Afghan women entrepreneurs look to India for opportunities - Washington Post

They run fleets of trucks, supply construction material, design software programs and make furniture. Women entrepreneurs in war-torn Afghanistan have been breaking many cultural ceilings in the past decade.

But now, many of them are anxious to find new clients as they prepare for the 2014 drawdown when they may lose their biggest client – the U.S. military bases. And India’s vast and lucrative market is their next frontier.
Afghan entrepreneur Sara Rahmani holds a dress in her Kabul clothing shop March 12, 2005. Afghanistan’s female entrepreneurs are looking to India for business opportunities as the U.S. begins its drawdown. (David Guttenfelder/AP)

“It will be a big challenge once the Americans and the others leave. The local market in Afghanistan has not progressed much,” said Masuma Rezaie, 24-year-old founder of the evocatively named company First Afghan Lady Logistics and Services. “But there is big money in the Indian market.”

To this end, Rezaie and other businesswomen came to New Delhi on Wednesday to seek deals, training and technology from Indian companies. The three-day business-to-business meetings, facilitated by USAID and the Consortium of Women Entrepreneurs of India, comes at a time when the impending withdrawal of the international forces from Afghanistan is also raising concerns about the future of women’s rights to study and work.

Rezaie’s company supplies security equipment, furniture, potable water, generators, construction machinery and laborers to the international military camps and humanitarian groups across Afghanistan.

The war and rebuilding of the nation has birthed many Rosie-the-Riveters in Kabul, who are going beyond handicrafts and textiles. One company is called “Courageous Afghan Women Construction Company & Logistical Services.”

“The Taliban attacked my trucks twice,” Rezaie said. “But not because I am a woman, but because I am doing business with Americans.” She runs an all-women office in Kabul. “We keep the women in the offices to do the brain work, and send the men into the field.”

The organizers hoped business deals will be struck over the next three days.

Another entrepreneur, Malika Qanih, wants to learn the process of manufacturing herbal medicines from Indians.

“Afghanistan is rich in undiscovered, untapped herbs. Big business potential,” said Malika Qanih, 60, chief executive of Sun Pharma. On Friday, she will visit a factory owned by Shahnaz Husain, czarina of Indian herbal cosmetics.

Qanih hopes that Afghan women will not have to go back to the past after 2014. “Many countries have signed strategic partnerships with Afghanistan. I hope they will not forget to protect us even after 2014,” she said.

More world news coverage:

— Downing of Turkish jet serves as warning

— Pakistani high court targets new PM

— Russian heartland fears NATO transit

— Read more headlines from around the world

View the original article here

With video: African-American women find beauty, liberation and business opportunities in the coils of their hair - Detroit Free Press

Pregnancy motivated Gwen Jimmere to stop using chemicals to straighten her thick, curly hair.

"I was pregnant and I knew anything I put on my body goes to the baby," says Jimmere, 29, of Canton.

Reading this story on a phone or tablet? Click here to see the video.

She had tried wearing her hair without a chemical straightener a decade earlier. But the fervor for the afros of the '60s and '70s was long over, and there was little information or encouragement on how to pull off a natural style.

Most black women, like Jimmere, were perming, hot-pressing or flat-ironing their kinky, curly hair. Straight hair -- better still, long straight hair -- was the way to fit in, the way to be pretty and conform to the standard of American beauty.

Fast-forward to 2011 when Jimmere chose to set her own standard by rocking her hair in all its natural glory. This go-round, she found an abundance of support -- meet-ups of women wearing natural hairstyles, books on natural hair care, celebrities talking about their stylish, natural dos.

But perhaps the biggest signifier of the current natural hair movement is found online. A community of women created a virtual pulpit for natural hair that includes social forums, video instructions, tutorials, product websites and personal testimonies.

It's not that black women aren't straightening their hair -- most still do. But a growing number of women of all ages are finding beauty, acceptance, liberation and business opportunities in wearing natural hairstyles like braids, locks, twists, knots, afros and various creations in-between.

"Women are sharing information on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, everywhere. It's endless," says Espy Thomas, 31, of Detroit, who with her sister Jennifer, 29, hosts periodic natural hair meet-ups that attract hundreds of women.

"More and more black women are opting to wear their natural hair and discontinue use of relaxers," says a 2011 Mintel report showing that from 2006 to 2011, the sales of relaxer kits dropped 17% to $38 million. The trend is "expected to continue," the report states.

Mintel is a global market research company. A consumer study it conducted showed that the percentage of black women who said they wore their hair natural jumped from 26% in 2010 to 36% in 2011.

"The shift from relaxed to natural is becoming so common that it has spurred growth of a whole new subsegment of products for women who are 'transitioning,' with products that minimize breakage as hair transitions from chemically straightened to curly or kinky," the report states.

It's also a booming business, says Sue Silva, marketing director for the Sofn'free, a hair care line. "Everybody in the business is starting to manufacturer a curly line," she says. And not just for African-American women.

"Our target is 70% African American and 30% other. A lot of other women -- Jewish, Latina and redheads who tend to have coarse, wiry, coiled textured hair -- are interested in these products. Caucasian women have curly hair, too."

She noted that Target, one of the nation's largest retailers, now has a section devoted to natural hair products in most of its stores. And several of those products are produced by companies owned by black women, including Miss Jessie's and Taliah Waajid.

Sharon Madison, president and CEO of the engineering firm Madison, Madison International in Detroit, went natural after chemicals made her hair weak and caused it to break off nearly 15 years ago.

"I wanted to symbolize that whether or not you're in business, in the arts, whatever your field, you can be yourself, and we have beautiful hair," Madison says.

Much to her surprise, people in the corporate and civic circles she frequents complimented her hair.

"I think the issue is for us to embrace ourselves and recognize our own beauty," says Madison, 58.

She knew she'd made the right decision when she got a treasured compliment a few years ago at a gala of the Friends of African and African-American Art at the Detroit Institute of the Arts.

"Sidney Poitier told me my hair was gorgeous," Madison says.

Women are going natural for many reasons, including the desire to live a healthier lifestyle in general, growing pride and appreciation for one's own hair, more celebs -- Viola Davis at the Oscars and Solange Knowles at the Met Ball in New York City -- signaling that natural hair is in and beautiful.

There's also more variety and creativity in styles, says Mo Williams, who works in a barber and beauty salon where she's the only natural stylist.

"More people see it can be funky or appealing even in the corporate world," says Williams, 24, who works at Little Willie's Hair Salon in northwest Detroit. "People no longer think you have to have hair straight or laid down to be attractive."

Several women also say natural hair allows black women to be more physically active. Moisture from sweat, rain or pool water can cause some black women's straight hair to bunch up or tightly curl, requiring extra time to restyle.

"I can go the gym, I can get in the pool and not be concerned about my hair," says Jennifer Thomas, cofounder with her sister of the Detroit meet-ups. "I don't have to run from the water when it rains."

Whatever the reason, women say they experience a sense of liberation after going natural.

"It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt free," says Jahzara Swyer, 30, of Detroit who has been wearing natural styles for 12 years. Her daughter, Naja, 6, and son, Menelik, 9, wear locks.

"I just couldn't take the pressure of maintaining my roots, always getting a perm to make sure my edges were perfectly straight. I needed to be me."

More Details: Many different looks

Two-strand twists: Intertwines two sections of hair to form loose twisted strands.

Cornrows: Braids that lay on the scalp and that are designed to form various shapes.

Twist-out: Styles created by simply untwisting strands or unbraiding hair.

Natural: Afros of various shapes and sizes.

Locks: Coiled, rope-like strands of hair of various thickness and length, created in various ways including allowing strands to form naturally by simply leaving the hair alone after washing, rubbing pieces of hair in the palm of the hand or using styling implements.

Sisterlocks: Super-thin, uniform, rope-like locks formed with a crochet-like needle. They can be styled many different ways.

View the original article here

With video: African-American women find beauty, liberation and business opportunities in the coils of their hair - Detroit Free Press

Pregnancy motivated Gwen Jimmere to stop using chemicals to straighten her thick, curly hair.

"I was pregnant and I knew anything I put on my body goes to the baby," says Jimmere, 29, of Canton.

Reading this story on a phone or tablet? Click here to see the video.

She had tried wearing her hair without a chemical straightener a decade earlier. But the fervor for the afros of the '60s and '70s was long over, and there was little information or encouragement on how to pull off a natural style.

Most black women, like Jimmere, were perming, hot-pressing or flat-ironing their kinky, curly hair. Straight hair -- better still, long straight hair -- was the way to fit in, the way to be pretty and conform to the standard of American beauty.

Fast-forward to 2011 when Jimmere chose to set her own standard by rocking her hair in all its natural glory. This go-round, she found an abundance of support -- meet-ups of women wearing natural hairstyles, books on natural hair care, celebrities talking about their stylish, natural dos.

But perhaps the biggest signifier of the current natural hair movement is found online. A community of women created a virtual pulpit for natural hair that includes social forums, video instructions, tutorials, product websites and personal testimonies.

It's not that black women aren't straightening their hair -- most still do. But a growing number of women of all ages are finding beauty, acceptance, liberation and business opportunities in wearing natural hairstyles like braids, locks, twists, knots, afros and various creations in-between.

"Women are sharing information on Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, everywhere. It's endless," says Espy Thomas, 31, of Detroit, who with her sister Jennifer, 29, hosts periodic natural hair meet-ups that attract hundreds of women.

"More and more black women are opting to wear their natural hair and discontinue use of relaxers," says a 2011 Mintel report showing that from 2006 to 2011, the sales of relaxer kits dropped 17% to $38 million. The trend is "expected to continue," the report states.

Mintel is a global market research company. A consumer study it conducted showed that the percentage of black women who said they wore their hair natural jumped from 26% in 2010 to 36% in 2011.

"The shift from relaxed to natural is becoming so common that it has spurred growth of a whole new subsegment of products for women who are 'transitioning,' with products that minimize breakage as hair transitions from chemically straightened to curly or kinky," the report states.

It's also a booming business, says Sue Silva, marketing director for the Sofn'free, a hair care line. "Everybody in the business is starting to manufacturer a curly line," she says. And not just for African-American women.

"Our target is 70% African American and 30% other. A lot of other women -- Jewish, Latina and redheads who tend to have coarse, wiry, coiled textured hair -- are interested in these products. Caucasian women have curly hair, too."

She noted that Target, one of the nation's largest retailers, now has a section devoted to natural hair products in most of its stores. And several of those products are produced by companies owned by black women, including Miss Jessie's and Taliah Waajid.

Sharon Madison, president and CEO of the engineering firm Madison, Madison International in Detroit, went natural after chemicals made her hair weak and caused it to break off nearly 15 years ago.

"I wanted to symbolize that whether or not you're in business, in the arts, whatever your field, you can be yourself, and we have beautiful hair," Madison says.

Much to her surprise, people in the corporate and civic circles she frequents complimented her hair.

"I think the issue is for us to embrace ourselves and recognize our own beauty," says Madison, 58.

She knew she'd made the right decision when she got a treasured compliment a few years ago at a gala of the Friends of African and African-American Art at the Detroit Institute of the Arts.

"Sidney Poitier told me my hair was gorgeous," Madison says.

Women are going natural for many reasons, including the desire to live a healthier lifestyle in general, growing pride and appreciation for one's own hair, more celebs -- Viola Davis at the Oscars and Solange Knowles at the Met Ball in New York City -- signaling that natural hair is in and beautiful.

There's also more variety and creativity in styles, says Mo Williams, who works in a barber and beauty salon where she's the only natural stylist.

"More people see it can be funky or appealing even in the corporate world," says Williams, 24, who works at Little Willie's Hair Salon in northwest Detroit. "People no longer think you have to have hair straight or laid down to be attractive."

Several women also say natural hair allows black women to be more physically active. Moisture from sweat, rain or pool water can cause some black women's straight hair to bunch up or tightly curl, requiring extra time to restyle.

"I can go the gym, I can get in the pool and not be concerned about my hair," says Jennifer Thomas, cofounder with her sister of the Detroit meet-ups. "I don't have to run from the water when it rains."

Whatever the reason, women say they experience a sense of liberation after going natural.

"It was like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt free," says Jahzara Swyer, 30, of Detroit who has been wearing natural styles for 12 years. Her daughter, Naja, 6, and son, Menelik, 9, wear locks.

"I just couldn't take the pressure of maintaining my roots, always getting a perm to make sure my edges were perfectly straight. I needed to be me."

More Details: Many different looks

Two-strand twists: Intertwines two sections of hair to form loose twisted strands.

Cornrows: Braids that lay on the scalp and that are designed to form various shapes.

Twist-out: Styles created by simply untwisting strands or unbraiding hair.

Natural: Afros of various shapes and sizes.

Locks: Coiled, rope-like strands of hair of various thickness and length, created in various ways including allowing strands to form naturally by simply leaving the hair alone after washing, rubbing pieces of hair in the palm of the hand or using styling implements.

Sisterlocks: Super-thin, uniform, rope-like locks formed with a crochet-like needle. They can be styled many different ways.

View the original article here

Optimism, Opportunity Unite Women Owned Businesses at Dell India 2012 Event - Businessweek

New study points to India as fertile business environment for female entrepreneurs

Tweet this: India-based women entrepreneurs expect 90 percent business growth in next 5 years according to new Dell study #DWEN http://dell.to/LgoEDm

NEW DELHI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May. 31, 2012-- According to a new study commissioned by Dell, the ideal country to be in if you’re a woman starting a business in 2012 could well be India, the location of its upcoming Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) event taking place in New Delhi, June 17-19, 2012.

At the event, Dell will be releasing the results of its Women’s Global Entrepreneurship Study, examining indicators of business confidence among women entrepreneurs in different countries, along with their motivations, financing options and sources of support.

Early results show tremendous optimism on the part of women entrepreneurs in India. When asked about expectations for business growth, women entrepreneurs in India anticipate an average of 90 percent growth over the next five years. When you consider that India has a projected GDP growth rate of 8.2 percent in 2011-2012, according to the Indian Economic Outlook Report, women entrepreneurs in India have good reason to be feeling bullish.

Previous DWEN events in Shanghai (2010) and Rio de Janeiro (2011) brought together female global entrepreneurs to share best practices, build business opportunities and celebrate female influence in the global economy. Together, DWEN members and Dell chose India for this exclusive event because of its role as one of the largest emerging markets, as well as its influence on the world of technology.

Host Moira Forbes, publisher of Forbes Woman, will lead the two-day event around the theme “Innovation through Collaboration.” The agenda is structured as an exchange of ideas between female founders, CEOs, innovative leaders, business icons, experts and thought leaders who run businesses in top markets. With speakers representing Canada, the United States, Brazil, China, Japan, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network will address topics such as doing business in India, social entrepreneurship and strategic giving, sustainability, customer engagement, social media strategy, going global, and more. Speakers include:

Susan Feldman, Co-founder and Chief Merchandising Officer, One Kings Lane Carley Roney, Co-founder and Editor in Chief, XO Group, Inc. Lola Ogunnaike, Today Show Contributor Martina Sandrock, General Manager, Iglo GmbH Jane Silber, CEO, Canonical Carolyn S. Miles, President and CEO, Save the Children Shoba Purushothaman, Founder, Training Ventures Ltd. & Founder, The NewsMarket Aishwarya and Amruda Nair of The Leela Group Kay Koplovitz, Chairman & CEO, Koplovitz & Co., Chairman, Springboard Enterprises Frédérique Clavel, President, Fédération Pionnières Tara Hunt, CEO and Co-founder, Buyosphere Sarah Prevette, Founder, Sprouter and BetaKit Danae Ringelmann, Co-founder, IndieGoGo Ameera Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd. Lakshmi Pratury, Host and Curator, The INK Conference Michele Caminos, Managing Vice President, Gartner Terri McCullough, Executive Director, Tory Burch Foundation

“Women are playing increasingly important roles in leadership and we’re seeing some of the most exciting global growth coming from female-led companies,” said Forbes. “I recently traveled to Asia for the inaugural Forbes Forum: Asia’s Power Business Women and saw first-hand how the region’s female business leaders and entrepreneurs are changing the face of business and India is at the forefront of this phenomenon.”

Dell Women’s Global Entrepreneurship Study, Key Findings:

The agenda for the event will be supported by data uncovered as part of the Dell Women’s Global Entrepreneurship Study, which highlights positive growth trends for female entrepreneurs in India including:

Business is Booming: 71 percent of female entrepreneurs in India say their business is very successful, and eight in 10 female entrepreneurs in India say they are hiring. Opportunity for Technology: 74 percent of female entrepreneurs in India say their technology needs are getting more complex. Don’t Quit Your Day Job: 90 percent of female entrepreneurs in India started their business while maintaining their day job. Positive Social Impact is Important: 85 percent of female entrepreneurs in India believe it is very important that their business has a positive social impact.

“Dell recognizes how critical entrepreneurs are to global economic recovery and job creation and our commitment to their growth goes well beyond the products and solutions we sell,” Karen Quintos, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Dell Inc. “The Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network celebrates the unique perspective and approach that women bring to business—and reinforces the role of technology in enabling these women to reach new markets, expand their companies and provide value to their customers.”

Women leaders are invited to join in the conversation and share who and what inspires and motivates them as entrepreneurs and leaders via the Women Powering Business Network group on LinkedIn.

DWEN is supported by Endeavor, Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneurial Winning Women and the Kauffman Foundation. Content about the event can be found on Twitter via @DellBizWomen and by following #dwen.

About Dell

As the visionary outcome of a true entrepreneur, Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) is committed to help power the success of entrepreneurs by developing technology solutions that help their businesses increase productivity and grow. Through the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, Dell supports and nurtures the community of female entrepreneurs by helping provide access to knowledge, networks, and capital. Learn more at www.dell.com/women.

Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50293984&lang=en

Source: Dell Inc.

Dell Inc.
Kara Krautter, 512-724-0928
Kara_Krautter@Dell.com
or
WPP Team Dell
Jillian Fisher, 415-336-8641
Jillian.Fisher@WPPTeamDell.com

View the original article here

Optimism, Opportunity Unite Women Owned Businesses at Dell India 2012 Event - Press Trust

According to a new study commissioned by Dell, the ideal country to be in if you're a woman starting a business in 2012 could well be India, the location of its forthcoming Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) event taking place in New Delhi, June 17-19 2012.

At the event, Dell will be releasing the results of its Women's Global Entrepreneurship Study, examining indicators of business confidence among women entrepreneurs in different countries, along with their motivations, financing options and sources of support.

Early results show tremendous optimism on the part of women entrepreneurs in India. When asked about expectations for business growth, women entrepreneurs in India anticipate an average of 90 percent over the next five years. When you consider that India has a projected GDP growth rate of 8.2 percent in 2011-2012, according to the Indian Economic Outlook Report, women entrepreneurs in India have good reason to be feeling bullish.

Previous DWEN events in Shanghai (2010) and Rio de Janeiro (2011) included female global entrepreneurs that connected with one another at the events and continue to share best practices, build business opportunities and celebrate female influence in the global economy. Together, DWEN members and Dell chose India for this exclusive event because of its role as one of the largest emerging markets, as well as its influence on the world of technology.

Host Moira Forbes, publisher of Forbes Woman, will lead the exclusive, two-day event around the theme, "Innovation through Collaboration." The agenda is structured as an exchange of ideas between female founders, CEOs, innovative leaders, business icons, experts and thought leaders who run businesses in top markets. With speakers representing Canada, the United States, Brazil, China, Japan, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network will address topics such as doing business in India, social entrepreneurship and strategic giving, sustainability, customer engagement, social media strategy, going global, and more. Speakers include:

-- Susan Feldman, Co-founder and Chief Merchandising Officer, One Kings Lane

-- Carley Roney, Co-founder and Editor in Chief, XO Group, Inc.

-- Lola Ogunnaike, Today Show Contributor

-- Martina Sandrock, General Manager, Iglo GmbH

-- Jane Silber, CEO, Canonical

-- Carolyn S. Miles, President and CEO, Save the Children

-- Shoba Purushothaman, Founder, Training Ventures Ltd. & Founder, The NewsMarket

-- Aishwarya and Amruda Nair of The Leela Group

-- Kay Koplovitz, Chairman & CEO, Koplovitz & Co. , Chairman, Springboard Enterprises

-- Frédérique Clavel, President, Fédération Pionnières

-- Tara Hunt, CEO and Co-founder, Buyosphere

-- Sarah Prevette, Founder, Sprouter and BetaKit

-- Danae Ringelmann, Co-founder, IndieGoGo

-- Ameera Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd.

-- Lakshmi Pratury, Host and Curator, The INK Conference

"Women are playing increasingly important roles in leadership and we're seeing some of the most exciting global growth coming from female-led companies," said Moira Forbes, of ForbesWoman. "I recently traveled to Asia for the inaugural Forbes Forum: Asia's Power Business Women and saw first-hand how the region's female business leaders and entrepreneurs are changing the face of business and India is at the forefront of this phenomenon."

Dell Women's Global Entrepreneurship Study, Key Findings:

The agenda for the event will be supported by data uncovered as part of the Dell Women's Global Entrepreneurship Study, which highlighted positive growth trends for female entrepreneurs in India including:

-- Business is Booming: 71 percent of female entrepreneurs in India say their business is very successful, and eight in 10 female entrepreneurs in India say they are hiring.

-- Opportunity for Technology: 74 percent of female entrepreneurs in India say their technology needs are getting more complex.

-- Don't Quit Your Day Job: 90 percent of female entrepreneurs in India started their business while maintaining their day job.

-- Positive Social Impact is important: 85 percent of female entrepreneurs in India believe it is very important that their business has a positive social impact.

"Dell recognizes how critical entrepreneurs are to global economic recovery and job creation and our commitment to their growth goes well beyond the products and solutions we sell," Karen Quintos, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Dell Inc. "The Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network celebrates the unique perspective and approach that women bring to business-and reinforces the role of technology in enabling these women to reach new markets, expand their companies and provide value to their customers."

Women leaders are invited to join in the conversation and share who and what inspires and motivates them as entrepreneurs and leaders via the Women Powering Business Network group on LinkedIn.

DWEN is supported by Endeavor, Ernst & Young's Entrepreneurial Winning Women and the Kauffman Foundation. Content about the event can be found on Twitter via @DellBizWomen and by following #dwen.

View the original article here

Government Business Grants for Women – Learn what Opportunities Exist Through Government-Grant.biz - PR-USA.net

2012 ? Government-Grant.biz is a special site dedicated to those who are interested in taking advantage of the seemingly limitless number of grants available through the US government and private sponsors. The site gives information and advice regarding the step-by-step grant process and what to expect. When it comes to various types of government business grants for women, Government-Grant.biz explains the different opportunities that abound for women in business, and those seeking to improve their respective careers.

There is no denying the fact that historically, women have suffered from a distinct disadvantage when it comes to business and trade. Fortunately, times have changed, and women now have more opportunities to expand their careers and business paths than ever before. Women are actually encouraged nowadays to delve into business and enhance their natural abilities by going into a career that is right for them.

Government-Grant.biz is one site that is a source of valuable information for women wanting to attain government business grants. The site knows that there are plenty of opportunities for women in business ? if they know where to look. As such, Government-Grant.biz gives a bevy of recommendations and advice about the entire grant application system in the country.

Government-Grant.biz attests that there are indeed government business grants for women ? but not in the form they might expect. The federal government gives grants that come in the form of occupational-specific awards which cover extended research ventures, technology design, and agriculture. However, there are grants for women in business that come from family foundations, national foundations, and corporate foundational entities. There are also community-level, private foundation grants for women who demonstrate leadership and exceptional accomplishments. One example of this is the Ann Bancroft foundation, which awards grants for women in business.

It is clear that although there is no specific form of small business grant for women through the federal government, women still have plenty of opportunities to expand their careers and delve into different industries. Thanks to Government-Grant.biz, women have a better idea of where to go and what to expect in order to attain business success.

If you?d like more information about government business grants for women, visit http://www.government-grant.biz/women-business-grants/

View the original article here

Optimism, Opportunity Unite Women Owned Businesses at Dell India 2012 Event - Marketwatch

NEW DELHI, May 31, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- --Tweet this: India-based women entrepreneurs expect 90 percent business growth in next 5 years according to new Dell study #DWEN http://dell.to/LgoEDm

According to a new study commissioned by Dell, the ideal country to be in if you're a woman starting a business in 2012 could well be India, the location of its upcoming Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network (DWEN) event taking place in New Delhi, June 17-19, 2012.

At the event, Dell will be releasing the results of its Women's Global Entrepreneurship Study, examining indicators of business confidence among women entrepreneurs in different countries, along with their motivations, financing options and sources of support.

Early results show tremendous optimism on the part of women entrepreneurs in India. When asked about expectations for business growth, women entrepreneurs in India anticipate an average of 90 percent growth over the next five years. When you consider that India has a projected GDP growth rate of 8.2 percent in 2011-2012, according to the Indian Economic Outlook Report, women entrepreneurs in India have good reason to be feeling bullish.

Previous DWEN events in Shanghai (2010) and Rio de Janeiro (2011) brought together female global entrepreneurs to share best practices, build business opportunities and celebrate female influence in the global economy. Together, DWEN members and Dell chose India for this exclusive event because of its role as one of the largest emerging markets, as well as its influence on the world of technology.

Host Moira Forbes, publisher of Forbes Woman, will lead the two-day event around the theme "Innovation through Collaboration." The agenda is structured as an exchange of ideas between female founders, CEOs, innovative leaders, business icons, experts and thought leaders who run businesses in top markets. With speakers representing Canada, the United States, Brazil, China, Japan, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, France and Germany, the Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network will address topics such as doing business in India, social entrepreneurship and strategic giving, sustainability, customer engagement, social media strategy, going global, and more. Speakers include:

-- Susan Feldman, Co-founder and Chief Merchandising Officer, One Kings Lane

-- Carley Roney, Co-founder and Editor in Chief, XO Group, Inc.

-- Lola Ogunnaike, Today Show Contributor

-- Martina Sandrock, General Manager, Iglo GmbH

-- Jane Silber, CEO, Canonical

-- Carolyn S. Miles, President and CEO, Save the Children

-- Shoba Purushothaman, Founder, Training Ventures Ltd. & Founder, The NewsMarket

-- Aishwarya and Amruda Nair of The Leela Group

-- Kay Koplovitz, Chairman & CEO, Koplovitz & Co., Chairman, Springboard Enterprises

-- Frederique Clavel, President, Federation Pionnieres

-- Tara Hunt, CEO and Co-founder, Buyosphere

-- Sarah Prevette, Founder, Sprouter and BetaKit

-- Danae Ringelmann, Co-founder, IndieGoGo

-- Ameera Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd.

-- Lakshmi Pratury, Host and Curator, The INK Conference

-- Michele Caminos, Managing Vice President, Gartner

-- Terri McCullough, Executive Director, Tory Burch Foundation

"Women are playing increasingly important roles in leadership and we're seeing some of the most exciting global growth coming from female-led companies," said Forbes. "I recently traveled to Asia for the inaugural Forbes Forum: Asia's Power Business Women and saw first-hand how the region's female business leaders and entrepreneurs are changing the face of business and India is at the forefront of this phenomenon."

Dell Women's Global Entrepreneurship Study, Key Findings:

The agenda for the event will be supported by data uncovered as part of the Dell Women's Global Entrepreneurship Study, which highlights positive growth trends for female entrepreneurs in India including:

-- Business is Booming: 71 percent of female entrepreneurs in India say their business is very successful, and eight in 10 female entrepreneurs in India say they are hiring.

-- Opportunity for Technology: 74 percent of female entrepreneurs in India say their technology needs are getting more complex.

-- Don't Quit Your Day Job: 90 percent of female entrepreneurs in India started their business while maintaining their day job.

-- Positive Social Impact is Important: 85 percent of female entrepreneurs in India believe it is very important that their business has a positive social impact.

"Dell recognizes how critical entrepreneurs are to global economic recovery and job creation and our commitment to their growth goes well beyond the products and solutions we sell," Karen Quintos, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Dell Inc. "The Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network celebrates the unique perspective and approach that women bring to business--and reinforces the role of technology in enabling these women to reach new markets, expand their companies and provide value to their customers."

Women leaders are invited to join in the conversation and share who and what inspires and motivates them as entrepreneurs and leaders via the Women Powering Business Network group on LinkedIn.

DWEN is supported by Endeavor, Ernst & Young's Entrepreneurial Winning Women and the Kauffman Foundation. Content about the event can be found on Twitter via @DellBizWomen and by following #dwen.

About Dell

As the visionary outcome of a true entrepreneur, Dell /quotes/zigman/27952/quotes/nls/dell DELL -0.79% is committed to help power the success of entrepreneurs by developing technology solutions that help their businesses increase productivity and grow. Through the Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network, Dell supports and nurtures the community of female entrepreneurs by helping provide access to knowledge, networks, and capital. Learn more at www.dell.com/women .

Dell is a trademark of Dell Inc. Dell disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50293984&lang=en

SOURCE: Dell Inc.

Dell Inc. Kara Krautter, 512-724-0928 Kara_Krautter@Dell.com or WPP Team Dell Jillian Fisher, 415-336-8641 Jillian.Fisher@WPPTeamDell.com

Copyright Business Wire 2012

/quotes/zigman/27952/quotes/nls/dell

View the original article here

The Business Finance Store Highlights Upcoming Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs

The Business Finance Store discusses a funding opportunity for women entrepreneurs from Ernst & Young.

Santa Ana, CA (PRWEB) April 10, 2012

Venture-Capital firms raised $4.88 billion in funding in the first quarter of 2012, the National Venture Capital Association and Bloomberg reported. The amount is the highest raised since the second quarter of 2009. With these large amounts of funds raised, it makes some wonder whether these investments went to businesses run predominantly by men or women. Interestingly enough, when looking at the top entrepreneurs and small business owners, men significantly outnumber women. However, opportunities for women entrepreneurs do exist. In the recent blog post “Calling all Women Entrepreneurs- Apply by April 30!” The Business Finance Store discusses a funding opportunity for women entrepreneurs from Ernst & Young.

Many of the great businesses in America today were started by men, but that doesn’t have to be the case in the future. Ernst & Young wants to promote the development of women entrepreneurs through their 5th annual Ernst & Young Entrepreneurial Winning Women Program. Read more about funding and business opportunities for women entrepreneurs at The Business Finance Store Blog.

The Business Finance Store is a business financing and consulting firm that offers customized Business Financial Solutions. Seasoned professionals offer assistance in a variety of financial solutions to help small businesses succeed such as: Business Financial Solutions, Legal Solutions, and Accounting Solutions.

The staff at The Business Finance Store understands that starting and growing a business is an exciting time. They keep it exciting by taking care of some of the most difficult aspects, by providing legal advice, helping with vital responsibilities like accounting & bookkeeping, and by obtaining business finance. They can quickly and easily guide entrepreneurs through many different complicated processes and put them on the path to success.

For 10 years The Business Finance Store has been helping startups and other small businesses legally structure their companies, find the right franchises, get the funding they need, and achieve the American Dream of owning their own successful business. Since expanding nationwide in 2007, they have helped thousands of companies and have funded over $60 Million in business credit lines, not including SBA loans. The Business Finance Store sees limitless potential in the current climate, and looks forward to many strong years of growth to come. Take some time to review their services, and give them a call.

For more information, or a free, no-obligation analysis of your business needs, visit The Business Finance Store website: http://www.businessfinancestore.com. A member of their professional staff will contact you to discuss your business' short and long-term goals. Whatever you need, The Business Finance Store is there.

Kelly Rye
The Business Finance Store
(949) 777-5959
Email Information

View the original article here

Small Business Opportunities for Women & Men

Your long cherished dream to be a successful business owner is just a mouse click away for ... and business opportunities (franchisors) at www.franchiseindia.com, a web portal of Franchise India Holdings Limited. ... Small Business · Franchise · Licensing · Retail ... Women entrepreneurship is on the rise. Small Business Opportunities ... - Dealers and Distributors - Food and Beverages Startups, Entrepreneurs, Business Ideas, Small Business India yourstory.in/ India Together: Opportunities and challenges for women in business ...Opportunities and challenges for women in business .... That is, a woman or any small business has no access to institutionalised trade finance and must ... Business Opportunities in India www.stylusinc.com/business/india/opportunities.htm
Business opportunities in India: Keep up with the latest trends in software and web development and learn what other technology companies are doing in ... Entrepreneur India
With data deluge, the Small and Medium businesses have woken up to the ... HAVING noticed that the office copy of Business India was always read ba. ... After 10 years of experience in public sector, IIT alumni Mahesh Gupta p... Woman ... your email address to receive the latest updates on news & host of opportunities. Find a Franchise Business Opportunity - Franchising.com www.franchising.com/find_a_franchise/
Once you have a set your interested select the opportunities and submit a request for information. ... Browse franchise business opportunities by investment. ... Low Carb, Massage, MedSpa Businesses, Nutrition, Women's Health, Home Services ..... Checkers Drive-In restaurant franchises are small but efficient making our. Franchise Plus - India's Leading Business Opportunity Magazine ... www.franchise-plus.com/
Organic Haus to open up to 30 stores in two years. Organic Haus, an all-organic brand that retails products sourced mainly from 18 German, Austrian and ... Franchises: Franchise and Business Opportunities in India ... FranchiseExpo.in is the premier directory for the best franchises and franchise business opportunities available in India and the entire Indian Subcontinent. 20 good opportunities in India for entrepreneurs - Rediff.com Business
May 4, 2010 -- India Business News, Stock Market Personal Finance, Economy ... A woman learns to ski on a slope in Gulmarg, 55 km (34 miles ... India being one of the world's largest manufacturers of small cars with a strong engineering ...

View the original article here

BEST Home Based Business Ideas For Women & Men (Robert Kiyosaki)

http://bit.ly/rLU0LR
Start Your Own Business Idea -- 41 Hot Home Business Ideas for Women
www.homebizwomen.com/start-your-own-business-idea.html - Cached
Are you looking to start your own business idea? These are a list of some of the hottest legitimate home based business ideas for women. ...
Home Based Business Ideas
www.entrepreneur.com › Home Based Business - Cached
Don't know what home business to start? Our home based business ideas ... 3 women who love shoes make a living designing and selling their own creations. ...
10 Home Business Ideas for Moms
homebusiness.about.com/.../homebusinessprofiles/.../business4moms... - Cached
10 Home-Based Business Ideas for Moms. Home Businesses of Special ... While both men and women can and do take advantage of these home-based business ...
Home Business Ideas For Professional Women
www.freelancemom.com/ - Cached
Professional women and mothers - click here if you are looking for legitimate ... Explore the site to find home business ideas and tips on how to recognize and avoid work at home scams. .... Partners: Legitimate Home Based Business - ...
Top Home-Based Business Ideas for Women | Small Business - Chron.com
smallbusiness.chron.com › ... › Home Business Ideas - Cached
Many women have found that running a home-based business not only can be financially rewarding, but can also leave them more time free to spend with their ...
Home Business Ideas for New Home Based, Small Business, Work at ...
www.powerhomebiz.com/BizIdeas/bizideas.htm - Cached
New business ideas that a home-based, small business or work at home entrepreneur ... 10 Home Business Ideas for Women Entrepreneurs (WomenHomeBusiness.com) ...
Home Business Ideas for Women - Home Based Business Ideas
www.your-home-based-business-ideas.com/Home-Business-Ideas-fo... - Cached
Here's a list of home business ideas for women. You can start in the evening and on weekends and build a great business.
Women Home Business: Small Business Success Stories
www.womenhomebusiness.com/ - Cached
6 hours ago -- Read success and startup stories of small business and home-based women (and men, too!) entrepreneurs. Get inspired and learn from the ...
The Top 25 Home-Based Business Ideas | Franchises from AllBusiness.com
www.allbusiness.com/...businesses/home-based-business/3315-1.htm... - Cached
If you are thinking about starting your own home-based business, ... Here's a look at some tried-and-true home-based business ideas that have growth ...

View the original article here

Equal opportunity for women trumps even outrageous reaction to resignation - Business Management Daily

Some supervisors are secret sexists. A few even try to discriminate based on sex. But a boss’s secret preju­dice won’t support an employee’s sex-bias lawsuit if the employer provides equal opportunities to both men and women. That’s true even if the sexist boss reacts outrageously when the subordinate quits.

Recent case: Krysten Overly worked as a financial advisor for a bank. Her regional supervisor was a man. When he realigned sales territories, hired a new male financial advisor and implemented other changes, Overly resigned. She believed that she was being discriminated against on the basis of her sex.

Her supervisor’s response when she tendered her resignation was to clap. He then grabbed Overly by the arm and pushed her out the door, yelling “Good riddance, bitch!”

Overly sued, alleging sex discrimination and hostile work environment.

But the court said she couldn’t use what happened after she quit to prove she worked in a hostile environment before she quit. Plus, she had no evidence the reassignment and other changes were related to sex, nor that she lost any income as a result. (Overly v. Keybank National Association, et al., No. 10-2705, 7th Cir., 2011)

Final note: Of course, you probably would not want to let the supervisor’s actions go unpunished. If nothing else, his actions were inappropriate and unprofessional—and may even be a sign of other, deeper problems. Other employees observing the incident might very well think they worked in a hostile environment.

View the original article here

Women Gain In Business, But Perceptions Hinder Advances: Marjorie Yang - Forbes

On one level, opportunities for women in business are brighter than ever in Asia. China, for instance, has the world’s largest number of self-made women billionaires. Funding appears to be more readily available than ever, too (see related story here).

Yet there are deeper social problems that hold women entrepreneurs back.  Marjorie  Yang, the chairman of Hong Kong-based shirtmaker Esquel, shared some interesting thoughts about this in an interview in her home in Shanghai during the Lunar New Year which appears in the latest issue of Forbes Asia. (Please click here for the interview.)

Esquel is a supplier to Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Polo Ralph Lauren.  Yang and her family ranked No. 37 on the 2012 Forbes Hong Kong Rich List.

View the original article here

Women Gain In Business, But Perceptions Hinder Advances: Marjorie Yang - Forbes

On one level, opportunities for women in business are brighter than ever in Asia. China, for instance, has the world’s largest number of self-made women billionaires. Funding appears to be more readily available than ever, too (see related story here).

Yet there are deeper social problems that hold women entrepreneurs back.  Marjorie  Yang, the chairman of Hong Kong-based shirtmaker Esquel, shared some interesting thoughts about this in an interview in her home in Shanghai during the Lunar New Year which appears in the latest issue of Forbes Asia. (Please click here for the interview.)

Esquel is a supplier to Tommy Hilfiger, Nike and Polo Ralph Lauren.  Yang and her family ranked No. 37 on the 2012 Forbes Hong Kong Rich List.

View the original article here

Speaking Opportunities Abound for Women Business Leaders, Finds Annual Weber Shandwick Study on Top Executive ...

NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Top women business leaders spoke at 218 unique events in 2011. These conference opportunities included a mix of women's and non-gender specific forums – including CEO-only conferences, global and policy summits, and industry events, according to Weber Shandwick's latest "Top Executive Conferences" study.

Given the importance of leadership communications, Weber Shandwick conducts global research annually on the executive leadership conference landscape.  In this year's installment, the firm examined the speaking engagements of the world's top women business leaders, based on Fortune's 2011 Most Powerful Women (MPW) list (50 women executives who are U.S.-based and 50 women who are not U.S.-based).

The majority of women (69 percent) on the list spoke at one or more conferences in 2011. On average, these top-ranking women spoke at 2.7 conferences over the course of 12 months. U.S.- and non-U.S. based women were nearly just as likely to speak, confirming that women all over the globe recognize the value of conference visibility.

"Women executives are establishing their rightful place at the table, gaining greater stature and notoriety in the business world.  As such, they are becoming vital members on the conference circuit, increasing participation and prominence in this powerful venue," said Micho Spring, chair of Weber Shandwick's Global Corporate practice.

The leading speaking forums in 2011 for these top women executives included Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit, The World Economic Forum/Davos, India-US CEO Forum, Women Corporate Director's Global Institute, the Paley Center for Media International Council Summit and the APEC Women and the Economy Summit.

A categorization of all conferences found that these executives spoke primarily at industry-specific events (e.g., World Food Prize Conference and FICCI-IBI Conference on Global Banking) and conferences geared toward job function (e.g., Techonomy and ANA Conference), followed by women's leadership and academic forums. Our research found that the digital category (e.g., Digital Life Design and South by Southwest) of conferences crossed prominent women business leaders' radar screens in 2011, though participation was still low.  Perhaps the greater concentration of industry- and job function-related conferences hints at the importance for leading executives to speak before audiences containing potential prospects and customers.

Types of 2011 Global MPW Speaking Venues*

(in rank order)

The World Food Prize, FICCI-IBI Conference on Global Banking

WSJ Women in the Economy, Women in Leadership Forum Asia

Stanford University Entrepreneur Bootcamp, MIT Sloan Innovation Leader Series

The White House Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, Commonwealth Business Forum

Chief Executive's Club of Boston, Detroit Economic Club

APEC CEO Summit, Forbes Global CEO Conference

Digital Life Design Conference, SXSW

*Rank based on number of types of conferences regardless of how many Most Powerful Women (MPW) from Fortune's list spoke at each

"Executives not only personify the company but are the company's most influential storytellers.  Weber Shandwick's new Top Executive Conferences study helps define the context in which senior women business leaders are seen and heard. The strategic use of the conference landscape to promote a company's story is a powerful tool that when fully leveraged can move the business forward," said Carol Ballock, executive vice president at Weber Shandwick.  

For more information, please contact Carol Ballock at 212.445.8124 or cballock@webershandwick.com.  You can also visit www.webershandwick.com.

You may download the executive summary at: http://www.webershandwick.com/topconferences.

About the Research
Weber Shandwick began with the U.S. and Global lists of the 2011 Fortune's Most Powerful Women in Business.  This is a list of 50 women from U.S.-based companies and 50 women from non-U.S. companies.  For each woman on the list, Weber Shandwick examined her speaking engagements during 2011.  Weber Shandwick audited company websites for conference participation and searched media using Factiva.  Company meetings and shareholder presentations were excluded.  Weber Shandwick also analyzed the agendas of the highest ranking conferences to determine the topics these Most Powerful Women spoke about.

About Weber Shandwick's Executive Equity & Visibility Services
Executive Equity & Visibility is a component of Weber's Shandwick's Enterprise Brand Activation Strategy which includes Corporate Storytelling, Executive Equity & Visibility, Amplification & Engagement, and establishing third-party Credentials & Recognition. 

About Weber Shandwick
Weber Shandwick is a leading global public relations agency with offices in 81 countries around the world. The firm's success is built on its deep commitment to client service, our people, creativity, collaboration and harnessing the power of Advocates - engaging stakeholders in new and creative ways to build brands and reputation. Weber Shandwick provides strategy and execution across practices such as consumer marketing, healthcare, technology, public affairs, financial services, corporate and crisis management. Its specialized services include digital/social media, advocacy advertising, market research, and corporate responsibility. In 2010, Weber Shandwick was named Global Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report for the second year in a row; an 'Agency of the Decade' by Advertising Age, Large PR Agency of the Year by Bulldog Reporter, a Digital Firm of the Year by PR News, and Top Corporate Responsibility Advisory Firm by CR Magazine. The firm has also won numerous 'best place to work' awards around the world. Weber Shandwick is part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG - News). For more information, visit http://www.webershandwick.com.

Rachel Manfredo
Weber Shandwick
212.445.8171
rmanfredo@webershandwick.com

View the original article here

Women chase opportunities overseas - Japan Times

The cosmopolitan cities of Shanghai and Hong Kong are attracting motivated Japanese women who are disillusioned by the hidebound culture of the business world at home.

My way: Naoko Kageyama, who launched a bridal business in China after experiencing gender discrimination in Japan, speaks to a customer during a makeup session last month in Shanghai. KYODO

Many Japanese women trying their luck there are apparently enjoying successful careers, or at least having a good time preparing for one.

Yoshie Nagashima, 39, decided to take a chance in China nine years ago when she was working for a major Japanese electronics maker.

In Japan, she was frequently accused of being too pushy, and whenever she received a favor from her boss it invited jealousy from her male colleagues.

"I can't stand this anymore," she recalled concluding at the time. Sensing the growth potential in China, Nagashima took herself to Shanghai and studied at a language school there for about a year.

She relaunched her career by joining a Japanese-affiliated company in China and then moved to a Taiwanese business consulting firm in Shanghai where she was the sole Japanese employee.

She was given the task of building connections with the political and business communities in the booming city in addition to performing her regular marketing duties.

"In Japan, I could never have been given the chance to take so much on my shoulders," she said.

She later moved to another Japanese firm operating in China to further her career. A year later she became its chief secretary.

Nagashima is one of many women working in Shanghai who left Japan because they felt they were being discriminated against for employment and promotions.

Their strength in China lies in communications skills honed while mingling with local residents, as well as traditional Japanese virtues like graceful manners and modesty acquired in Japan.

The women cite the entrenched male chauvinism as the main reason for abandoning Japan Inc.

For Michiko Kumoi, 29, Shanghai is a land of unlimited possibilities. "I feel I can do anything in the city," she said, describing it as an open-minded society ready to adopt new ideas instead of blindly rejecting them.

After working in Shanghai for a few years, she returned to Japan. But she went back to the city at the beginning of the year to take a marketing job. "I'll give it one more try."

Japanese women in Shanghai can earn the equivalent of up to ¥200,000 per month, which is lower than the pay in Japan. Yet they are willing to accept lower-paying jobs to climb the career ladder.

"We are enjoying the work in China because we know that what we are experiencing now will help us in the future," Kumoi said.

Pay is also modest in Hong Kong. "If you want to become rich, this is not the place for you," said Shinobu Aibara, 49, who teaches Japanese at the University of Honk Kong's School of Professional and Continuing Education.

A willingness to work hard and optimism backed by self-confidence are all that is needed to work in Hong Kong, she and other Japanese women working there said.

Such women are rewarded with equal business opportunities and can feel free from the rigid Japanese ideas about how women should behave in business, they said.

Some Japanese women are trying to start their own businesses, but this can involve major risks. The key to successfully launching a business is choosing the right partner.

But Naoko Kageyama, 34, has ditched those fears.

"I have nothing to lose. What should I be afraid of?" asked Kageyama, who launched a bridal business in Shanghai. "I don't know what things will be like one year from now. That's an exciting thing."

View the original article here

Women chase opportunities overseas - Japan Times

The cosmopolitan cities of Shanghai and Hong Kong are attracting motivated Japanese women who are disillusioned by the hidebound culture of the business world at home.

My way: Naoko Kageyama, who launched a bridal business in China after experiencing gender discrimination in Japan, speaks to a customer during a makeup session last month in Shanghai. KYODO

Many Japanese women trying their luck there are apparently enjoying successful careers, or at least having a good time preparing for one.

Yoshie Nagashima, 39, decided to take a chance in China nine years ago when she was working for a major Japanese electronics maker.

In Japan, she was frequently accused of being too pushy, and whenever she received a favor from her boss it invited jealousy from her male colleagues.

"I can't stand this anymore," she recalled concluding at the time. Sensing the growth potential in China, Nagashima took herself to Shanghai and studied at a language school there for about a year.

She relaunched her career by joining a Japanese-affiliated company in China and then moved to a Taiwanese business consulting firm in Shanghai where she was the sole Japanese employee.

She was given the task of building connections with the political and business communities in the booming city in addition to performing her regular marketing duties.

"In Japan, I could never have been given the chance to take so much on my shoulders," she said.

She later moved to another Japanese firm operating in China to further her career. A year later she became its chief secretary.

Nagashima is one of many women working in Shanghai who left Japan because they felt they were being discriminated against for employment and promotions.

Their strength in China lies in communications skills honed while mingling with local residents, as well as traditional Japanese virtues like graceful manners and modesty acquired in Japan.

The women cite the entrenched male chauvinism as the main reason for abandoning Japan Inc.

For Michiko Kumoi, 29, Shanghai is a land of unlimited possibilities. "I feel I can do anything in the city," she said, describing it as an open-minded society ready to adopt new ideas instead of blindly rejecting them.

After working in Shanghai for a few years, she returned to Japan. But she went back to the city at the beginning of the year to take a marketing job. "I'll give it one more try."

Japanese women in Shanghai can earn the equivalent of up to ¥200,000 per month, which is lower than the pay in Japan. Yet they are willing to accept lower-paying jobs to climb the career ladder.

"We are enjoying the work in China because we know that what we are experiencing now will help us in the future," Kumoi said.

Pay is also modest in Hong Kong. "If you want to become rich, this is not the place for you," said Shinobu Aibara, 49, who teaches Japanese at the University of Honk Kong's School of Professional and Continuing Education.

A willingness to work hard and optimism backed by self-confidence are all that is needed to work in Hong Kong, she and other Japanese women working there said.

Such women are rewarded with equal business opportunities and can feel free from the rigid Japanese ideas about how women should behave in business, they said.

Some Japanese women are trying to start their own businesses, but this can involve major risks. The key to successfully launching a business is choosing the right partner.

But Naoko Kageyama, 34, has ditched those fears.

"I have nothing to lose. What should I be afraid of?" asked Kageyama, who launched a bridal business in Shanghai. "I don't know what things will be like one year from now. That's an exciting thing."

View the original article here

Local women benefit from business networking group - Beavercreek News-Current

We are sorry to inform you that you have been temporarily blocked from this website.

Your IP Address or perhaps someone from the same geographical area as you has been tracked visiting one or more websites and requesting large amounts of content in a short amount of time. This has caused your IP Address to be flagged as a possible bot, spider, crawler, spyware, or some other malware. In general, we do not allow bots, spiders, or crawlers to access our websites.

This is not meant to accuse you of anything. If you are a legitimate user and feel that you have reached this page in error, please complete the form below. Our staff will review the information that you provide and determine what options are available.

View the original article here

Saudi women make best use of Atlanta Forum

(MENAFN - Arab News) The participation by highly competent and professional Saudi women certainly contributed to the success of the "US Saudi Business Opportunities Forum" held in Atlanta from Dec. 5 to 7, 2011. The forum was organized by the Saudi Committee for International Trade (CIT), US-Saudi Arabian Business Council and Saudi-US Trade Group in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Commerce and Industry and US Commercial Service.

Not many people outside our borders are aware of the existence of exceptional women in Saudi Arabia so the presence of such qualified women was a great surprise to a lot of attendees at the forum.

The keynote speech was delivered by Lubna Al-Olayan with great eloquence. In her opening remarks, she brilliantly summarized the geopolitical challenges that the US and Saudi Arabia face today and gave an optimistic view of the future cooperation between the two countries. Lubna Olayan is a highly experienced financial leader and globally known. She is the CEO of Olayan Company, a private multinational enterprise. She was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and sits on many boards and councils because of her extensive experience and expertise in corporate finance, international banking, distribution and manufacturing.

Her sister Hutham Olayan moderated the session on opportunities for finance and investment with equal professionalism. Hutham leads the Olayan Group's activities in the Americas and has been elected to the board of directors of Morgan Stanley. She leads an organization that manages a diversified portfolio of US public and private equities and real estate based in New York. She is a founding member of the Arab Bankers Association of North America, a trustee of the conference board and a board member of the Institute for International Economics.

Dr. Hanan Balkhy, executive director for infection control at the National Guard Hospital moderated the panel of health and medical services. She represented the Saudi doctors well known in the field of medical research and health care.

Dr. Salwa Alhazaa, professor of ophthalmology at Alfaisal University, and head and consultant of ophthalmology, senior clinical scientist and consultant in genetics at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, gave an informative presentation in the panel discussing," building the health care sector through innovation and technology." Her logic and research findings impressed the audience.

Dr. Alhazaa also participated in the outreach program to foster better relations with the American women in business. The participants included outstanding Saudi women in the field of architecture, finance and accounting, information and technology, and entrepreneurship. Samra Alkuwaiz, a financial expert and lecturer at King Saud University is a board member and partner of Osool Capital in Riyadh. She has often been named among the most influential women in the region's financial industry. Alkuwaiz has encouraged many Saudi women to participate in finance, play the stock market and build portfolios.

Nadya Bakhurji founded her own architectural consultancy company, Riwaq. This was the first company to be owned by a woman. It is registered under the Saudi Council of Engineers. She is also the first Saudi woman to become a board member of the Saudi Council of Engineers and has campaigned for the recognition of Saudi female architects and engineers in Saudi Arabia.

Nouf Alrakan is CEO of Alimtiaz Alamthal trading company specializing in IT solutions, clothing and food products. She has also established a new company representing the oil and gas industry in the Kingdom and embarked on setting up a manufacturing facility. Khadija Koshak leads a successful business in fashion design. She joined the program with her aspiring daughter currently studying communication in the US. Together they presented a bright picture of two generations of educated and well-accomplished Saudi women.

The outreach initiative was one of the highlights of the Atlanta Forum where some of the most dynamic American female executives and entrepreneurs met with the delegation of professional Saudi women in a round table discussion aimed at promoting women in global business. In an open and frank dialogue, the Saudi women discussed issues concerning their negative image in the international community and projected an accurate picture of Saudi women. Saudi women, they said, have their own hopes and aspire to contribute to the progress and development of their society.

The forum concluded with a commitment to recognize the great potential of Saudi career women and to explore new business opportunities between the two countries.

At the end of the session, the hosts offered the Saudi delegation membership in the International Women's Forum, (IWF), a global organization where leading women of the world are united in a network to promote better world leadership with new ideas and perspectives to make our world a better place. With great enthusiasm the Saudi women welcomed the opportunity to gain experience from the IWF to better serve their governments, corporations and academic institutions.

The Saudi women felt it is time they came out of their isolation and became global partners contributing to intercultural understanding, peace and global prosperity. It is hoped that this dialogue would be the beginning of a long-term relationship between the American and Saudi women business community.

The CIT should be commended for their brave initiative to include a delegation of accomplished Saudi women in "the US- Saudi Business Opportunities Forum." No doubt, the presence of highly qualified women had a strong impact and contributed to the success of the forum.

We too should sponsor more of these events to erase the Western misconceptions of Saudi women and encourage our capable women to excel and participate in global events to showcase their capabilities and willingness to contribute and develop the planet around them.

By SAMAR FATANY

View the original article here