India is brimming with entrepreneurial zeal. India improved its ranking from 16th in 2021 to 4th in 2023, among 51 countries surveyed by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, (GEM). India has emerged as the third largest startup ecosystem globally, as per the Economic Survey 2021-22. In the complex social structures of India, women are coming to the fore as significant player, breaking the barriers of the entrepreneurial landscape of India. In spite of the giant leaps, their journey is meddled with challenges. Challenges that are unique to the gender. As of 2019, only 3.7% of CEOs and Managing Directors were women. According to the sixth economic census, less than 14 percent women constitute the entrepreneurial work force of India. The harsh realities are that like every other domain, business ecosystems are dominated by men. In order to navigate through the hurdles that arise from complex structural and societal expectations as well as the gender specific economic challenges concentrated effort is required.

Mentorship as a Catalyst

Mentorship is one of the oldest tools for human development. Some mentoring relationships developed organically over time. While others are intentionally designed around the need for it and willingness to offer. Mentorship has transformative power to nurture women in their growth and evolution. It offers valuable guidance and a supportive network in navigating through challenges. According to Harvard Business review study Mentors play the following functions in the journey of an entrepreneur.

1. Reflector - Entrepreneurs often develop blind spots. Mentors can help them by providing a different perspective look at the challenges. Reflecting on the journey so far and what should not be repeated.
2. Reassurance - An entrepreneur’s journey is composed of opportunities and challenges. Failure is common in an entrepreneur’s journey. Mentors function a significant role in instilling faith even after setbacks.
3. Motivator - Giving them a boundary and a framework, someone who will not let them succumb to self-criticism. Mentors validate entrepreneurs in their ideas and encourage them even after mistakes.
.
4. Confidant - Mentors provide confidential advice like balancing work and life challenges or facing societal stigma, supplementing them with their mental well-being.
5. Contacts - Providing valuable industry insights to the entrepreneurs and connecting them with investors, industry networks, peers and secure funding, in upscaling the business.
6. Information Support - Providing information on various technical and operational aspects or legal advice.
7. Challenging - Pushing the boundaries and inspiring to set higher standards
8. Guide and role model - Someone to whom they can look up to, someone who had the similar journey, faced the similar challenges, instilling the confidence that they are heading in the right direction.

Key entrepreneurship needs fulfilled by mentorship programs

The study also outlines that businesses led by a mentored entrepreneur were five times more likely to survive and grow than by than those without mentorship. Mentorship as a whole is important for male and female in the context of entrepreneurship. First time entrepreneur uses this as an insight to understand the landscape while existing entrepreneurs use this for scaling and expanding. According to a study by MicroSave Consulting, and Women Entrepreneurship Program conducted in 2022 mentorship and market support are among the most ignored support areas in all entrepreneurs’ support scheme in India.

Perception About Mentorship Among Women Entrepreneurs

Majority of women entrepreneurs approximately 64 per cent are unaware about any sort of mentorship program. Only 21.6 percent women entrepreneurs are aware of government programs such as Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Startup India and WEP etc. While 26.7 percent women entrepreneurs are aware of private and non-governmental mentorship program. In Tier II and Tier III cities mentorship is seen as an exceptional occurrence instead of normal. In those areas many think of one-time training session as mentorship program. Women from second and third generation business family view the man in their family as the first mentor. In India more than 90 percent of listed firms are inherited family businesses.

Women who pay for mentorship and their income group-

“My father is my mentor. Having a family business mentor is a great support. He has been in the food business for 30 years. So, I know all the raw materials and ways to procure them. But my business also needs outside mentorship services in many other domains, such as marketing, sales, and technology upgrades”

- A female food brand owner, Hyderabad.

A majority of women entrepreneurs, appx. 75 percent lack access to mentorship, among the rest 25 percent that have access to mentorship 41 percent have access to institutional mentorship while 59 percent have access to individual mentorship program like National Rural Livelihood Mission, AIM and Women Entrepreneurship Program. Research shows that 60 percent women entrepreneurs perceive hyperlocal mentorship i.e., mentors with local connection in the industry and relevant areas can make mentorship more accessible.

Recommendation to improve the mentorship program-

50% Women entrepreneurs with mentorship support are very happy with the support they receive. Research shows different reasons why women entrepreneurs find these supports helpful

• Experiment with a hyperlocal, hub-and-spoke mentoring ecosystem that targets women entrepreneurs.
• Create a graded pool of certified mentors nationwide
• Integrate robust monitor, evaluation and learning mechanisms to structure mentoring engagements

The scope of a mentor necessarily has to include facilitating or expanding the networks of their mentees (women). Because traditionally, women are not allowed to build networks and talk to people outside of their allowed realm. They also do not devote time to networking as men do. This then becomes an important aspect for the mentor to come in on.

- A female entrepreneur, Mumbai.