The number of female entrepreneurs has grown in recent years, but it is still lower than that of their male counterparts. Riccarda Mecklenburg, president of the "Verband Frauenunternehmen," confirms that women tend to be more reluctant to take risks than men.
According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, women have less confidence in their ability to start a business than men (38.9% versus 59.9%). This gap is paradoxical, as numerous studies show that women-led businesses tend to achieve better results and have a higher survival rate. For Riccarda Mecklenburg, president of Switzerland’s largest association of female entrepreneurs, "Verband Frauenunternehmen," the key challenge is to better inform women – particularly about the financial benefits of entrepreneurship and issues related to social security – to encourage them to take the leap.
Why aren't there more women entrepreneurs in Switzerland today?
Riccarda Mecklenburg: 27 years ago, before "Verband Frauenunternehmen" was founded, there were far fewer female entrepreneurs than there are today. Now, we’ve reached almost 40%. So, we can certainly celebrate this positive progress.
Our goal is, of course, to encourage even more women to take the leap into entrepreneurship. In collaboration with the Institute for Young Entrepreneurs (IFJ), we help young female entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses, particularly through mentorship programs. These programs provide tools and services to assist with the administrative and legal aspects of running a business.
What obstacles do women face or think they can't overcome?
Mecklenburg: Personal courage, the confidence to say to yourself: "I can do it. I'm good enough. I've accumulated enough experience and success to earn money on my own". And in particular the confidence that you can earn more by being self-employed than by being an employee. This process takes time and also requires emotional support. Many women entrepreneurs are encouraged by their partner to follow their entrepreneurial ambitions. Others are encouraged by their family to take up the entrepreneurial succession. And of course, there are also many women who decide to set up on their own.
How can we explain this difference in perception compared to men?
Mecklenburg: A key factor is the lack of female role models. For example, if a young girl has seen her mother start a business, she will find it easier to decide whether she wants to follow the same path or take a different one. On the other hand, if she has never had an entrepreneurial example around her, it will be harder for her to envision both the benefits and challenges of running a business.
Additionally, women tend to be more risk-averse than men, which explains their hesitation to become self-employed. But this can also be a strength: female entrepreneurs are generally more cautious in their decision-making, and this is reflected in success statistics. Businesses founded by women tend to have greater longevity than those started by men.
Yet, their qualities as entrepreneurs are well established, aren’t they?
Mecklenburg: There is no need to focus on specifically female entrepreneurial qualities. What truly matters is a person’s mindset toward entrepreneurship: How do I handle failure? How adaptable is my business idea? How strong are my management and business development skills? As an association, we regularly organize regional meetups for our members. The goal is to exchange ideas, find inspiration, and support one another – especially during the startup phase, which can sometimes feel quite isolating.
How can we encourage more women to take the leap into entrepreneurship?
Mecklenburg: The best way is to talk to women entrepreneurs. For example, we offer regional business lunches, which women can register for and attend. These events are advertised on our LinkedIn page and our website. They give women a firsthand look at what it means to be an entrepreneur, the key challenges they might face, how to navigate them, and why investing in their own business is worthwhile.
The IFJ offer free tools for female entrepreneurs. The "Mut zur Chefin" ("Courage to Become a Boss") program, for example, has been highly successful. It’s also important to address retirement planning early on. As an association, we provide our members with tailored second-pillar (LPP) pension solutions that meet their specific needs, which often differ from those of men.
Do business communities have a role to play in helping women feel more confident?
Mecklenburg: Many women start their entrepreneurial journey on a part-time basis. Employers can support this transition, making it easier for women to move toward self-employment. This approach helps reduce risk while allowing them to gain valuable experience. I think this model has a bright future. The increasing use of artificial intelligence will change many things, and many more female solopreneurs will be able to succeed. For example, the standardisation of processes in law firms and business consultancies will make these services cheaper. Thanks to AI, search processes will take minutes instead of days. In the creative sector, AI image and video generators will make it possible to offer new services that previously had to be bought. A whole new generation of solopreneurs will emerge, and I see great potential for courageous women entrepreneurs.
