A recent workshop, “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Policy, Profit and Digital Power,” organized by the University of the South Pacific’s Graduate School of Business and led by Dr. Avanish Shukla, successfully gathered 20 participants in Suva, Fiji. The event aimed to enhance financial literacy among women, a critical empowerment tool for entrepreneurs in the region.
Dr. Shukla underscored the pressing need for financial awareness, noting that many women entrepreneurs face challenges in tracking expenses and revenues. He identified common barriers such as a lack of knowledge regarding relevant policies, difficulties in marketing their products, and the mismanagement of personal versus business finances, which inhibit their potential for success.
Held in the MBA Conference Room at USP’s Statham Campus, the workshop delivered practical guidance, including cashbook maintenance for effective financial tracking and simple marketing strategies. Dr. Shukla advocated for the simplification of financial processes, especially for smaller enterprises, suggesting that organizational complexity should increase only as businesses scale.
Nitika Singh, acting general manager of Business Assistance Fiji (BAF), collaborated with USP on this initiative, emphasizing that empowering women leads to not just individual business success but also strengthens families and communities, ultimately benefiting Fiji’s economy. This aligns with wider efforts in the country to support women-led businesses through financial education, similar to other recent workshops focused on bookkeeping and financial management endorsed by BAF and the Fiji Development Bank.
Dr. Shukla concluded with an encouraging message about the financial growth opportunities available to women. He urged participants to change their outlook and utilize available resources. The collective effort towards improving financial literacy among women entrepreneurs reflects a positive pathway forward, illustrating that with adequate support and training, women can drive significant economic change and enhance community resilience in Fiji.