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Global Summit
of Women 2007 Remarks Dear ladies, I am very happy to be here today and to have a chance to share thoughts with so many interesting, emancipated, established women from all over the world. It is a privilege. Before touching the topic of the panel I’ll introduce myself with couple of words. I am Sasha Bezuhanova and come from Bulgaria. For those who are not closely familiar with Bulgaria – this is a country that went in last 17 years trough fundamental transition - politically, economic wise but the real challenging and difficult transition was in the mentality of the people. This was difficult path from closed totalitarian society to country following democratic principles, EU and NATO member, with stable macroeconomic framework and enjoying enormous investment interest. I’ve been lucky to be part of that transformation, on the side of those who was raising the flag of the innovation, transferring good practices, creating communities and opening the country to the global world. It happened in my life that being very young I’ve got a chance to be manager and leader, I’ve touched and learned from the world leading business practices and I know what difference it makes to your personal and professional life, to all the choices you make in the life. Coming from a small emerging country and being a woman was double challenge. You can overcome it only if you are really good or if you operate in a tolerant environment where men and women compete only on the field of qualities and ideas, where prejudices don’t exist. I know quite some very good ladies, many of them are in this room today. Still there is an effort needed to extend the ground and to encourage many more talented women who are ready to sacrifice their dreams and own path for rules dictated by the environment they are living in. If we look the Bulgarian picture women are comparatively well represented in decision-making positions in business and governance – from the Top 50 publicly quoted companies women in highest decision-making positions in Bulgaria are 20%, compared to 10% for EU, according to the recent research done by Centre of Women Studies and Policies. Although there is significant progress regarding these numbers, still they are far from the desired balanced representation. Fact also proven by the report of the National Statistical Institute showing that Bulgarian women entrepreneurs and managers are only 60 000 in number or 1/3 of total entrepreneurs and are mainly involved in small and medium-sized business.
One secure way is education and development of skills in early age. I’ll present in front of you 2 initiatives we are implementing trough JA Bulgaria. Junior Achievement is a program for developing entrepreneurial and leadership skills among the youngsters – children in the age 6 to 19 years old. Commissioner Ferheugen named it best program for growing entrepreneurs in EU and important platform for meeting the targets of the Lisbon strategy. I am Chairperson of JA in Bulgaria in last 7 years and can assure you that only systematic financial and coaching support from the business can make a difference. We have currently 17.000 students that are following the JA programs in Bulgaria. It is not a surprise that girls are more active and involved in that age. 1. The program “Student Company” is practical learning by acting activity where students are registering and running real companies. This school year out of 76 companies registered 65% are initiated and managed by girls. 2. In the beginning of 2007, HP and Junior Achievement launched an initiative called Responsible Business Competition, part of the joint global activity which took place in 10 European countries, as well as in Bulgaria. The aim of the initiative is to develop young entrepreneurs as future business leaders who are involved in social responsible projects. More than 160 students from all over the country discussed the role of the social responsible business at a special conference, listened success stories and presented their business plans under the mentorship of me and my colleagues from HP.
Playing and learning business grounds in such an early stage those young ladies are much more prepared to start their own business after finishing their education. I believe deeply that education and qualification gives new dimension of freedom and the world leadership should stimulate it as the most sustainable way for the society development. I also know from my experience that companies, governments, societies who are managed by balanced management teams are more successful and effective because man and women contribute different strength and quality to the management process and final result.
Men in leadership position have the support of the history, still from the time they were hunters. Let’ unify efforts to grow and encourage the positioning of the talented women next to them – it will help world progress.
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