What do women entrepreneurs need to succeed?

The road to becoming an entrepreneur may start from an idea, but it takes much more than that to build a successful business. Many aspiring entrepreneurs find that the road to success is full of unexpected challenges that have nothing to do with the value of the idea itself.

While every entrepreneur will meet such challenges, women face additional pressures arising from societal expectations, lived realities, and their own conditioning.

An event taking place this weekend is set to confront some of these challenges and celebrate those who push through in pursuit of their goals.

On Saturday 7th February, women entrepreneurs will be showcasing their businesses, alongside workshops and a fashion show.

The initiative aims to highlight women-led entrepreneurship in Malta while celebrating the outcomes of a European project supporting aspiring women entrepreneurs in Malta and Austria.

The event is organised within the framework of the Erasmus+ project 360WEE – Women Entrepreneurial Empowerment, implemented by GMD in collaboration with the Austrian partner Verein INMOS.

Speaking to MaltaCEOs.mt, GMD CEO Viviana Premazzi says the project showed the importance of community and social support, which can prove fundamental in ambitious women’s journeys to create ventures of real value.

“Having a community around you is vitally important for several reasons,” she says. “From boosting self-confidence to sharing experiences and coping strategies, community allows us to navigate the challenges that crop up along the entrepreneurial journey.”

Community takes on an even greater role for those in more vulnerable situations, says Ms Premazzi, who points out that several of the project’s participants were single mothers who naturally need to contend with additional responsibilities.

Entrepreneurs also need a degree of technical competence, not just in the core area, but also into things like budgeting and financial management. Ms Premazzi notes that such hard skills may seem daunting to those who have not explored them, with some women having to overcome cultural biases – often ingrained – by stepping out of their comfort zone.

These insights emerged from the 360WEE project, which aims to support aspiring women entrepreneurs in Malta and Austria by providing tailored training, mentoring, and practical tools to transform business ideas into viable enterprises. The project provided participants with a structured learning pathway, to strengthen their entrepreneurial competences, confidence, and market readiness.

WEE on Stage will take place at the Swieqi Local Council on Saturday 7th February from 10:00 to 13:30, ending with a light lunch.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is mandatory via this form.