India is one of the fastest growing start-up ecosystems in the world, yet the presence of women within this space is relatively limited. The challenges Indian women entrepreneurs face are many and varied—namely, limited support and opportunities, and a lack of international opportunities. Griffith University’s Going Global two-phase program was designed to enhance Indian women entrepreneurs’ capacity to internationalise their ventures and provide opportunities and tools to work in international environments—specifically Australia.

The project was led by Dr Dhara Shah and Professor Michelle Barker from the Department of Business Strategy and Innovation, and co-funded with the support of the Queensland Government’s International Education and Training Partnership Fund, managed by Study Queensland within Trade and Investment Queensland. Phase One of the program involved two Masterclasses for social entrepreneurs held in India, from which 10 women were chosen to participate in Phase Two – a week-long Bootcamp in Queensland where they were joined by local entrepreneurs in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Cairns.

One of the participants of the program, Dr Shaloo Chopra, developed a partnership during the Bootcamp with two women entrepreneurs from Cairns, Yolonde Entsch and Sue Boisen. In India, Dr Shaloo works closely with the Indian Prime Minister’s Special Educational programs including those for women from rural and urban areas, guiding young adults towards becoming professionals, and training personnel from the Ministry of Defence for re-settlement after retirement. She has been a voice in various international events including a United Nations forum on Gender Equality, a seminar on women issues/challenges at the US-Indian Business Council, and discussions at the Department of Public Health at Harvard University.

Giving back to the society is the core value of Dr Shaloo’s institution, Sri Krishna Educational Society, hence community-based social work and grass root development of women in rural India is her ongoing personal commitment.

Please click here to read the full “Going global: Indian entrepreneur takes Queensland’s wild program to India” article originally published at BSI Connection.