by Jackie VanderBrug |
8:00 AM September 4, 2013
Harvard Business Review
Women’s entrepreneurship has hit a media tipping point. The question
is: Is it just a passing media fad that will soon be a blip on the radar
screen, or is it actually a real, fundamental economic force that’s
reshaping the world? I think it’s safe to say that it’s the latter.
Women-owned entities in the formal sector represent approximately 37% of enterprises globally — a market worthy of attention by businesses and policy makers alike.
Smart companies are watching this trend. They see that women —
including the billion women entering the formal economy as employees and
entrepreneurs — will dictate their business success. Coca-Cola sees
five million women entrepreneurs as part of its global supply chain by
2020. Wal-Mart understands the power of women-led firms to innovate compelling products. Itau perceives the 50% of Brazilian entrepreneurs that are women as a core market, and other members of the Global Banking Alliance for Women
think similarly. And all firms should realize that in the war for
talent, women are increasingly seeing entrepreneurship as a compelling
alternative if a career path appears stunted.
