The second edition of the Women Entrepreneur Awards (WEA) was launched on Saturday, 27th July 2024, at the House Of Digital Art in Edith, Port Louis, under the theme ‘Celebrating our Trailblazers’. This event brought together applicants for this year’s competition along with sponsors, partners, and stakeholders from the entrepreneurial ecosystem, marking a significant milestone in the journey towards gender equality in the business world.
Economic Contributions of Women: A key highlight of the event was the panel discussion titled “Including Men in the Conversation for Inclusivity and Women Empowerment,” moderated by Head Ambassador Marie-Noëlle Elissac-Foy. The panel featured distinguished speakers including Alvyn Ulrish Shad Savrimuthu, Project Executive at Perpetual Motion Ltd; Umarfarooq Omarjee, Executive Director at The OMJ Company; Ali Mamode, Head Of Marketing And Communications at Bank One; Caleb J. Samy, Product Manager at Emtel; and Sandee Teeroovengadum, Head of Marketing and Communications at Landscope (Mauritius) Ltd. The discussion opened with the significance of women’s contributions to economic growth. Ali Mamode highlighted the untapped potential of women, stating, “When we talk about women empowerment, we often think about writing past societal wrongs, but we tend to forget the economic potential of women. If we just allow women to take part in the economy”. Sandee Teeroovengadum added, “When you look at certain countries, women hold the majority of degrees, masters, and doctorates, yet they still struggle to reach the top positions. This needs to change, and hopefully, with networking events and awareness, it will”. Their insights underscored the need for systemic changes to harness the full potential of women in the economy.
Addressing Unconscious Bias: The conversation then moved to tackling unconscious bias, a pervasive issue that hinders women’s progress. Sandee Teeroovengadum shared his recent learning experience, “I talked to a few women, friends, and colleagues, and realised there are things that come up that men often overlook”. This candid admission highlighted the subtle yet impactful nature of unconscious biases. Ali Mamode discussed his method of identifying biases by engaging with women around him, “I believe that all men have unconscious biases and it was through awareness that I learned about my unconscious biases and learned new terms such as mansplaining”. Their discussions emphasized the importance of self-awareness and proactive measures to address biases in both personal and professional settings.
Breaking Down Barriers for Women Entrepreneurs: Alvyn Ulrish Shad Savrimuthu shared a personal story about his mother, who faced significant challenges as both a single parent and an entrepreneur. “My mother built a school for special needs children on her own. Despite the doubts and lack of support, she persevered. It’s important to recognize these barriers we’ve created and work on dismantling them”. This powerful anecdote illustrated the resilience and determination required to overcome societal and familial opposition. Umarfarooq Omarjee highlighted the shift in sectors like aviation and tourism, where many women have transitioned into entrepreneurship, significantly contributing to economic resilience. He noted, “In aviation and tourism, women have become entrepreneurs, turning challenges into opportunities. This shift has significantly contributed to economic resilience”. These stories underscored the importance of creating supportive environments that enable women to thrive.
Empowering Women through Digital Services: Caleb Samy spoke about Blink by Emtel’s efforts in financial inclusion, noting, “We are currently working with three women entrepreneurs from the Women Entrepreneurs Award. We provide them with digital platforms for payment and visibility, which are crucial for their businesses”. He emphasized the need to address systemic biases in the financial sector to ensure women entrepreneurs have equal access to opportunities. Caleb Samy highlighted that financial inclusion goes beyond just access to finance; it also involves providing the tools and platforms necessary for women entrepreneurs to succeed in the digital economy. “Financial inclusion isn’t just about access to finance; it’s about providing the tools and platforms necessary for success. Our work with women entrepreneurs has shown the significant impact digital platforms can have on their businesses,” he added. This approach illustrates the multifaceted nature of financial inclusion and the need for comprehensive solutions.
Allyship in Personal Circles: The final question focused on allyship within personal circles. Sandee Teeroovengadum shared, “It’s 50-50 at home. My work is important, but so is hers. We support each other equally in all aspects”. This statement reflected a commitment to gender equality not only in professional settings but also in personal lives. Umarfarooq Omarjee added, “The mentality is evolving, and it’s crucial for the coming generations to see these changes reflected at home”. These insights highlighted the importance of modeling inclusive behavior for future generations and the role of men in supporting gender equality in all spheres of life. Alvyn Ulrish Shad concluded with a call for micro-feminism, “Simple acts like addressing emails to ‘Dear Ma’am and Sir’ instead of the traditional ‘Dear Sir and Ma’am’ can change perspectives. These small changes add up to significant impacts”. His comments emphasized that even minor adjustments in everyday interactions can contribute to broader cultural shifts towards equality.
The Women Entrepreneur Awards, now in its second edition, continues to be a pivotal event in promoting gender equality and empowering women in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The panel discussion underscored the importance of inclusive conversations, recognizing and addressing unconscious biases, and creating supportive environments for women entrepreneurs. By bringing together diverse perspectives and fostering open dialogue, the event highlighted the need for continuous efforts and collaboration to achieve gender equality and empower women in all spheres of life. This year’s jury, composed of entrepreneurs and businesspeople who have built a solid reputation in their respective fields, will undoubtedly help in selecting the most promising female entrepreneurs and furthering the cause of gender equality in business.
