Investing in WomenThe Way Forward Towards Socio-economic Progress

By Shahreen Kamaluddin_______________________________________Adjunct Professor + Industry Advisor at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology

My Approach To this Subject

Global environment for women entrepreneurship

Barriers to women entrepreneurship Why invest in women? Way forward Options open to women The mindset for entrepreneurial success My story

Global environment -Barriers to Women Entrepreneurship

Socio-economic diversity affects the types of constraints women entrepreneurs face in starting, operating, and growing their businesses

Limited access to land and capital

Complex + costly procedures for opening + closing businesses

Global environment -Barriers to Women Entrepreneurship

Limited influence on policy formation

Constraints on business expansion – lack of business/managerial training, technical support, family responsibilities, limited presence of support organizations

Laws, institutions, culture, and norms shape entrepreneurial processes and outcomes for women

Why Invest in Women?

Women form more than 50% of world’s productive workforceWhere there is gender equality and growth – there is an increase in national production levels and earnings - higher economic growthWorking women have greater control of family resources, invest more resources in their children’s health and education, thus passing the benefits on to future generations

Educate women and service providers about women’s rights.

Strengthen women’s business associations

Amend inheritance and matrimonial laws to allow women to own, transfer, and use land as collateral; joint titling(Vietnam)

Way ForwardExternal changes + improvements needed

Provide for business / managerial training + technical support

Improve access to credit/ and customized credit products (Philippines)

Provide reliable + affordable child-care facilities

Way ForwardExternal changes + improvements needed

Options Open To Women

to change circumstances – use your voice to advocate change and reform

change the way you look at current circumstances; circumvent the obstacles – franchising, single entrepreneur, home-based entrepreneurship

change the way you look at yourself - be totally self-reliant

The Mindset for Entrepreneurial Success

Invest in yourself – self-improvement plan Develop a positive mental attitude Believe in yourself Be self-reliant – look within and tap all your

creative resources You are not alone – you have divine help The RAS (recticular activating system) is your

Genie – command it accurately

It believes whatever messages you give it – positive or negative, it will carry them out for you

Commit to a new goal and the RAS will help you focus only on the right action

The Mindset for Entrepreneurial Success

Know what you want

Know why you want it

Believe that it is possible to have what you want

The Mindset for Entrepreneurial Success

Write down your goal in great detail

Focus on what you want, not on what you don’t want

See the goal achieved in your mind (creative visualization)

Pursue a definite plan of action

The Mindset for Entrepreneurial Success

Get excited about the goal Recite positive affirmations throughout the day Today is the beginning of my amazing fortune. I am attracting all the help that I need to

succeed I am destined for success All my decisions turn out for the best Everyday, in everyway, I am becoming happier,

healthier and wealthier

The Mindset for Entrepreneurial Success

Believe without a doubt you will achieve your goal

Believe you deserve to get what you want

Love, value, respect and honor yourself always

The Mindset for Entrepreneurial Success

“If it is to be, it is up to me”

The future is created in the present

NOW is the time

My Story

Changed the way I looked at my circumstances Circumvented the obstacles Changed the way I looked at myself Believed in myself and decided to do it my way Decided to be totally self-reliant Tapped into all my talents + resources Invested in myself – self-improvement plan Reinvented myself along the way I am enjoying the ride

MAKE ALL YOUR DREAMSMAKE ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE! COME TRUE!