Alibaba.com announced the establishment of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurship (AWE) in Europe. With this initiative, Alibaba’s B2B platform aims to promote gender equality in business and support women’s entrepreneurship.
Alibaba.com describes AWE as a “free advanced education training and networking program for women business owners, entrepreneurs, and business partners across the EU.”
The Academy tracked a survey conducted by Alibaba of women entrepreneurs across Europe and uncovered significant hurdles faced by women entrepreneurs. 94% cited societal expectations and gender stereotypes as a major barrier to business leadership, and nearly 60% highlighted gender as a reason for business failure.
address gap
To address these disparities, Alibaba.com established the AWE initiative to provide advanced educational training, mentorship, and networking opportunities to women business owners and business partners. In its first year, the Academy will welcome 40 women-led companies from across Europe. Over 10 weeks, you’ll work through a variety of modules including leadership, negotiation, strategy, business and financial models, fundraising, and communications.
The academy welcomes 40 women-led companies.
Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with a dynamic community of like-minded industry leaders, investors, mentors, and organizations committed to advancing gender equality in decision-making, according to Alibaba.com.
tools and knowledge
Alibaba.com, Alibaba Group’s international B2B marketplace, is making targeted efforts to attract European small and medium-sized businesses as competition from Amazon intensifies. The platform makes clear its ambition to champion gender equality in business. Michela Rubeni, Marketing Director for Europe, said: “We believe that by providing women entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge to empower themselves, we can ultimately contribute to a more inclusive and prosperous global economy. “There is,” he said.
“We can contribute to a more inclusive global economy.”
Alibaba.com’s analysis suggests that diversity within the entrepreneurial ecosystem can be promoted by establishing support groups that foster collaborative problem-solving among women entrepreneurs.
