Women’s entrepreneurship is increasingly important for creating new jobs and contributing to the social and economic growth of their societies, yet the interplay and shades of women’s entrepreneurship and culture are currently understudied. From the first and second waves of feminism in the 1900s to the contemporary movement for women empowerment, women have constantly strived to find a footing and place for themselves in society. Through progressive evolutions in societal outlook, women today at large are not only educating and employing themselves but also finding themselves in positions where they can provide employment to others as well. Entrepreneurship among women not only bolsters the economy through increased job creation but also paves the way for a paradigm shift in social and personal outcomes for women. However, women own only a little over 20% of all micro and small businesses, as compared to men owning about 80% of businesses.
M.K. Padma Kumar is involved in developing strategies and managing operations for the IPE Global Group.
He has over 25 years of experience in the development sector, working in civil society organisations and international development agencies like DANIDA and DFID. As the Head of State Partnerships at the DFID India, he was responsible for developing partnerships, programme design, management and strategic oversight of all programmes implemented in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. He has managed various development programmes. His expertise lies in driving operational, financial and programmatic transformations. Before DFID, he was associated with Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Help Age and World Wildlife Fund.
He holds a Master’s degree in Business Management with specialisation in Human Resource Management and Finance. He is extensively trained in Project Cycle Management, Grant Management, Performance Management, Leadership Skills and Change Management.
