FICCI Ladies Organization (FLO) launches Women Empowerment (WE)

FLO embarks on another initiative to Empower Women(WE) in Education

FLO Hyderabad to play a role of resource partner to bring all stakeholders on the same platform to pledge their commitment to employing more women staff in schools.

Panel Discussion on Family Business Management-- 'Discovering My Identity and Role in the Family, Business & Profession' held
Studies revealed that just 13 percent of the family businesses survive till the 3rd generation and only 4 percent go beyond the third generation

Almost 90% of Indian businesses are family-owned

There is a famous cliche, "The first generation builds, the second generation consolidates, and the third generation destroys the family business".

Hyderabad, September 14....FICCI Ladies Organisation(FLO) launched a new initiative Women Empowerment (WE) in Education here in city today. Film Actress Lakshmi Manchu and Jagdeeshwara Secretary, Women & Child Welfare, Telangana graced as Guests and launched the new initiative in the presence of its Past President Malvika Rai; Vice President FLO and National Head of WE in Education initiative Vasvi Bharat Ram, Secretary Higher Education Government of Andhra Pradesh Sumita Dawra and heads of Educational Institutes, schools and colleges.

Lakshmi Manchu who is associated with Teach India Foundation has graciously agreed to be the chief guest to launch the new initiative informed Rekha Lahoti, Chairperson of FLO Hyderabad Chapter in her initial remarks.

Speaking further Rekha Lahoti added "our Research in the private school network in India suggests that very few non-teaching staff employed by the schools are women. There is great need and opportunity of employment of women in jobs in schools like Security Guards, Office Attendants in Administration, Bus Drivers and Bus helpers^Canteen Staff and Management"

We believe that having more women in schools helps address the issue of safety of children. Also, for the women coming into employment perhaps for the first time, schools provide an excellent and secure environment to work in, Rekha Lahoti added.

We have devised certain concrete strategies to enable employment of women in schools like identifying skill partners like driving schools and security agencies to train for these jobs. Many of our members run educational institutions and we hope to spearhead this change through them. Here I would like to welcome and request support from all our members leading educational institutions to partner with us in employing more women in there and create a safer environment for children, Rekha informed.

The Power to Empower
FLO with its 14 locations Pan India encourages school owners nationwide to participate actively in this initiative. If you have jobs opening up for the positions of security guards, administrative staff, bus drivers or bus conductors or even other jobs, preferentially try and employ women. If you employ staff on contractual basis, start by demanding that your contractors assign women for these positions Rekha said.

Speaking further Rekha Lahoti added that FLO would like to bring together key stakeholders on the same platform to pledge their commitment to employing more women staff in schools.

Flo Hyderabad Chapter can be your resource partner for women drivers / trainees / bus conductors, Rekha appealed to the gathering. We would like employment opportunities for our 35 drivers who would be ready with permanent driving license, with enough road practice and experience in two months, to be employed by any of the educational institutions or privately in homes and offices. We have another 50 women in pipeline. We would like training partners support, encouragement and handholding for these grass root women to realise their dreams and earn a substantive livelihood through the profession of driving. We have the pool of drivers and we would request you to generously help them by employing them. Please get in touch with us directly and we would be very happy to place them with you she said.

Followed by the launch of the new initiative, a Panel Discussion on Family Business Management, /Discovering My Identity and Role iri the Family, Business & Profession' was held at the same venue. It was moderated by Prof Ramachandran of ISB. The panelists of the discussion included Malvika Rai, Chairperson, IILM and Banyan Tree Schools; Vasvi Bharat Ram, Vice Chairperson, Shri Ram Schools and T Sarita Reddy, Executive Director, Gayatri Group

Welcoming the gathering Rekha Lahoti said that it was an example set by the Hyderabad chapter, to get resources available in Flo family itself. We are so proud to host this event where the Past President Ms. Malvika Rai, Vice President FLO Ms. Vasvi Bharat Ram and Past Chairperson FLO Hyderabad Ms. Sarita Reddy are our esteemed speakers she said.

Quoting John L. Ward, an expert on strategic management, business leadership, and family enterprise continuity Rekha said- Family business cultures are stronger than other business cultures because the values on which they are built are different They are more durable, more powerful, and more meaningful to the organization.

Over the last decade Family Business Management has grown into a vast science by itself. Most of the business families face unique management challenges because of the difference in the attitude and aspiration of family members, she added.

the family businesses survive till the 3rd generation and only 4 percent go beyond the third generation. One third of the business families disintegrate of generational conflict.

The same factors that make family strong and dynamic can also present significant challenges and difficulties. By understanding and applying the principle of Business Management, we can learn to strengthen family relationships and optimize business performance, Rekha Lahoti said.

Speaking further Rekha Lahoti listed out interesting findings on the subject as follows.
An article on Family Managed Businesses In India - The Opportunities And The Challenges by Prof. Parimal Merchant, Director of the Center for Family Managed Business at the institute

Findings:
Almost 90% of Indian businesses are family-owned, which makes the rest of the business community largely dependent on them
Although family businesses are vital to the Indian economy, they are often accused of a lack of professionalism, of nepotism, infightings, and mismanagement.

There is a famous cliche, which is quoted frequently and seems to have been accepted as a universal truth: The first generation builds, the second generation consolidates, and the third generation destroys the family business.

Talking about the growing role of women in family owned business, the scene has considerably changed in the proverbial 21st century times even though business and entrepreneurship has always been considered a male bastion. This change is synonymous with the shifting role of women in the society and economy around the globe.

In today's context, it is undeniable that with relevant education, work experience, improving economic conditions and financial opportunities, more women around the world are able to sustain and run family business successfully.

It would be a great opportunity for all of us to understand the subject in a better perspective, with significant inputs from the stalwarts.

While each family's situation is unique, there are many best practices which can be shared and applied to all family businesses. I am sure this session will equip us to understand better the management concepts and techniques for meeting the distinct challenges in managing a successful, growing family business.

In conclusion Rekha Lahoti hoped that after session- their questions would be answered, fears would be allayed, apprehensions would be reduced and awareness would be improved.