Speaking of which, we have presented this article where we have described the top fashion brands founded by women all across the globe. So, let’s get started!

    Cambridge Satchel Co.
    MaisonCléo
    Simonett
    Kitri
    Nubian Skin
    Henning
    FAQ

    Cambridge Satchel Co.

    Founder- Julie Deane and Freda Thomas

    Founding year- 2008

    Julie Deane and Freda Thomas
    Julie Deane and Freda Thomas

    Cambridge Satchel Co. is a very famous British manufacturer, started by Julie Deane and her mother. They started the company with the mindset of creating a sparkling timeless style in British fashion. The brand, Cambridge Satchel Co. is quite famous for its iconic satchel piece which literally blew the internet by becoming the fashion sensation of all time and has also been seen on the arms of style packs.

    The Bowls Bag
    The Bowls Bag

    Cambridge Satchel Co. always brings out the most iconic product range. The brand’s latest launched product- The Bowls Bag is inspired by the Crown Green Bowls bag concept. Today, Cambridge Satchel Co. is considered one of the most preferable clothing brands for women.

    MaisonCléo

    Founder- Marie Dewet and Cléo

    Founding year- 2017

    Marie Dewet and Cléo
    Marie Dewet and Cléo

    MaisonCléo started on the very famous social media platform, Instagram by the French mother-daughter duo. The brand is famous for using reclaimed fabrics for manufacturing their super fancy and comfortable, vintage-inspired designs.  

    Although MaisonCléo does not provide the ultimate 24×7 service or purchasing as they manufacture products in a limited number. The main reason behind this is it’s a time-consuming but efficient process of manufacturing. All this fabric-related information is available on the E-commerce stores in order to provide the users with transparency of pricing.

    However, the brand is working on tactics to overcome this. So far, they have developed a Net-A-Porter for accessing all ranges of styles anytime.


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    Simonett

    Founder- Simonett Pereira

    Founding year- 2020

    Simonett Pereira
    Simonett Pereira

    Simonett, a brand created with a distinctive sense of fashion which also, resembles empowering women of all eras. The brand is known to have an individualistic approach towards fashion and style. The founder worked with many independent designers from all around the globe and developed a sustainable practice and design in women clothing.

    Simonett Pereira believes that, when one knows their worth and talent, then there isn’t a single thing that can stop them! Her favourite piece from her collection is the Kika pants, which is presented by workwear manufacturers in vegan leather.

    Kitri

    Founder- Haeni Kim

    Founding year- 2017

    Haeni Kim
    Haeni Kim

    Haeni launched her brand with the belief of creating distinctive design collections and innovative pieces for women of the modern era. Kitri is known to have the most premium women clothing designer with great pricing options.

    Kirti also creates clothing in limited numbers in order to prevent bumping into someone with the same attire.

    Nubian Skin

    Founder- Ade Hassan

    Founding year- 2013

    Ade Hassan
    Ade Hassan

    Nubian Skin is widely known for its unique approach towards women’s fashion by creating skin-tone hosiery collections. In the market of white women clothing, women of colour couldn’t get enough options. And that’s what inspired Ade Hassan to start her Nubian Skin, for women of colour. Nubian Skin manufactures all kinds of clothes including Nude lingerie, hosiery and intimates for all colours of women.

    Henning

    Founder- Lauren Chan

    Founding year- 2009

    Lauren Chan
    Lauren Chan

    Henning is a very popular clothing brand for plus-size women. For plus-size women, there are limited options of clothing luxury and Lauren Chan, being herself a plus-size consumer, faced great difficulty in finding the right clothes size for her. Fashion often excludes plus-size women, and that’s why She launched a brand specifically for plus-size women.

    Henning creates a great collection for women’s clothing of all categories and brings luxury fashion and styling options for women from sizes 12 to 26.  


    Top 5 Female-Founded Fashion Brands in India in 2021
    As Female Entrepreneurs are taking over the world here’s a story of 5 female entrepreneurs and how they embarked on their fashion startup journey.


    Conclusion

    Women and fashion are the perfect combinations of all time. They create brands with an incredible concept and promote women empowerment at all costs. In today’s clothing market, there is a great range of options for all shapes and colours of women. And for this, the biggest credit goes to that woman. Through this article, we presented how women are exceeding in the fashion world. Stay tuned for more such content!

    FAQ

    What are the most famous clothing brand in the world?

    Nike, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Gucci are some of the most famous clothing brands in India.

    Who is the most influential person in fashion?

    Princess Diana, Rihanna, Zendaya, Audrey Hepburn and Harry Styles are some of the most influential person in fashion.

    Who is the world’s best female fashion designer?

    Jeanne Lanvin, Jeanne Paquin, Coco Chanel, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Claire McCardell are some of the world’s best female fashion designer.

  • Stats about Women Workforce in Corporate India

    We find all sorts empowering posts flying around social media when women’s day is around the corner. No, this article isn’t going to talk about the same old mediocre state of women in the Indian ecosystem. Well we’ve certainty risen above that. We are rather going to be talking about how the women workforce is at it and shattering the society glass ceiling and climbing the corporate ladder one step at a time.

    Although social media tries to push the feminine button a dozen times, what we know is a drop in the ocean. The state of Indian women in corporates is notably growing but the pace is that of the tortoise who wins slowly and steadily.

    It is safe to say we have come a long way from assuming that women were only confined to kitchens and producing babies. Especially in India, where so many women have little to almost no agency to take career oriented decisions, corporate offices still experience male dominance.

    How many Women work in Corporate India
    Women in Indian Parliament
    Stats Around the Globe
    Reasons for declining numbers of Female workers in India
    FAQ

    How many Women work in Corporate India

    According to the Fortune 500 list published in march 2020, only 29 Indian companies had women at senior management and executive levels. The number has grown by a measly 6% in the past decade. Today, women own around 20% of micro scale business in urban and rural parts of the country.

    In July 2020, more than 1.3 billion people will have lived in India. Women constitute 48% of this large figure. Women account for 19% of India’s total labor force. Around 3.8% are CEOs and Managing Directors of listed companies in India. This number has seen a slight uphill from 3.2% in 2014.

    Whereas only 8% women are found to be in top management positions, 13.8% women are board of directors in companies listed on the NSE. Chief Human Resource Officers, a global domain where countries like the US and South Africa overrule positions, and India is still trying to reach a mark, women attributes are only 30%.


    Ghazal Alagh, Co-founder, Mamaearth, On Women Entrepreneurship
    The history of International Women’s Day dates back to 1908, when some 15,000women marched on New York City in the name of better working hours, fairer pay,and the right to vote. Three years later in 1911, the first official IWD wascelebrated throughout Europe as more than a million women walked …


    According to Fortune magazine, Listed below are the top 10 women in corporate India who are shattering the corporate glass ceiling

    • Nita Ambani- Non-Executive Director, Reliance Industries, Co-owner, Mumbai Indians
    • Zia Modi- Co-founder, AZB & Partners
    • Kiran Mazumdar Shaw- Executive Chairperson, Biocon
    • Suneeta Reddy- Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise
    • Renu Sud Karnad- Managing Director, HDFC
    • Samina Hamied- Executive Chairperson, Cipla
    • Vinita Gupta- CEO, Lupin
    • Kallie Puri- Vice Chairperson, India Today Group
    • Ashu Suyash- Managing Director and CEO, CRISIL
    • Roshni Nadar Malhotra- Chairperson, HCL Technologies

    Smita V Krishna has been named the richest women in India with a net worth of 434 billion INR and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw was named India’s richest self made women and was ranked third in the overall ranking in 2019.

    While we cannot stop raging about how Indian women are reigning top positions, we cannot forget the dip in the total female labor participation. One would rejoice as the country’s GDP has grown over 6% from 2014 resulting in more employment opportunities, but there has been a considerable decline in the rate of female labor participation, from 42% in 2005 to 23% in 2018.

    It is as if half the female workforce just dissolved themselves. This could be a huge concern to the Indian Ecosystem, since it has abundant labor power and according to one estimate, India has the potential to grow its GDP by $2.9 trillion USD by 2050.


    What prejudices do women face as entrepreneurs?
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    Women in Indian Parliament

    In 2019, only 78 of 542 seats in the lower house of the Parliament were filled by women. This is a record high figure. However, this percentage amounts to only 14% which is still a long way from equivalence.

    Strength of Women in Lok Sabha
    Strength of Women in Lok Sabha

    Stats Around the Globe

    The global participation of women in senior management has grown to 29%, the highest number ever recorded. In 2020, it maintains the status quo. 87% of global mid-market companies have at least one woman in a senior management role in 2020.

    The women employees seem to crowd the areas like administration and support functions, while men are deep into Operations, R&D, P&L, qualities that are often reviewed for positions for CEO and Board of directors. Around the globe, 40% of women are Human Resource Directors, 17% are chief marketing officers and 16% are Chief Information Officers.


    The Challenges Women Face as Entrepreneurs
    For a long time now, Bollywood and the storybooks have been raking mullahsthrough selling the idea of a fairy-tale. Something that’s so deeply rooted andthen marketed in and around women that many have started believing that afairy-tale is the ultimate destination for a woman in our country and e…


    Reasons for declining numbers of Female workers in India

    Although Indian women are resiliently grabbing a chance at education, it seems that not many of them are looking forward for paid work. As said earlier, women, especially married and from rural towns, have no agency when it comes to the decision of taking up a paid job.

    Many families believe that men are the primary breadwinners. This assumption is keeping women devoid work and are confined to schooling kids at home and taking care of the elderly. The gender roles are so engraved in our society that women are calling it quits and returning home to take care of their families.

    Apart from this, gender pay gap, sexual harassment and proximity to work are major reasons why female workers don’t engage themselves in paid jobs.

    FAQ

    What percentage of the workforce is female in India?

    19.9% of the workforce is female in India.

    Who is the first woman CEO in India?

    Indra Nooyi is the CEO of Pepsi and ranked as the world’s 100 most powerful women.

    Who is the Highest paid female CEO?

    Lisa Su is the highest paid female CEO according to the Associated Press’ annual report on CEO salaries.

    Who is the most powerful woman in India?

    The non-executive director of Reliance Industries Nita Ambani is the powerful woman in India.

    Conclusion

    India is far from parity when it comes to gender based policies. We have to get better at giving women the agency and opportunities, and in such a way that women don’t hesitate to accept jobs and excel in their fields. Women contribute to nearly half the country’s population.

    We need to believe in the female workforce to accelerate the growth of Indian economy. We hope that more women empower themselves by not just being a meal maker but by becoming a meal earner.