Ever year in April/May, we see several women from across India converging to Bengaluru.  This is for the Summer Special @ IIMB; i.e. the MPWE. The participants are a mix of entrepreneurs, wannabe entrepreneurs as well as some persons who are curious about entrepreneurship and are undecided about what they would like to do. Entrepreneurship is a great way for women to develop their potential as business leaders and for them to make a difference to themselves, their family and friends and the world at large.

MPWE is doing its bit for entrepreneurship, slowly but surely, not just in the city of Bengaluru, but across the world, with many alumni scattered across the globe. There is so much variety in the businesses run and managed by these alumni. Their projects are in different industries and also vary in terms of size and reach. The industries include inter-alia manufacturing concerns and social ventures, IT product and service companies, consulting firms, restaurants, designer and styling firms, architecture and interior design firms, adventure camps, martial arts centres, art and culture centres, education institutes, online ventures, publications… and many more.

Over the years, MPWE has gained considerable goodwill among entrepreneur circles. Alumni of MPWE as well as other IIM alumni have initiated scholarships to enable deserving women to participate in the program. Details of the program, the scholarships and the program application form are available at http://www.nsrcel.org .

We look forward to see many of these alumni making a name for themselves and their companies in the years to come. This book is our attempt to showcase some of these heartwarming stories.

Ganesh N Prabhu and Anjana Vivek
Program Directors, MPWE @ IIMB”

Apart from being complimented by workshops, the website provides education on various topics in Business study. Or e.g., assessing oneself on leadership skills, a sample financial business model, tips on effective appraisals and interviewing, finance for CEOs, attracting funding, making a business plan, effective strategizing etc.

The site also publishes articles about any events which aim to encourage entrepreneurship. One such article is by Anjana Vivek about the Management Programme For Women Entrepreneurs (MPWE), held on April 15^th, 2009 at IIMB, Bangaluru. This year saw ,more than 130 women members, from India and outside the country, be enthusiastic participants. They were a mix of entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, those curious about entrepreneurship and some other who were still undecided.

The sessions at MPWE, included workshops, seminars and several networking events as well. The goal was to emphasise that women entrepreneurs take a different career path than those of men. This is out of choice or due to necessity. The participants interacted with other entrepreneurs and MPWE alumni and listened to their entrepreneurial journey, asked questions about their decision to embark on such a journey , the joys and challenges they faced , the roadblocks they encountered in business, especially in the ongoing recession and how they overcame them.

Or more information, please contact Prof. Ganesh Prabhu ( Course Director), at gprabhu at IIMB.ERNET dot IN or call him at 0-984-417-5078.