Gone are the days when Indian women were forced to stay at home, forcefully covering themselves in absolute uncomfortable manner from head to toe with the head always bowed down, more because of fear than respect. Women are now overtaking their male peers when it comes to education. Having higher education degrees is one of significant characteristics that many successful female entrepreneurs have in common.  Approximately, women entrepreneurs in the four southern states and Maharashtra account for over 50% of all women-led small-scale industrial units in India (e.g., Lijjat Papad).  Ancient era merely respected women in true sense so celebrating ‘Women’s Day ‘was out of question. 

On the occasion of Women’s Day, let us salute all the women entrepreneurs, qualities they possess, and their efforts in taking our country to the next level of growth. Here are few noteworthy aspects of women entrepreneurship in crux:

• Important source and contribution towards economic growth, well-being of the family and communities, poverty reduction, and women’s empowerment, etc.
• Create new jobs for themselves as well as others and also provide society with different solutions to management, organisation, and business problems
• Often face gender-based barriers to starting and growing their businesses, like discriminatory property, matrimonial and inheritance laws and/or cultural practices; lack of access to formal finance mechanisms; limited mobility and access to information and networks, etc.
• Women Entrepreneurs see the world through a different lens and, in turn, do things differently
• It has become a mandate in India to involve at least one woman in the board of directors of an organisation
• Despite all cultural, religious, and family barriers as well as other restrictions, women entrepreneurs are shining steadily like stars.  They are ready for the challenging world of male-dominated, competitive, and complex economic growth environment
• Hence, governments across the world as well as various developmental organizations are actively undertaking promotion of women entrepreneurs through various schemes and promotional measures. 

May it be  Indira Nooyi of Pepsico, Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon, Ekta Kapoor of Balaji Telefilm Ltd, Aishwarya Nair of The Leela Palace (Chain of luxury The Leela Hotel), Swati Parimal of Piramal Group, Vandana Luthra of VLCC, Chanda Kochhar of ICICI Bank and the list goes endless; not only believed in themselves with complete conviction and gusto but also ensured good support system for organisation and women’s growth in the process.

Women, you are capable of going out and taking the entire world in your strides. Let this Women’s Day be the change you wish to see in society, and the nation at large.