TiE initiates Streeshaktu to focus on women entrepreneurs across India

The world's largest non-profit network of entrepreneurs and professionals involved with developing entrepreneurship, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE), today launched a women entrepreneurship platform, TiE Streeshakti.

Quoting the results of a survey, TiE says that 90 per cent of women at the grassroot level need help in training and education to improve their business skills and 78 per cent of them were keen to re-start their business again but need encouragement and support from family and other like minded women.

It said Streeshakti was conceptualised to reach out to women who run micro, medium and large-scale enterprises across manufacturing, services and social sectors.

TSS is spearheaded by a panel of accomplished and successful women - Anita Ramchandran from PE firm Cerebrus; Bharati Jacob, partner SeedFund; Chanda Kocchar, CEO-designate ICICI Bank; Farzana Haque, director, business development, TCS; Gita Dang, founder director, Talent Advisory Services; Ireena Vittal, head retail practices, McKinsey, Rama Bijapurkar, marketing strategist and author; and Shikha Sharma, MD and CEO, ICICI Prudential Insurance. Also on the panel are TIE members and successful entrepreneursincluding, Shilpi Kapoor, Purvi Sheth and TIE Mumbai president Sridar Iyengar.

"We are seeing the emergence of women entrepreneurs in small towns as well as in cities, and many of them have the acumen, fortitude and will to see their businesses succeed and achieve their potential," TiE said in a statement. "Active mentoring as well as support and encouragement from their peers will help these entrepreneurs scale their businesses and learn from each other, and that is the catalyst that TiE Streeshakti endeavours to be."

TiE says that in the next two-three months its 13 India chapters will reach out to these women entrepreneurs by holding knowledge and training sessions in over 15 cities. Some of these women entrepreneurs will also be encouraged to send in their applications for the Streeshakti awards and workshop programme in June 2009.

Iyengar said, "Without doubt, this is the first time ever that a large scale programme of this nature has been attempted by any industry body. It is also an attempt to give shape to women entrepreneur's dreams through mentoring, networking and sharing."
 
A study conducted by Ernst & Young titled 'Groundbreakers', observes, "At a time when our global economy is facing its greatest challenge in decades, we have to capitalise on the contributions women can make. While many corporations and governments have for years been making efforts to tap the hidden potential of women - and many have launched laudable initiatives to do so - now is the time to accelerate those efforts. It's time to place renewed emphasis on women as a resource to move businesses and economies ahead. The learning that comes from a crisis is a terrible thing to waste."

Calling women the hidden wealth creators in our society, TiE said "TSS will endeavour to connect women from different socio-economic strata and educational backgrounds. It also recognizes the growing role of women in the Indian entrepreneurial eco-system. The theme will be celebratory - 'Inspiring women entrepreneurs in India'. "