Arqus Academic Week 2021 - Debate on Women entrepreneurship with Prof. Chalus-Sauvannet, iaelyon

Women entrepreneurs, barriers and drivers when developing their entrepreneurial project

The numbers of women entrepreneurs are increasing but barriers persist. The contribution of Women's Entrepreneurship to the economic and social development of society is no longer in doubt. Many political figures have talked about how women are the most underutilized economic asset in the global economy but also that the economic benefits of women's inclusion are higher than previously thought.

However, although the number of women entrepreneurs is increasing, barriers still persist and seem to make it difficult for women entrepreneurs to develop their project. According to several reports from the European Union, when they create and manage a business, they are facing more difficulties especially to access financing compared with men. This is even becoming one of the main factors of failure in women's business creation.

Main issues of the debate

The debate will focus on the current situation and perspectives on women entrepreneurship and more particularly the question of financing their entrepreneurial project.

Women are often part of an entrepreneurial ecosystem (incubators, group of entrepreneurs, etc.). Do these organizations have a positive impact for women entrepreneurs? Is there some kind of discrimination for projects led by women, especially when it comes to financing? What place for public policies to stimulate women's entrepreneurship? Do women investors promote female entrepreneurship through their actions?

A great variety of profiles among the panelists and moderator

The debate will have a great mix of insights from academics, development coaches and personal experience from woman entrepreneurs.

• Vilde Regine Tellnes
  CEO & Co-founder of Healthy EATS – Bergen
• Lisa-Marie Fassl
  Co-founder and CEO of Female Founders - Vienna & Graz.
• Ana María Bojica
  University of Granada

Moderator : Marie-Christine Chalus-Sauvannet, iaelyon School of Management

Marie-Christine Chalus-Sauvannet is a Professor and member of the executive board at iaelyon - Université Jean Moulin Lyon 3, part of the larger Université de Lyon. She is in charge of the Master 1 International Affairs and member of the Magellan Research Centre since September 2013 where she leads the CREATE research team. Her research focuses on entrepreneurship (women business angels and entrepreneurs, performance of young companies, business transfer, profile of entrepreneurs), but also on strategic intelligence for the implementation of proactive strategies. She is also President of the Société d'Economie Politique et Sociale de Lyon (SEPL).

► The debate will be broadcast live on the Arqus YouTube channel.

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About Arqus

The Arqus European University Alliance brings together the universities of Bergen, Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon, Padua and Vilnius, seven longstanding comprehensive research universities who share extensive experience in joint projects and a common profile as internationalized institutions with deep regional engagement in medium-sized cities.
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