The Female Entrepreneur

Women pursuing full time professional careers is very common now, even in developing countries like India. They are emerging as equal contenders to men and are even preffered in a lot of career paths today. Entrepreneurship is one path where I feel more women need to enter owing to the advantages they have over men.

Emotional Connect – Women have a higher emotional quotient than men. Hence startups run by women will probably be able to establish a better emotional connect with their customers.

Decision Makers – In a lot of purchasing decisions, especially for B2C startups, women tend to be have more say than men. Hence a woman entrepreneur would be able to understand the customer better on average.

Better Communication – Based on my experience, women tend to be better at communication than men. Good communication within the organization and with customers is a must for building a healthy and growth oriented atmosphere.

On thinking about it further, I feel the reasons which have limited the growth of female entrepreneurs are the following.

Family Responsibility – After marriage and especially after having children, the responsibilities on a woman makes it difficult for her to commit to a career as much as she needs to.

Emotions vs. Practicality – Having a stronger EQ can work against you as well. In business decisions, relying too much on emotions can prove detrimental for the business.

Fair Chance – No matter how far we have come, in a lot of cultures and countries, women are supposed to only look after their families and children. A fair chance has not been given to women to pursue careers of their choice.