South Asian women entrepreneurs to give financial tips.
Bureau Report
NEW YORK: In celebration of National Women’s History Month in March, South Asian Young Women Entrepreneurs (SAY WE), a network of business-minded executives in the fields of technology, finance, entertainment and fashion, announced the launch of a six-city financial education tour, in association with the Consulate General of India (New York) and powered by Wells Fargo. “Making Dollars & Sense: Financial Education for South Asian Women Business Owners” will kick off in San Francisco on April 18.
The panel of financial experts and successful South Asian women entrepreneurs will provide insights, tips and resources on topics such as building business credit, reinvesting in a business, protecting credit and maximizing relationships with business bankers. After the first event, the tour will stop in Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, New Jersey, and culminate in New York City on May 30.
“The panelists we have chosen in each of the six cities are of the most successful and driven South Asian women business owners in the country,” said Reema Rasool, founder and executive director of SAY WE, at a press conference held at the Consulate General of India in New York. “They will provide insights and share their journey with women who have just launched their business venture or those who are facing challenges as a result of the recent economic downturn. The goal of this initiative is to drive awareness to the financial education tools and resources available to women entrepreneurs and to create a national support system of business-minded women who will learn from each other and share their successes, failures, challenges and triumphs.”
SAY WE and Wells Fargo aim to support South Asian entrepreneurs and provide greater access to financial tools and resources to women-owned businesses – a group that has grown in size by more than 20 percent from 2002 to 2007, according to the latest census data.
As part of its commitment to support women business owners, Wells Fargo is committed to lending a cumulative total of $55 billion to women-owned businesses in the U.S. by the year 2020. Today, approximately 30 percent of businesses in the U.S. are owned by women, according to the National Women’s Business Council.
“South Asian women entrepreneurs are helping to shape the future of small business and our economy,” said Rahul Baig, head of Wells Fargo’s Northeast Corporate Banking. “We’re honored to work together with SAY WE to offer these business owners financial education resources to help them succeed financially – in business and personally.”
To learn more about SAY WE’s financial education panels, panelists and how to participate, log on to and register at www.sayweonline.org