November 19 is Women's Entrepreneurship Day

November 19 is World Women's Entrepreneurship Day
On November 19, the world celebrates World Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, established by the UN at the initiative of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Organisation (WEDO). Just ten years ago, this date did not exist in the global calendar. Today, it unites almost 150 countries and thousands of women entrepreneurs across the world.

How This Day Was Born
The initiator of World Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is American entrepreneur and philanthropist Wendy Diamond. She was inspired by a trip to Honduras and her encounters with microfinance funds supporting low-income women. After returning to the United States, she decided to create a global movement to support women entrepreneurs.

The first WED ceremony was held on 19 November 2014 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In its very first year, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day was marked in 144 countries, and today it is observed in almost 150 countries.

Several states and cities in the USA, Ukraine, the UK, Germany, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Ireland have officially proclaimed 19 November as Women’s Entrepreneurship Day at the level of their local declarations.

The core idea of WEDO is not just another holiday, but a global movement designed to make women’s contribution to the economy visible, protected, and supported. 

Why the World Needs a Women’s Entrepreneurship Day

1. Women are a huge but underused economic resource
According to international estimates, around one in three businesses worldwide has a woman among its owners, and in recent years the growth of women’s entrepreneurship has been outpacing that of men.

Research shows that if women started businesses as actively as men, the global economy could gain hundreds of billions of dollars annually. In the UK alone, this potential is estimated at £250 billion in additional value.

 2. Women-owned businesses are about more than profit
Women-led businesses are more likely to:

• create jobs for women,
• support social and educational projects,
• focus on sustainable development, environmental issues, and community well-being.

In many countries, women’s entrepreneurship becomes a way to:

• escape poverty,
• achieve financial independence,
• protect themselves and their children.

Barriers Women Entrepreneurs Still Face

Even in 2025, women entrepreneurs around the world share similar challenges.

• Unequal access to finance. Women often find it harder to obtain loans and investments.
• Startups with female teams receive a smaller share of venture capital.

 The digital divide
In developing countries, 45% of women entrepreneurs do not have regular access to the internet due to high connectivity costs and weak infrastructure. At the same time, almost all of them rely on smartphones to work with clients and process payments. 

Online violence and an unsafe digital environment

• 57% of women entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries have faced online harassment.
• 41% consciously reduce their online presence to protect themselves — and this directly slows down the growth of their businesses.

Social stereotypes

Harmful narratives still exist, such as:

• “Business is not a woman’s thing,”
• “A woman should choose a stable job, not risk,”
• “Entrepreneurship is incompatible with motherhood.” 

What Happens Around the World on November 19
As part of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day, many initiatives take place worldwide:

• Forums and conferences at the UN, universities, business schools, and corporations.
• Panel discussions featuring successful women entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers.
• Educational workshops on launching startups, raising capital, digital marketing, and working with AI.
• Mentorship programmes, where experienced businesswomen support beginners.

Why This Day Matters Personally to Every Woman

Even if a woman doesn’t own a business, Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is still about her, because: Entrepreneurial thinking is not only about registering a company.
It is the ability to:

• see opportunities,
• take responsibility,
• look for solutions instead of excuses,
• create value for others.

Women’s entrepreneurship creates role models for girls and young women: when they see female founders, CEOs, and investors, they begin to feel, “I can do this too.”

Economic independence is a powerful foundation for personal freedom, safety, and self-esteem.

What Everyone Can Do on November 19

If you are a woman
1. Take an honest look at your ideas
Do you have a dream or a project you’ve been postponing for a long time?

Create a simple three-step plan. Define the very first step you can take today:

1. write to a potential client,
2. calculate a basic budget,
3. enrol in a short online course.

2. Find a community
Join a women’s business club, an online community, or an educational programme for entrepreneurs. The right environment can accelerate your growth dramatically.

3. Invest in your skills
Especially in:

• digital literacy and online marketing,
• financial literacy,
• negotiation and presentation skills,
• understanding how to use AI in business.

If you are a man

1. Consciously support women-owned businesses

• Buy products and services from women entrepreneurs,
• recommend them to others,
• offer partnerships and investments.

2. Break stereotypes
Do not dismiss or belittle a “small women’s business.” For many women, this is the first step toward something bigger and a crucial source of financial freedom.

3. Create equal conditions in your company

• transparent rules for career growth,
• flexible schedules and support for parents,
• zero tolerance for sexism and discrimination.

November 19 – A Reminder, Not Just a Date

World Women’s Entrepreneurship Day is not just one more “celebratory post” day on social media. It is a reason to:

• count how many women participate in the economy on equal terms,
• identify which barriers can be removed right now,
• and most importantly, give a voice to those who are building businesses and changing their own lives and the lives of others.

Every year, on November 19, the world seems to say to women entrepreneurs:
“We see your work. Your idea matters. Your business is not only about money — it’s about the future.”

And perhaps, on this very day, someone somewhere will dare for the first time to call her dream by a new name: “my business.” #wedo2025 #WorldWomanClub #КУЖ