The Importance of female entrepreneurship

Published On : 03/06/2022

By Delphine Remy-Boutang, CEO of the Bureau & JFD 

Delphine Remy-Boutang, CEO of the Bureau & JFD

Launched 10 years ago with the ambition of revealing the energy and talent of female founders in Tech, JFD has made new digital stars shine! Through JFD events in Europe and Africa, les Margaret Awards, the issues raised about education, role models accessible to young girl, financing for female founders in tech, JFD highlighted the inspiring role played by women in the digital economy. 

As the digital revolution profoundly transforms all sectors and our lifestyles, our ability to develop a new pool of talent is decisive for the future of our economy. Those who master the digital tools will benefit from the digital and economic transformation underway. Let’s give this chance to the new generation of women by creating envy and providing them with the means to make sense of this revolution!

We are convinced that the solution lies in a double shock: a societal shock, which we are working on at JFD in collaboration with our partners (Eramet, Anaplan, Groupe FDJ, La Poste Groupe, Salesforce, Dassault Systèmes, EDF, Orange, TotalEnergies, Groupe Crédit Agricole, Sitecore…), and a legislative shock to bring more female tech champions to the fore. We need to direct more investment towards women entrepreneurs, who can also provide solutions to digital transformation by putting it to work for our societies and the environment.

To all those women who take bold technological challenges and bet on disruptive innovations to change the world, I will devote the next few years to accelerating their growth by investing. Because gender diversity is not only an equality issue but also an economic performance issue and a decisive growth lever for our future.

Europe is the region of the world where women entrepreneurs are most likely to thrive. However, globally, out of every 100 startups funded, only 2 go to companies founded by women. 98% of investments go to companies founded by men.

Creating inclusive markets that address limited access to health care, education, financial and other services requires empowering diverse entrepreneurs. Women not only make up half of the market and a large proportion of the workforce, but also drive household spending. Their inability to access markets excludes entire families from a better standard of living.

So what works: the fact of having a network, yes, very clearly, but I would add that it will probably be necessary to create a law: the obligation for investors to explain their choices, and to have more gender diversity within investment panels. We can no longer ignore these issues: lack of representation, societal biases, closed networks, insufficient investor commitment to women. To change this paradigm: a concerted effort is needed, and quickly. 

It is by stepping out of a familiar comfort zone and making a determined effort that we will seize growing opportunities for all and by all. 

More than 40 years ago the term glass ceiling was first used. Four decades in which, although great progress has been made in terms of women’s position in the power spheres, the results are still insufficient.

At both global and local levels, women’s low labour force participation and stagnant wages therefore remain the black spot for equality. The cause? Cultural biais, still, but also their under-representation in future jobs such as cloud computing, engineering, data or artificial intelligence.

JFD’s ambition is to help the women and men by giving them methods, by making them aware of the existing tools to project themselves into the future and finally come out of the shadows. As Michelle Obama said in 2014, “No country can flourish if it stifles the potential of women and denies itself the contribution of half its citizens.” For our countries to prosper, let’s help ensure that we all have the same opportunities to shine and to be entrepreneurial.

Wanda Rich

Wanda Rich has been the Editor-in-Chief of Global Banking & Finance Review since 2011, playing a pivotal role in shaping the publication’s content and direction. Under her leadership, the magazine has expanded its global reach and established itself as a trusted source of information and analysis across various financial sectors. She is known for conducting exclusive interviews with industry leaders and oversees the Global Banking & Finance Awards, which recognize innovation and leadership in finance. In addition to Global Banking & Finance Review, Wanda also serves as editor for numerous other platforms, including Asset Digest, Biz Dispatch, Blockchain Tribune, Business Express, Brands Journal, Companies Digest, Economy Standard, Entrepreneur Tribune, Finance Digest, Fintech Herald, Global Islamic Finance Magazine, International Releases, Online World News, Luxury Adviser, Palmbay Herald, Startup Observer, Technology Dispatch, Trading Herald, and Wealth Tribune.