Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) is an annual global celebration to recognize and support female entrepreneurs in over 144 countries. WED was founded to empower, celebrate and support women entrepreneurs globally. The day encourages organizations, brands, supporters and champions of women’s entrepreneurship to cooperate by creating innovative ways to come together to advance the cause for female entrepreneurs around the world. Women’s Entrepreneurship Day highlights the crucial roles that women play as small business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide. The day provides powerful examples of successful women who have started successful businesses despite the global cultural and economic obstacles they have faced throughout history. The day celebrates courage and resilience of those who have dared to pursue their dreams despite adversities they have faced.
WED also organizes events around the world which offer specialized programs specially designed for various topics such as:
- Finance/investment opportunities
- Marketing & social media best practices
- Networking campaigns
- Mentorship sessions & advice workshops on how to start a business or scale up successfully.
WED creates an interactive online platform which allows knowledge exchange between successful entrepreneurial role models from around the world with aspiring business owners.
When is Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is an international holiday celebrating the economic empowerment of women and girls around the world. It is celebrated annually on November 19 and is an important day for women all over the world.
Activities celebrating Women’s Entrepreneurship Day include:
- Conferences
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Interactive workshops
- Mentor sessions
- Networking events
All of these activities are focused on the advancement of women in business.
History of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) takes place annually on November 19 to celebrate, support and empower women entrepreneurs around the world. The day was created in 2014 by Wendy Diamond, an American entrepreneur, animal welfare advocate and philanthropist. WED brings together industry leaders, mentors and supporters to celebrate the success of female entrepreneurs and create connections for future growth.
WED celebrates the global impact that women have on their local businesses, economies, communities and more. Women are often seen as economic drivers in developing countries where access to education is less common for females – so it’s essential to recognize their vital role in creating economic opportunity for everyone.
Participating in Women’s Entrepreneurship Day creates global networking opportunities as well as invaluable visibility for new businesses, products or services. It also gives individuals from all walks of life a platform to learn from each other – bridging gaps between industries and providing support for entrepreneurs who don’t always have access or visibility. This starts with education which helps create strong role models both nationally and globally: inspiring others who want to become business owners and contribute positively to their communities worldwide.
Goals of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (or WED) is celebrated on November 19th of every year in more than 140 countries. This day shines a light on the power, expertise and courage of female entrepreneurs, highlights their accomplishments, and brings together women from different sectors to celebrate entrepreneurship.
The vision of WED is to empower 4 billion women to become innovators, creators and entrepreneurs by 2030. To do so, WED encourages three broad goals:
- Develop networks and create economic opportunities for women through business growth, job creation and technology advancement;
- Strengthen capacity building initiatives for female entrepreneurs through education and training;
- Increase visibility for successful female founders by offering support and connection with other women in business.
On this special day, events are typically held around the world – from local communities to global organizations – that focus on the education, inspiration, recognition and celebration of female entrepreneurs across all industries with an emphasis on equal access for all women. Events typically include lectures/panel discussions by leading entrepreneurs in different fields, workshops geared towards nurturing startup skills such as branding/marketing/finance/startup pitching etc., showcase opportunities to Global investors/corporates and much more!
Activities for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day
Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is held annually on the 19th of November to celebrate the accomplishments of women entrepreneurs across the world. It is a day of recognition, celebration and empowerment for women business owners. This day is also filled with many activities to inspire and encourage women to pursue their dreams of entrepreneurship.
Here is a list of some activities for Women’s Entrepreneurship Day:
- Networking events
- Mentorship programs
- Workshops and seminars
- Business plan competitions
- Pitch competitions
- Incubator programs
- Startup accelerators
- Fundraising events
Networking Events
Networking events are a great way to connect with like-minded business people and entrepreneurs, build relationships and uncover new opportunities. On Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, organisations can host networking events to promote female entrepreneurship and bring awareness to women-run businesses.
Networking events vary in size and style, depending on the resources available – receptions, meetups or panel discussions could provide an invaluable platform for learning in an enjoyable setting. These events can provide professional development opportunities as well as encourage mentorship or sponsor relationships that encourage women entrepreneurs to reach their maximum potential.
Events like these help celebrate the achievements of female entrepreneurs by providing them with a forum to share experiences and inspire each other.
Conferences
Conferences are a great way to meet other female business owners and attend workshops and seminars tailored to female entrepreneurs. Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day hosts several conferences throughout the year, providing an opportunity for women to network, collaborate, and receive mentoring from inspirational leaders in their field.
Conferences hosted by Global Women’s Entrepreneurship Day can vary in length, content and venue but all fulfill similar goals – leadership development, inspiration and connection. Attendees will have the chance to hear women-led keynote speeches, attend workshops on relevant topics such as money matters for small business owners and crowdfunding for start-ups, as well as access exclusive products from women-owned businesses. Additionally, most conferences provide opportunities for participants to pitch their ideas or products in order to receive feedback from leaders in the field or connect with potential investors.
Taking part in a conference is a great way to gain invaluable knowledge that can help you become a successful entrepreneur. Furthermore, it allows you to build relationships with knowledgeable individuals who can later serve as mentors or offering actionable advice when needed. Conferences are not limited only to established female entrepreneurs – they also offer plenty of value even if you’re just starting out or considering launching your own venture – so don’t be afraid to jump right in!
Workshops
Workshops are a popular choice for events associated with Women’s Entrepreneurship Day. Workshops provide an opportunity for attendees to get hands-on experience with different tools, topics and resources that can help them on their entrepreneurial journey.
Examples of workshops related to Women’s Entrepreneurship Day include:
- Business Idea Development: Helping women find the right idea and develop it into a workable business model.
- Branding and Marketing Mastery: Learn how to develop effective branding, position your company in the market, and use digital marketing campaigns to reach more customers.
- Entrepreneurial Skill Building: Understand the components of successful new businesses such as accounting, budgeting, finance, human resources, operations management and legal structure.
- Pitching Your Business: Discover key tips for communicating your message effectively during investor presentations and other important conversations.
- Social Media Strategies for Startups: Learn essential social media tactics that can help propel your business forward by creating meaningful content that resonates with your target audience.
Panel Discussions
Panel discussions offer a great opportunity to bring together experts in different areas related to entrepreneurship and women-owned businesses. Consider inviting two or three panelists to speak on various topics such as starting a new business, managing finances, marketing strategies, and finding sources of funding. Ask panelists relevant questions to help the audience gain insights and ideas for their own entrepreneurial goals. Consider inviting thought leaders from the fields of finance, technology, business development, mentorship, legal advice, communications and more. Panel discussions help build relationships between shared interests and create an avenue for professional growth in the global entrepreneurship landscape.
Consider planning the discussion at least six weeks prior to Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) so you can have adequate time for recruiting panelists, scheduling timeframes and announcing the event.