There is great interest in self-employment - even among women. But there is often a gap between desire and reality, as the international "METRO Own Business Study" shows. Founder Olga Gallina talks about her path to self-employment.
Olga Gallina actually dreamed of running a café. "I worked in various coffee bars and knew that if I wanted to start my own business, I would have to specialize." It was clear to her - it would be coffee. Six years ago, she fulfilled her dream of opening her own coffee roastery and café. Getting start-up capital was her biggest challenge. Convincing the banks that she was prepared to take the risk of setting up her own business and then being able to pay back the loan.
Many female entrepreneurs are confronted with deep-rooted prejudices, as the Own Business Study also shows: More than half (56%) of female business owners fear that women are at a disadvantage in the business world because they are considered less competent or assertive.
"Asserting yourself as a woman in a skilled trade - you're sometimes ridiculed at first, precisely because as a woman you're an exception in such a male-dominated job," reveals the coffee roaster. She talks about having a lot of strength and courage to overcome the obstacles that were put in her way.
The founder has received support from her family. Strong backing is important, she emphasizes. However, the study also shows that there is a need for greater support for female entrepreneurship. For example, 80% of all respondents - men and women - were in favor of government programs to support female founders and entrepreneurs.
Olga Gallina is convinced that the path to self-employment should be paved differently for women than for men. She talks about the balancing act that women often have to perform because they are women, mothers and also businesswomen.
However, her success story shows her love for her own business. Olga Gallina took the plunge into self-employment and, looking back, would take the same step again.
The study focuses on female entrepreneurs. How do women go about starting up a business? What drives them? And what is slowing down those who have become female entrepreneurs? The study was conducted in 2017. Approx. 10,000 men and women, employed and self-employed, in ten different countries were interviewed. The survey had the special focus of women who run their own business.
How the new Federal Government in the coalition agreement is dedicated to this issue and what measures are planned to facilitate business start-ups, reports the Digital Office in Berlin (only German version).
The complete METRO Own Business Study and a podcast with Anila Brahmakulam and Ivonne Julitta Bollow accompanying the study are available here on mpulse.de
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Olga Gallina turned her dream into reality six years ago when she opened her own coffee roasting business with attached café. In their coffee shop "Die Kaffee" in Düsseldorf, the hearts of many coffee lovers beat faster. Over twenty different varieties are freshly roasted at Olga Gallina, offered for sale or directly tasted.
die-kaffee.de
