IIM to launch women entrepreneurship program

Posted on November 17, 2016

NSRCEL, an entrepreneurship cell at IIM – Bangalore, will launch ‘Women Entrepreneurship Program’ with the help of funding from Goldman Sachs, an investment bank. The objective of the program is to encourage and support Indian women to launch their own startups. IIM Bangalore said that the program will be offered free of charge to all aspiring women entrepreneurs. “We have designed this course by combining the latest research on entrepreneurial methods and best practices”, said Suresh Bhagavatula, chairperson of entrepreneurial ecosystem development at NSRCEL. IIM Bangalore will provide the program through a customized, three-phase model which incorporates online and classroom training as well as business incubation. IIM – B said the program will teach both entrepreneurial and managerial skills to Indian women along with providing mentoring, networking opportunities and access to capital for them.

“Goldman Sachs is committed to investing in communities and is honored to support IIM – B in their efforts to educate the next generation of women entrepreneurs in India”, said Sonjoy Chatterjee, Chairman and CEO of Goldman Sachs (India). He said Goldman Sachs has long invested in the potential of women entrepreneurs, through its ten thousand plus Women initiatives, to fuel economic growth and help build stronger communities globally. India was placed in the ‘bottom three’ among 31 countries, when it came to opportunities for women to start entrepreneurial initiatives, according to a 2016, Global Women Entrepreneur Leaders Scorecard, sponsored by Dell. The U.S. led the list with a score of 71, followed by Canada, Australia, Sweden and the U.K. The scorecard of 31 countries ranked India in the 29th position followed only by Pakistan and Bangladesh! Read more on Entrepreneurs

It is absolutely shameful that India has been ranked third last, in the Global Women Entrepreneur Leaders Scorecard, when it came to opportunities for women entrepreneurs, ahead of only Bangladesh and Pakistan, which are both underdeveloped countries! History of India (or even the world for that matter) has shown that women are equally talented and capable as men are in all aspects. Examples include women like Rani Lakshmi Bhai, Indira Gandhi, Chanda Kochhar, Prathiba Patil, Aishwarya Roy etcetera. Therefore it is only fair that we give them equal opportunity to make India proud. Women entrepreneurs, who got the opportunity, have already made India proud, like Chanda Kochhar who founded India’s second largest bank and the largest private bank, ICICI. We should reform our faulty culture and give future women entrepreneurs equal opportunity in entrepreneurship and to contribute to the society. I am sure that they will make India proud through their contributions. Read more on Startup News