Alibaba introduces a business academy for female entrepreneurs in Europe

Alibaba.com Launches Academy for Women Entrepreneurs in Europe

Alibaba.com has announced the launch of the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) in Europe, a 10-week program aimed at empowering female business leaders and promoting gender equality in decision-making roles.

The academy will provide participants with the opportunity to hear testimonials from small business owners, connect with industry leaders, investors, mentors, and organizations working towards gender equality, and explore modules covering leadership, negotiation, strategy, business and financial models, funding, and communications. A total of 40 female-led companies from across Europe will be welcomed into the program.

The launch of AWE comes after a recent Europe-wide survey commissioned by Alibaba.com revealed that societal expectations and gender stereotypes are significant barriers to business leadership for 94% of female business leaders. Additionally, 63% have faced challenges where gender was perceived as a disadvantage, and 36% believe there is insufficient representation of women in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the EU.

Alibaba.com marketing director in Europe, Michela Rubegni, stated, “By giving women entrepreneurs the tools and knowledge to empower themselves, we believe that we can ultimately contribute to a more inclusive and prosperous global economy. With the launch of the AWE initiative, our aim is to provide participants with the necessary support, resources, and networking opportunities to thrive in today’s competitive landscape, overcoming gender-related obstacles.”

Applications for AWE are open until June 28, with program activities expected to start in the autumn. This initiative is a significant step towards promoting gender equality and empowering women in the business world.