Perhaps one of the greatest challenges women in business in Barbados face is how they are viewed and treated, says entrepreneur Shelly Williams.
Sharing some of her experiences, the businesswoman said too often women were highlighted negatively when they decided to start a new venture.
Williams was addressing a dinner for young female entrepreneurs at the Barbados Youth Business Trust (BYBT) last Thursday – International Women’s Day.
She said there was a trend developing in Barbados where people would think negatively of women starting their own businesses, and cautioned those at the function not to be daunted.
“The only thing we tend to highlight when it comes to our women is the negative aspect,” she said.
“We have to be careful that we ourselves are not guilty of doing this. Barbadians are guilty of doing this. We have something to give and we are giving it. We have to embrace each other, look at each other and encourage each other as women in business and respect each other,” she said.
Williams further advised the female entrepreneurs to invite students from various institutions to do internships with them and “teach them the way business should be run”.
“I think it is time we also start teaching entrepreneurship even at the primary [school] level.
“I believe tourism and entrepreneurship should be taught here because they go hand in hand and every day we are selling our country,” suggested Williams.
“I encourage you to dive into what you are doing, love what you are doing, but respect other people, respect your fellow ladies in businesses and come together in organizations [such as BYBT] and spread your knowledge.
“Do not worry about someone knowing more than you or making more than you. It doesn’t matter. What is for you, you will always have,” she said, noting that she understood the difficulty in getting start-up funding.
