(Front row, from left) Exhibitor from City University Kenny Lor, Yokitha, Iskandar Puteri City Council councillor Wong Foong Yee, speaker Nora Datuk Rahmat, EmpoweHER programme co-organisers R. Abiramee and MK Paul with participants.
JUGGLING full-time work while building a business is no easy feat, but for education consultancy owner V. Sharanya, a boost from a women’s empowerment programme has brought her closer to realising her dreams.
The fully funded year-long EmpoweHER initiative, launched in Johor, is designed to help women grow their entrepreneurial ventures through practical skills and networking.
For Sharanya, 36, the course was a turning point in building her confidence and refining her vision.
“As a former educator, I knew there were many courses that help with personal improvement, but I was not easily convinced.
“After researching the speakers’ backgrounds, I chose to take part in this 12-month programme.
“I was intrigued by how they brought to life information from books I would have had to read.
“That was the moment I knew this was the right course for me,” she told StarMetro.
Sharanya said she needed more than teaching skills to build her education empire.
“The speakers focused on skills that help us in our work, not just theoretical knowledge.
“For instance, they taught me how to become digitally literate, including creating graphic designs and reaching out to the right audiences through advertising.
“These skills are difficult to master on our own, even with abundant resources online.
“Thankfully, the speakers were not only informative but they also had real-life experience and a solid client database, which gave me confidence in their ability to assist us,” she added.
Another participant, Hasenah Sayar Hussain, 48, joined the programme to prepare for starting her own business.
“I have always been looking out for such courses, but many courses I paid for offered only surface teaching without significant outcomes.
“EmpoweHER was not only free, but it came with practical training such as using Concept AI, ChatGPT and Canva,” she said, adding that these provided her with what was needed to run a business.
For both women, the commitment of the organisers and calibre of the speakers were just as valuable as the skills learned.
Organising chairman N. Yokitha, 37, gathered resources and secured agreements with industry experts to offer the programme for free, provided that participants committed to the full duration, as part of her way of giving back to society.
“This is not just a one-day seminar; it is a year-long journey and we are committed to walking with our participants from ideation to expansion, equipping them to thrive in today’s economy,” said Yokitha.
She said she saw that many women were lacking basic business skills and aimed to create a turning point for her community with support from industry expert friends.
She added that programmes in Johor were just the beginning, and the team planned to expand and refine the programme’s content to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs across Malaysia.
“With 60 women already on board for Johor edition, I hope the programme will inspire more women to seize opportunities and take their ventures to the next level,” said Yokitha.
