Businesswomen AWAKE

By Our Correspondent

Bangalore, May 15: Women’s businesses, which were earlier derisively labelled as ‘Papad-Pickle-Powder’ businesses, are now being perceived differently and women entrepreneurs have come into the economic mainstream of the country, Ms Kiran Majumdar Shaw, CMD, Biocon, told reporters on Thursday.

Many opportunities are open to businesswomen because every state is making strong efforts to provide special funding to them. Ms Shaw credited the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Karnataka (AWAKE) with making untiring efforts towards this evolution.

The association, which is celebrating its silver jubilee, will host an international summit, expo and B2B to highlight the ‘Role and contribution of women to the global economy’ at the Bangalore Palace Grounds, from May 28 to June 2. It will see the participation of successful women entrepreneurs from 14 countries, such as France, Germany, Vietnam, Australia, Italy and Denmark.

"This common platform will help to address issues that women don’t voice normally due to extreme diffidence" Ms Shaw added.

Speaking on the issue of leadership, she said that women make good bosses because they are sensitive whereas men can be ruthless when it comes to things such as performance app-raisals of employees. "Men don’t mentor enough, and women should learn not to take constructive criticism as attempts to cause personal affront", she advised.