The TiE Stree Shakti (TSS) Workshop and Awards is a forum for women entrepreneurs to create trust-based partnerships through active networking. The objective of TSS is to create a platform of ?belonging? for women entrepreneurs.

The initiative found its origins in the GEM (Grassroot Entrepreneurship Monitor) study commissioned by The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Mumbai and conducted by the India Consulting Group. The study identified an urgent need to provide education, mentoring, inspiration and networking opportunities to budding women entrepreneurs in the MSME (Micro, Small, Medium Enterprise) segment.

To plug this gap, in 2007 a focused Women’s Special Interest Group was conceptualized and established by TiE to reach out, educate and mentor women who run micro, medium and large-scale enterprises across the manufacturing, services and social sectors. On 10th March 2009 the initiative was formally titled ‘TiE Stree Shakti’ (TSS) as a salute to the growing role of women in the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem. Its mandate was to serve as a platform to recognize women who have broken the glass ceiling and enable aspiring women entrepreneurs to overcome societal and gender disparity to realize their dream of running their own enterprise successfully. As a pan-India initiative, the program aims to connect women from different socio-economic strata and celebrate – ‘Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs in India’.

TSS is spearheaded by a power panel of accomplished and successful women – Anita Ramchandran,
Cerebrus; Bharti Jacob, Seed Fund; Chanda Kocchar, ICICI Bank; Farzana Haque, TCS; Gita Dang, Talent Advisory Services; Ireena Vittal, McKinsey; Rama Bijapurkar, Market Strategist and Author and Shikha Sharma, Axis Bank. Also on the panel are TIE members and successful entrepreneurs in their own right, including Shilpi Kapoor, Purvi Sheth and Sridar Iyengar, President, TiE Mumbai

As part of its efforts to enable women entrepreneurs, the initiative includes:
• On-ground focused activities for Women Entrepreneurs across various TiE Chapters, leveraging the existing TiE charter of activities.
• An annual conference for women entrepreneurs that aims to recognize, reward, educate, mentor and enable.

Ernst & Young (E&Y) has signed up as Process Partners for the awards definition and selection process.

TATA Group, one of India’s largest and most respected business conglomerates has signed on as partner for the initiative.

Launched on 9^th March,2009 by TiE Mumbai, this platform is a pan-India initiative to recognize, award and enable them. The award ceremony will be hosted later this year in Mumbai.

This event seeks to reflect the growing role of women in the Indian entrepreneurial eco ? system. The theme will be celebratory ? ?Enabling/Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs in India?.