Private sector and governments should work together to boost women participation in entrepreneurial roles: GES 2017 Plenary

The session had an interesting line up of speakers including Chanda Kochhar and Ivanka Trump which was further moderated by Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao.

Ivanka Trump speaks at a session on Day2 of GES 2017 in Hyderabad. (EPS)

HYDEARBAD: Private sector and governments need to work together to increase women participation in the workplace and also in entrepreneurial roles, highlighted the women leaders at the GES's plenary session held on the theme of 'We Can Do It! Innovations in Workforce Development and Skills Training' on Wednesday.

The session had a very interesting line up of participants with Cherie Blair, Founder of Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Chanda Kochhar, ICICI Bank, MD & CEO Ivanka Trump, Karen Quintos, Dell EMC, chief customer officer and was moderated by Telangana IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao.

"An ecosystem has to be created for increasing women participation in the workforce. Both companies and families have to play a key role in creating an ecosystem. For instance, many working women face a challenge when they need to start their family and give up job for them. It is at this stage they should not give up and companies and families need to support women and take pride in their success," said Chanda Kochhar setting the context.

She further said that ICICI has been coming up with several initiatives to ensure women employees thrive and skilling one lakh youth every year, out of which 55 per cent are women, to boost women participation.  

Taking it from Chanda, Advisor to US President Ivanka Trump stressed that private companies have a major role in boosting women participation and governments need to chip in.

"Private companies have a major role in boosting participation from women in the workforce, as most of the jobs are being created by them and all innovation comes from them. We are also working on policy changes to boost women participation. Already US government is keen on coming with policies which create an encouraging eco-system for women and we will also work with governments across the globe to come with favourable policies for boosting women participation," said Ivanka.

While Cherie Blair stressed on using IT to increase women both in continuing their jobs and starting and carrying on their entrepreneurial journey,  Karen Quintos expressed optimism that though the number of women in jobs and entrepreneurship is less right now, it has been steadily growing.

"Though women participation is less right now, it is increasing steadily although slowly. Both companies and governments are realizing the importance of women participation and taking steps to boost it. Both policy change and culture change are needed to increase the number of women in jobs and businesses," summed up Karen Quintos.

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