Long relegated to playing second fiddle, women are playing an increasingly active in economic life. They upend the established positions and make their voices heard, as evidenced by the seventh edition of the Women's Forum which runs through Saturday in Deauville. Notably, they enter the highest levels, for example by investing the boards of large listed companies with the Zimmermann-Cope Law, which requires 20% of administrators by January 2014 in the groups listed on Paris and unlisted companies employing over 500 people. Anticipating that date, the giants of the CAC 40 they received from this year 20.99% of their directorships, according to Ethics & Boards, the first international observatory board and monitoring of listed companies, chaired by Alexandra La Martiniere.But women are only 15.21% to hold this type of responsibility in smaller listed companies belonging to the SBF 80.
Even the state is beginning to apply the principles it imposes on the private sector. Saffron, which is a shareholder, allowed him finally to have the first three women's representative in a large group when he joined the CAC 40 index in September.
Support networks
The verb "undertake" is combined also becoming more feminine. Women represent an entrepreneur in three. Some embark necessity. "After working twenty years as product manager and then as marketing director, I was forced to give up my profession for family reasons. When my husband died, I had 50 or more years of employment.The idea to set up my own business has become a highlight and a necessity, "said Agnes Terrillon who created Voskel, an art gallery for young talents. Others launched by personal desire. "I always knew that I would one day own guaranteed fast personal loans. The trigger came from a personal need for which I could not find a solution. I could not rent equipment for childcare for the birth of my children. Separated with two children, I also wanted to take a new turn in career almost 50 years, "says Florence Pouzergue, who created Louli & Go Kids, a site that offers baby equipment. Younger do not hesitate to give up the comfort of well-known companies.
"I created the Factory Design to 24 years at HEC," explains Emily Gobin.Women can especially make the attempt and assert their professional ambitions that support networks are increasing. InterElles, Women's Network, O'Pluriel, Action'elles help them win in businesses. Force Femmes, EPWN, the first European network of women executives and entrepreneurs, and encourage others to take responsibility and develop their society. Martine Liautaud, founder CEO of investment banking Liautaud & Co., launched in September 2010 a mentoring program called Free WBMI, including BNP Paribas is a partner. "I met by chance WBMI at a time when I was at a standstill. With my mentor, I found the keys to move, "said Martine de Richeville, head Svelt'Coaching, now in Paris, Brussels and Milan. The financiers also are mobilizing.Women Equity, founded by Dunya Bouhacene, loop a fund raising 100 million euros for investment in growth SMEs run by women and made his first investment. With an aim to discover the female champions of tomorrow.
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