Empowering Women as Change Makers: The Role of Entrepreneurship in Gender Equality

Emphasizing on the empowerment of women, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon, once remarked \"The world will never realize 100% of its goals if 50% of its people cannot realize their full potential.\"

Several world leaders have highlighted how empowering women could be the cornerstone of our journey towards a society rooted in progress and equality. By providing equal opportunities, support, and resources to women, it becomes possible to help them reach their full potential, forging a path to a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Women’s empowerment is also enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal 5 and is a critical component of the World Bank Gender Strategy 2024–2030. This strategy embodies the ambition to accelerate gender equality and fostering a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future.

Securing women\'s empowerment necessitates working towards their financial independence so that they gain the confidence to make positive choices and assert themselves. Entrepreneurial ventures help women generate income, build wealth, and gain financial freedom. This financial independence also has a ripple effect on their families and communities. When women have control over their finances, they can invest in education, healthcare, and other essential resources for themselves and their families, thus having a positive impact on their standard of living.

Nestlé India recognizes the need to create an environment that provides equal entrepreneurial opportunities, especially for rural women. Project Swabhimaan, an initiative by Nestlé India, is aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among rural women. The purpose is to enable and empower rural women to earn a livelihood by making Nestlé’s products accessible to rural communities. Started in 2022 in Uttar Pradesh, Project Swabhimaan has reached 25 states in the country and has touched the lives of more than 2,100 women entrepreneurs in rural India. Rural women entrepreneurs have been identified from each panchayat and trained in product knowledge, marketing, sales, local distribution, merchandising, and communications. Under this project, the women entrepreneurs connect with the local distributor for the supply of ordered products through the digital medium.

Initiatives such as Project Swabhimaan also lend women the ability to challenge societal norms and stereotypes. In fields such as sales where men usually outnumber women, women entrepreneurs become powerful role models, inspiring other women to pursue their such aspirations. They effectively demonstrate that women are equally capable and competent. This shift in perception helps to break down barriers and encourages more women to engage in entrepreneurship, ultimately contributing to the advancement of gender equality.

In conclusion, as Peter Drucker, the Austrian American educator and author, wisely stated, \"The best way to predict the future is to create it.\" By equipping women with the necessary tools, resources, and opportunities to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys, the society should continue to empower them and help them shape a future that is filled with possibilities and opportunities.