Women empowerment through entrepreneurship: Importance of work-life balance

Women in India are making significant progress in the field of entrepreneurship.

- PROF. ANITA TRIPATHY LAL

Icons like Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, who started with just Rs. 10,000, at age 25, and Falguni Nayar of Nykaa, who began her venture at the age of 50, exemplify the potential to lead and innovate in business.

During the pandemic, many entrepreneurs such as Payal Khandwala of Kizo, Srila Chatterjee of Baro Market, Mansa Anand of Patrika, and Astha Suri of Naso Profumi made remarkable strides. Their stories embody success, resilience, vision, and breaking barriers.

Empowering women involves allowing them to shape their futures free from traditional gender roles. Providing women with the necessary tools to realize their dreams benefits not just individuals but society as a whole. Studies indicate that countries with higher gender equality experience stronger economic growth, as women drive productivity and innovation, contributing significantly to economic development.

Prominent figures like Malala Yousafzai emphasize the critical importance of education and economic independence for women. Researchers such as Amartya Sen highlight that empowering women is essential for sustainable development. Their work shows that investing in women is an investment in the future (Business Today, 2024). As Yousafzai (2013) succinctly puts it, "We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back".