UNITED NATIONS: Madhu Saran, a leading social entrepreneur from Chennai was named ‘Women Entrepreneurship Day Global Ambassador of India’ by Wendy Diamond, Founder Women’s Entrepreneurship Day (WED) at a glittering function held in the United Nations headquarters on Friday, November 18.

Women’s Entrepreneurship Day WED carries throughout the year in support of women in business globally and ignites women leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to initiate startups, drive economic expansion, and advance communities worldwide.

WED is celebrated in 144 countries and 110 universities/colleges internationally reaching over 1.4 million people. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill

de Blasio have proclaimed Women’s Entrepreneurship Day an official day.
According to the Global Poverty Project, women make up half the world’s population and yet represent a staggering 70 percent of the world’s poor. Gender inequality affects women everywhere, not just in developing countries. In the US, equal pay for equal work is still a dream even in Hollywood. Nurturing the self-confidence of girls and young women is a must. It is these considerations that motivated entrepreneur Wendy Diamond to launch Women’s Entrepreneur Day (WED).

After volunteering in Honduras with the Adelante Foundation, which provides micro credit to low-income women, Diamond decided to form an international event that would celebrate and advance the work of female business owners, entrepreneurs and change makers. The goal is to empower the 4 billion women on the planet and bring hope to 250 million girls living in poverty. From the immediate success of WED, it’s clear that the global movement to empower women entrepreneurs, innovators and job creators was waiting to be activated.

WED was first held at the United Nations in 2014 and, incredibly, observed in 144 countries right from the start, opening a bounty of impact community service ideas across the world. The third annual International Women’s Entrepreneurship Day at the UN, led by serious discussions about critical issues affecting women and men worldwide.

“Women worldwide have historically been underpaid, undervalued, underrepresented, underfunded – and underestimated…and still are,” says Diamond. “Women-owned businesses are set to increase by 90 percent in the next five years. We need to change the status quo because lifting women creates economic opportunity and vitality locally and globally,” said Diamond.

According to WED report, Women perform 66 percent of the world’s work, yet earn only 10 percent of the world’s income. At the same time, they account for 85 percent of consumer purchases and control $20 trillion in worldwide spending.

“Our mission is to empower the 4 billion women across the globe to be catalysts of change and uplift the 250 million girls living in poverty globally. We are committed to gathering a think tank of inspiring women leaders who can amplify our message of expanding women in business in communities around the world,” said Diamond.

Distinguished speakers for WED 2016 at the United Nations include Amir Dossal, founder and chairman of Global Partnership Forum, Amrith Rohan Perera, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the UN, Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia, Cristina Gollach, UN Under-Secretary General for Communications, Ambassador Lizzie Flores; Dr. Shefali Tsabary (World-Renowned Clinical Psychologist); Monique Giggy (Director Singularity University Accelerator) and Randi Zukerberg, founder of Zuckerberg Media.

Ms. Saran made her space printed in India and abroad over 16 years of business experience which includes software, construction, beauty industry, media and social Services. Ms. Saran is the spirit behind the success of strategy and directions as Managing Director of her companies. She combines her conviction that education is the most effective transformation tool and her unshakable belief in scalable and sustainable practices for social inclusion to champion the cause of academic – industry linkage.

She leads the seamless integration of the firm’s strategy, people and customers with the intent to build a world – class organization committed to professional skill development, employability and inclusion. Her dream come true company is RIVER – The Power of Women is social service companies which focus only onto women’s.

She is dedicating her time on to rural female and young rural girls onto their education, employability and molding the right females to become an entrepreneur in current industry. She holds a master degree from Madras University and has received several prestigious awards from many industries including from Government of India.