Category: The 10 Most Influential Women Business Leaders to Watch in 2022_Article

Covid – 19 was a shock to mankind, but a grace to Mother Earth. Humanity collapsed, and nature rose…Mankind was forced to stay indoors after going through decades of globalisation, commercialisation and more. The shock and the fear resulting from the pandemic shook the earth, unprecedented in the history of mankind. Yet the ‘Phoenix’ was preparing to rise…

Businesses collapsed, industries shut and millions lost their jobs. In the middle of all this, the e-commerce sector rose like a ‘Phoenix’. The pandemic created a huge demand in the market, that was being catered to by the e-commerce sector. According to a study, the Indian e-commerce sector is set to grow at least 80% in the next 4 years, the impact brought on by Covid-19.

E-commerce sector was flourishing even before the pandemic, however there is a need to relook at the business strategies for the sector after covid-19. The tectonic shift in this sector has also called for some major changes in the way businesses operate. Some of the strategies, that are in line with sustainability that need to be adopted are mentioned below:

1. Sustainability the big way – There is a need to ‘introduce ‘sustainability’ as a business strategy by all firms irrespective of their industry. E-commerce firms definitely need to focus on ‘sustainable’ products. Any product/service that is in alignment with nature would be the need of the hour. Sustainability, in all forms – business models to packaging products has become increasingly important after the pandemic has hit almost every family living on earth. Promoting and selling ecological products will nourish Mother Earth and go a long way! Consumers’ approach towards health and wellness will lead to them preferring sustainable products over others.
2. Leaders as ‘Compassionate Mothers’ –  Taking cues from Mother Earth who always nurtures its people, leaders also need to reshape their personalities, and play the role of compassionate mothers in the lives of their teams/ people. The leaders must create a ‘trusting & transparent’ environment, ensuring there is trust amongst teams. Trust,  during these times can be one of the ‘winning’ strategies. In times of uncertainty it’s very obvious for ‘people’ to feel lost and unmotivated. Along with this, if the organisation doesn’t trust them their mental health and immunity can be compromised.
3. Empathy as a strategy – 90% of those who are working from home are doing it for the first time. While the leaders/ bosses may get insecure about their ‘people’ it is not the right time to display such insecurity. They are struggling with the ‘perfect’ phone/ internet connection (*pun intended). Or they may be trying to help their mothers/ wives in wrapping up a household which has mounted a double fold in the absence of the household help or they may be trying to soothe a restless child who is frustrated being home. Organisations need to ensure an ‘empathetic’ view towards the employees. The more empathy that’s shown towards ‘people’ at this stage will ensure they stay performing in these times. Isn’t ‘performance’ that one thing the organisation is expecting from its people?
4. Dynamic & Sturdy Logistics – While e-commerce is progressing at the speed of lightning, those cardboard boxes and plastic packaging are creating tons of waste that end up in landfills worldwide annually. The e-commerce firms need to revamp their logistics system, making it dynamic, sturdy and eco-friendly. Organisations need to give their packaging a complete makeover, and source sustainable and ecological packaging materials.
5. Eco-friendly approaches in the supply chain – Organisations need to adopt eco-friendly approaches in all areas of business, including supply chain. Using materials that are recyclable, implementing processes that are sustainable will help the organisations contribute to a happy and healthy planet.
6. Make shipping environment friendly – Developing an environment friendly shipping solution for transporting goods will help the firms stand for ‘environment’. Firms must educate and convince the consumers to even pay extra for environment friendly shipping cost.
7. Optimisation of Waste Management – E-commerce firms need to optimise their waste management, and eliminate the packaging waste. ‘ Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ mantra needs to be followed by one and all. 

Our planet needs our attention and care, since today’s world is dominated by businesses they can be the change makers! Changing the way business operates, the way employees are treated, the way nature is preserved. E-commerce, the Phoenix, has disrupted the way people shop, eat, travel and live. Am sure, it can also change the way our planet feels 🙂

Author: Prerna Sinha, Founder of Urbane Essence.

Throughout the country, businesses suffered supply chain interruptions, demand for their products and services declined, and shortages occurred as a result of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Meanwhile, the federal government launched programs designed to keep workers on payrolls. This Spotlight-on-Statistics looks at the pandemic’s impact on businesses and workers in the private sector. That said, we can undoubtedly state the challenges a leader has to face during such times, especially women. Women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. However, you may not have realised the magnitude of this dilemma. It’s enormously significant—a colossal toll. Women’s domestic experiences, health, employment, and economic well-being have all suffered. And the pandemic has not only hampered women in the present, but it has also harmed their prospects in the future. Due to historical challenges women have faced concerning access to finance and gender roles, women entrepreneurs have continued to struggle during the pandemic in spite of the coronavirus limitations.

A pandemic-related economic hardship has forced people to adjust their priorities because of the shock caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. In those sectors that have been affected by the pandemic, women-led enterprises have been more likely to thrive. Retail and wholesale trade, areas in which women-led firms thrive, have been adversely affected by dwindling demand for services. Because of measures taken to prevent the spread of infections, including lockdowns, businesses have less opportunity to make sales when shoppers go in person.

The coronavirus has made life even more challenging for women whose work-life balance is challenging. Globally, women, both at home and on the job, are bearing the brunt of the pandemic, according to a recent study. People worldwide were forced to change how they worked, lived, and learned because of this Covid. While taking care of routine household duties, women are often expected to facilitate children’s online learning. Due to the pandemic, women are also feeling pressured to work more, which leads to burnout and exhaustion. Women should continue to bestow their creative ability and provide clients with value. They provide long-term growth for your business depends on finding opportunities for sustainability. They recognize that the pandemic has posed challenges for all businesses and consider new revenue streams while remaining engaged with their current customers.

Many international thinkers and groups are promoting the advancement of women entrepreneurs worldwide. Female entrepreneurs have access to a variety of programs, small business grants, and numerous resources through these organizations. Many organizations advocate for gender equality and empowerment of women. They include United Nations Women, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, the International Women’s Think Tank, the International Center for Research on Women, the Guttmacher Institute, and more.

Being a woman, if you are looking for a change to propagate in business, you must first change your perspective and acknowledge that no one is perfect when it comes to work-life balance. One must establish clear boundaries and learn to divide the workload. Moreover, make time for flexibility and self-care; it is been believed that personal connections are even more important than communication skills. Maybe a colleague or a friend that can help you with your new venture; maybe you know someone who can put you in touch with investors. You never know who can help you in business, which is why networking is so important. Make connections and put them to good use.

 

It is likely to state that women business personalities face comparatively more obstacles than men. This has unfortunately made difficult for aspiring women to achieve a sustainable success. Women encounter higher difficulties in acquiring business capital. They manage houses, births, maternity leaves, and other concerns while also maintaining a company. Even in affluent nations like the United States, women-owned companies outweigh men-owned firms. Women entrepreneurs must take use of various women-specific initiatives, methods, and techniques if they want to be successful. All of these topics, as well as business finance through small company grants for women, will be covered in this article.

Small Businesses

Several types of government subsidies are available to assist women in breaking down barriers and overcoming gender inequities that prevent them from operating successful enterprises like male entrepreneurs. These awards help women launch new enterprises or improve the operations of existing ones. The Girlboss Foundation Grant, Eileen Fisher Women-Owned Business Grant, Cartier Women’s Initiative Award, The Amber Grant, and others are among them. Each of these awards has its own set of qualifications as well as a specified amount that successful candidates will receive. Before applying for any of them, make sure to read over their prerequisites.

Look for Support

Whether confronted with a task that we don’t know how to finish, there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete, or we just can’t do it, learning to ask for help may reveal our strengths, not our weaknesses. We squander time and effort when we refuse to ask for assistance, especially in business. If you, as a female entrepreneur, must learn to believe in themselves by not seeking approval or acceptance from others. Women entrepreneurs who believe in themselves become confident and, as previously said, devoted to overcoming setbacks or adversities. You may start to overcome your limiting beliefs after you’ve identified them; start challenging and questioning those beliefs. Make a list of as many reasons as you can for why a belief is false, and then follow it up with one of those reasons every time it occurs to you.

Learning Never Stops

Learning new things is the basic trait every female entrepreneur and business owner. Continual learning, whether it’s honing an existing skill or acquiring a new one, creates opportunities for improvement, new ideas, and opportunities. Surrounding yourself with people who succeed at something you don’t is one of the best methods to learn from others. Finding a mentor, joining a mastermind group, or forming a board of directors before starting a new business or initiative are all worthwhile options.

You may use a strong personal brand to increase the exposure of your firm. Even the greatest visionary Steve Jobs controlled Apple, yet his personal brand aided in the promotion of the company. By establishing a strong personal brand, you enable others to see you as a thought leader and, as a result, trust your business.

Believe in yourself

When you spend too much time attempting to impress others, you lose sight of yourself, which can lead to you doubting your own ideas and derailing your business objectives. One of the most difficult aspects of being a successful woman in any field is living in a world that does not value success. Women who are driven and accomplished are frequently looked down upon, and their achievements are minimised. In a society when women have few seats at key tables, it’s crucial to take a seat. Enduring such instances is one of the most difficult and yet crucial skills a woman in any job can acquire, but being approachable is as important.

To Conclude

All of the elements stated above will give women the boost they need to become successful businesswomen. Whether you’re a woman, do some further research to see if there are any small business grants for women or other perks available in your area or location. Thankfully, the internet connects individuals from all over the world, so you can take use of most of them regardless of where you are.