PARIS: Continuous guidance and mentoring are vital for turning young women into successful entrepreneurs, said Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of the Malaysian prime minister.
Young women should get exposure to the dynamics of entrepreneurship and be ready to take risks and do things differently, she said.
“We must continue to guide and mentor our young women so that they can confidently take on the reins of leadership, unleash their potential and bridge the economic inequality gaps.
“They require mentoring, both in their own countries and abroad, in the fields of their interest. Besides, they should also network with successful women entrepreneurs so as to emulate them,” she told Malaysian journalists here on Thursday.
Rosmah, who attended the 2014 Global Summit of Women (GSW) here, handed over the chair of the GSW to French Minister of Women’ Rights, Youth, Cities and Sports, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem.
Also present at the event were French Prime Minister Manuel Valls; GSW Founder and President Irene Natividad; Malaysian Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim and Malaysian Ambassador to France Tan Sri Ismail Omar.
Rosmah said that in Malaysia a cross-fertilisation programme by TalentCorp was helping women to close the skills gap as well as develop leadership skills and confidence through a mentoring process by key industry or business leaders.
“SME Corporation encourages women to register their businesses and to avail themselves of government programmes and facilities to upscale their businesses,” she said.
Rosmah said women should indeed leverage on entrepreneurship and innovation to redesign economies and societies with global reach.
She urged GSW to continue to offer tremendous benefits to women entrepreneurs.
“Every year, it provides opportunities for a collective nudge to policy makers to pay attention to the talents of 50 per cent of the world’s population.
“Its significance is the formulation and implementation of policies that support the advancement of women. Such initiatives will have a far-reaching impact on the global economy and will certainly increase our competitiveness,” she said.
Rosmah also urged participants to make the best use of this platform to exchange experiences, strategies and innovative ideas that could bring positive change in the most efficient and expeditious manner.
“Women leaders from various backgrounds ranging from influential women politicians, government officials, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, academicians as well as youths and rural folks can empower each other through meaningful dialogue and networking, she said. — Bernama