Kolkata, April 22 (IANS) Support from peers and training in soft skills are necessary to provide budding women entrepreneurs the initial boost to set up their own ventures, said a US government official here Monday.
"Peer support is something that is very necessary for women entrepreneurs as they have multiple roles to play. Soft skills that can help them to put ideas to reality is something that needs to be looked into," said Zeenat Rahman, special adviser to Secretary of State John Kerry on global youth issues.
She was in the city for an interactive session with the Young FICCI Ladies Organisation (YFLO), organised by the American Center.
Rahman also stressed on thinking "out of the forged path" and doing things to make a difference.
One of the commonalities among women entrepreneurs across the globe, according to Rahman, is that most of them face difficulties due to lack of a supportive framework.
"Most of them say that the ecosystem components, the supportive environment don't exist... (It is) very difficult to operate in those situations," Rahman said.
Rahman suggested to "focus on tools that young people need to thrive in these situations".
