2 1 Women Entrepreneurs Definition and concepts 1

2. 1 -Women Entrepreneurs Definition and concepts

1. Introduction • Women who organise and manage an enterprise or business are known as women entrepreneurs. • Women entrepreneurship has steadily increased in 20 th and 21 st century. • Particularly in U. S, with female owned businesses increasing at a rate of 5% since 1997 and in other developed countries. • 21 st century saw the growth of women entrepreneurs in developing countries like India. • The first women entrepreneur in U. S. A was Eliza Lucas Pinckney who took over her family’s plantations in 1739.

2. Definition • Women entrepreneurs - defined as a woman or group of women who initiate, organize and run a business enterprise. • Govt of India- “An enterprise owned and controlled by a women having a minimum financial interest of 51% of the capital and giving at least 51% of employment generated in the enterprise to women”.

3. Causes for emergence of women entrepreneurs • • • Why women become entrepreneurs To become economically independent To establish their own identity in the society To establish their own enterprise To build self-confidence To develop risk assuming ability To claim equal status in the society To secure greater freedom and mobility Liking for business An urge to do something new To achieve excellence

4. Characteristics of Women Entrepreneurs Attribute to work hard Imaginative-creative Ability and desire to take risk Women with small income likely to become entrepreneurs. • Perseverance • •

5. Qualities of Women Entrepreneurs • • • Accept challenges- risk Ambitious Hard work Patience Motivator- leadership Adventurous- innovation Conscious Educated intelligent