Empowering Each Other: My Journey at NSRCEL's Women Startup Program

For many Indian students, studying at one of the IIMs is a dream, and I recently had the honor of living this dream by participating in the Foundations of Entrepreneurship (FOE): Women Startup Program through NSRCEL's Women Startup Program Cohort 5 at IIM Bangalore. The experience was truly transformative, and I am thrilled to share my certificate from the program!

Over the course of six weeks, we dove deep into fundamentals like Idea Generation through Lean Canvas, Customer Understanding and Market Validation, Solution Design and Testing, Mobilizing Resources, and Pitching Our Business Ideas. The journey culminated in a final pitch submission, instilling in me invaluable lessons and providing the push to think, design, and present as a founder.

The Power of Women Supporting Women

One of the most impactful aspects of this program wasn’t just the incredible content and learning but the support and encouragement from fellow women entrepreneurs. Throughout our sessions and discussions, I experienced firsthand the strength that comes when women uplift each other. Studies show that when women support one another in business, they are more likely to achieve greater success; McKinsey's research highlights that companies with more gender diversity on executive teams are 25% more likely to have above-average profitability.

Our program was filled with friends and colleagues who celebrated each other's wins, no matter how big or small. The connections we built became a robust network of support—a sisterhood that cheers each other on and shares resources generously. Harvard Business Review notes that women who have a network of female friends feel a greater sense of purpose and empowerment, which resonates with my experience here.

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Celebrating Our Collective Growth

Through this journey, I have come to deeply appreciate the unique power that women bring to each other’s journeys. “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women,” said Madeleine Albright. This program allowed us to experience the opposite of that sentiment, creating an environment of constant encouragement and growth.

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Here’s to the power of women coming together, helping each other rise, and creating a stronger, more empowered world.

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