400 Graduates and Counting: The Goldman Sachs “10,000 Women” Programme

Three groups of entrepreneurs from Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore graduated from the “10,000 Women” programme this month, and with this, the number of entrepreneurs graduating from the programme has surpassed 400. Launched by Goldman Sachs in 2008, “10,000 Women” is a global initiative that aims to provide business and management education to under-served women entrepreneurs. Typically, the participants chosen do not have expertise in business and have low family income, but own businesses that have potential for growth. The revenue turnover of their business should be from 500,000 to 7,500,000 per annum. ISB is the lead academic partner for the initiative in India. This popular programme attracts participants nationwide – from Jharkhand to Chennai.

Divya Kashiv is one such recipient of this programme who went on to be chosen by Newsweek as one of 150 women who “shook the world.” Kashiv wears this adulation lightly. She credits the “10,000 Women” programme for increasing her “confidence of running a business.” The programme helped her nearly double her sales in the period from January 2009 to March 2011. Besides bringing in much-needed clarity, “it helped me become more focused. I have everything down in a business plan, which I keep updating every six months. I am well in control of every function and area in the business,” Kashiv said when contacted by us. For women entrepreneurs, there is the additional pressure of facing stereotypes and gender bias, and this programme builds their confidence so they are better prepared to weather these preconceived notions. The network of friends and acquaintances that they build through the programme also helps them find solutions to their day-to-day problems. 

Spanning three months, this programme includes three separate weeks of classroom instruction interspersed with on-the-job application and mentoring support.  The complete cost of the programme is borne by Goldman Sachs.

Through this programme, ISB hopes to give wings to the aspirations of women entrepreneurs. For more information on the programme please contact Geetha_Krishnan@isb.edu.