This was a unique programme at PIM. PIM invited the leading women entrepreneurs to interact with PIM Students and motivate them to think about starting off their own business. Ms. Shruthi G Shenoy, President of POWER, Ms Sona, Organising Secretary, POWER PARBA 2020, Ms. Lakshmi Rao, Treasurer, POWER and Dr Vijayedra of Dentacare of Udupi spoke on this occasion. Dr. Bharath, Prof. Santhosh Prabhu and Dr S Mayya were present on this occasion. They also have thrown light on POWER PARBA, an annual event which will be held at Udupi from 10th January to 12th January 2020 at Mahatma Gandhi Bayalu Ranga Mandira, Beedinagudde, Udupi. They invited our budding entrepreneurs to take part in it. The Programme was conducted on 3rdDecember 2019 at Poornaprajna Institute of Management. Dr. Vijeyendra enthralled the students with his motivational talk with relevant insights which was appreciated by the students.
Platform of Women Entrepreneurs Registered (POWER) is an organisation with an objective to promote women in business. Having been launched on International Women’s Day in March 2009, POWER has created a platform for women entrepreneurs to come together and learn, develop, and support each other in order to collectively grow in their respective businesses.
Ms. Sona explained, “We have come a long way, gaining recognition for our work and also helping several women entrepreneurs to scale new heights.” Sona dwelt in detail the hardship she had undergone to reach this level and motivated the students with many examples.
Flagship events like ‘Power Parba’ and ‘Power Summit’ are organised on a yearly basis by the organisation, while ‘Empower’, an awards ceremony, is conducted to appreciate and acknowledge budding women entrepreneurs. The events consist of over a hundred stalls owned and set up solely by the working members. Entrepreneurship development programmes in educational institutions come under the programme plan, promoting ideas of entrepreneurship among the masses”.
Flagship events like ‘Power Parba’ and ‘Power Summit’ are organised on a yearly basis by the organisation, while ‘Empower’, an awards ceremony, is conducted to appreciate and acknowledge budding women entrepreneurs. The events consist of over a hundred stalls owned and set up solely by the working members. Entrepreneurship development programmes in educational institutions come under the programme plan, promoting ideas of entrepreneurship among the masses”.
Today, the association has the strength of about 90 women, all involved in a variety of independent businesses of differing scales, including baking, handicrafts, textiles and more. “The members can expand their knowledge resulting in greater exposure to a variety of fields. Informative talks on government schemes and other beneficial insights are made available to the women during the monthly meetings. Networking and recommendations are provided, along with skill development techniques to help the young and aspiring entrepreneurs to branch out and successfully establish their business,” said Shruti Shenoy, the current president of POWER, who holds a vision to incorporate rural women entrepreneurs into the mainstream markets.
“The purpose is right and so is our work in its direction,” stated Shruti, Shenoy, talking about their representation in state-level policymaking and conferences. With each term, POWER takes up new themes to better the level and impact of entrepreneurship in society while the overall aim stands to bring maximum women entrepreneurs to the forefront.
