Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat), in collaboration with UN Women, launched the Impact Report, "Empowering Women in Tech," marking five years of progress through its SheHacks initiative.

This initiative focuses on empowering women in technology and entrepreneurship by addressing critical barriers such as limited access to training, markets, and financial support.

Key Achievements of SheHacks Initiative

The SheHacks program has seen substantial success in promoting women into leadership positions. Over the last two years, 87.5% of participating startups promoted women to leadership roles.

In addition, 78.9% of startups involved in SheHacks were able to hire at least ten new employees, with some hiring individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, 25% of startups expanded into at least five new markets after joining SheHacks.

The Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs

Despite the successes, women entrepreneurs still face significant challenges. According to a 2021 report from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), 70% of women-owned MSMEs in Indonesia struggle to access financial products.

Furthermore, societal and cultural barriers persist, such as the dual responsibility of managing business and household tasks, which limits women’s ability to expand their businesses and build professional networks.

SheHacks’ Role in Overcoming Barriers

To address these challenges, SheHacks employs a phased approach with three main initiatives: Startup Lab, Ideation Lab, and Innovate Lab. These initiatives are designed to support women entrepreneurs from the ideation phase to business expansion.

Through programs such as mentoring, self-paced learning, investor pitching, and digital innovation showcases, SheHacks helps women gain the necessary tools and resources to succeed in tech and entrepreneurship.

Reski Damayanti, Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer at Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, emphasized, "At Indosat, we believe that women deserve equal opportunities as men. SheHacks is a testament to our ongoing commitment to advancing gender equality and strengthening the role of women in tech and innovation."

PHOTO: IOH.CO.ID

This article was created with AI assistance.