RMIT supports female entrepreneurs.

RMIT University is organizing the "Empower HERpreneurship" event to promote gender equality in entrepreneurship and celebrate the achievements of female business leaders.

The event, organized by the RMIT Activator startup incubator in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship program of the Business School, RMIT University, "Empower HERpreneurship" includes a trade fair showcasing products and services from 10 women-led startups, along with a discussion session with prominent female entrepreneurs.

According to a 2022 report by the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry, the percentage of businesses owned by women in Vietnam is 22%, comparable to developed countries such as Sweden, Singapore, and France. However, the global pandemic has hampered progress on gender equality. The World Economic Forum's 2021 Global Gender Gap Report shows that the time needed to close the gender gap increased by 36 years (to 135.6 years) in just 12 months due to Covid-19.

Dr. Justin Xavier, Senior Project and International Partnerships Manager at the Business School, RMIT University, assesses that female entrepreneurs are increasingly leading in social impact, environmental sustainability, and ethical leadership. "They are making a positive difference in their communities and beyond," he says.

Dr. Jung Woo Han, Senior Head of Human Resource Management and Entrepreneurship at RMIT, also affirmed that female entrepreneurs today are no longer limited to small or micro-enterprises. Startups founded by women have achieved breakthroughs in innovation, boldly launching brands with international reach.

Speakers and representatives from the organizing committee of the "Empowering HERpreneurship" event. Photo: RMIT Vietnam

However, to achieve such significant milestones, female entrepreneurs need a commitment to continuous innovation and great perseverance. Ms. Pham Hong Van, founder and CEO of Emmay Joint Stock Company, a business specializing in mushroom-based products, shared that innovation doesn't happen instantly; it needs to start with small steps.

"Only 20 companies in the world have the mycelium technology we possess. The technology itself isn't complex, but it requires years of relentless dedication. We had to conduct 1,000 trials before achieving final success," she recounted.

In 2022, the female CEO was among the top 30 globally in the FoodTech Challenge, a food technology challenge organized by the UAE government . According to her, inherent kindness and the ability to listen and care for others are unique qualities of women entrepreneurs.

Ms. Pham Hong Van (second from the right) shares her entrepreneurial story. Photo: RMIT Vietnam

Ms. Xuan Nguyen, a former RMIT student and co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Fonos audiobook company, added that another advantage for women is that they make up the majority of consumers worldwide. With an empathetic and thoughtful approach, female entrepreneurs can better understand and meet the needs of their female customers, a point that men may find difficult to grasp. "This gives women great potential to establish successful businesses," she emphasized.

Xuan Nguyen also advised future female entrepreneurs to leverage the inherent strengths of women. Previously, she thought she needed to be domineering and assertive to fit in when working with men. However, she soon realized this was a flawed approach.

"I learned to be honest with myself, find balance, and recognize the unique advantages that I, as a woman, can bring to the table," she added.

RMIT students attend the "Empowering HERpreneurship" event. Photo: RMIT Vietnam

The speakers also noted that female entrepreneurs face a dual challenge: convincing others of their business capabilities while simultaneously believing in themselves. To overcome this obstacle, the experts emphasized the importance of recognizing internal barriers and boosting self-confidence through continuous learning and knowledge acquisition.

Speaker Xuan recounted her journey in conceiving the idea for her first chain of banh mi (Vietnamese sandwich) stores, with the ambition of creating a business on a scale comparable to KFC. At that time, she knew how to make a good product but lacked knowledge of building and running a business, how to read financial reports, build a website, manage logistics, and so on.

However, thanks to entrepreneurship courses at RMIT, she later acquired the skills and mindset to build and develop a successful business.

Dr. Jung Woo Han added that 60% of students studying Entrepreneurship at RMIT Vietnam are female. This is significantly higher than the percentage of women who found and owned businesses in Vietnam (22%).

"I have complete faith in a brighter future for women entrepreneurs in Vietnam and the region," he added.

Nhat Le

Readers interested in business training programs, specifically the Entrepreneurship specialization at RMIT, can find more information here.

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