The Women's Forum, founded by Aude Zieseniss de Thuin, provides an annual platform on which men and women decision-makers converse on topics of social, economic and political global growth. The three day event taking place in Deauville, France, from October 15-17 features all-day speakers and panel discussion for the more than 500 attendees to partake in and observe. The Forum's emphasis is on "creativity and innovation, courage and resilience, and practical wisdom. These are traits which women exemplify, and women’s voices feature at the Global Meeting."

w2wlink interviewed some of this year's speakers before the event to get their views on women in business, where they hope to be in 10 years and how they have enough time in the day.

Sháá Wasmund, CEO and Founder of Smarta.com, United Kingdom

1.      A year from now, what one change do you wish for the world?

More women running businesses and leading innovation.  Women have a lot to teach the world but due to the socio-economic and cultural reasons we all know, women about have been hamstrung until the last few decades – this is rapidly changing and in a year’s time I would like to see more female CEO’s and entrepreneurs – and more school age girls wanting to run their own businesses.


2.      If there were more time in the day, what would you do with it?

Sleep! And obviously hang out with my son.


3.      How are women changing the face of business today?

Women are, in general far more collaborative in their approach and more likely than men to seek synergies and ways of working together (rather than taking a more defensive stance).  As such I think women are integral to changing how business is typically done.


4.      What will people say about you 10 years from now?

I hope they will say that I encouraged more people to start and grow businesses and helped to make entrepreneurship more appealing to everyone, regardless of gender or background. And of course they will say that I built Smarta into a $100m business!


5.      How do you see young women today?

Time poor and opportunity rich. Women my age are increasingly the major household breadwinner and no longer necessarily the default primary child carer.  The potential is great, but I think women still suffer from a weight of expectation in terms of domestic affairs, which gives them less  time than their male counterparts.


6.      What would you not let any woman enter the workforce without: Mentally, physically and emotionally?

Confidence!  Women have the talent, brains and capabilities – they just need the confidence and self belief that they can do it.


7.      What was an obstacle or what has been an ongoing challenge in championing your cause?

None – I can honestly say that I don’t see obstacles – I try to see the opportunity in any given circumstance.

An LSE graduate, Sháá has had an eclectic entrepreneurial career ranging from promoting boxer Chris Eubank’s fight against Nigel Benn to working with Sir James Dyson to establish his vacuum cleaners as one of the UK’s biggest brands.  She co-founded deckchair.com with Sir Bob Geldof and launched mykindaplace.com which was sold to BSkyB.
 
Sháá is an intrinsic part of the new wave of UK Entrepreneurs combining real entrepreneurial drive and experience with a genuine desire to encourage and inspire others. Her latest venture is living proof. Smarta.com launched in January 2009 and is an innovative business platform providing advice, networking and tools for entrepreneurs and business owners. Bringing business people together for support and inspiration, Smarta has hundreds of entrepreneur videos and bite-size guides on overcoming business challenges.  Users can access free advice from business experts and find unique tools designed to take the pain out of everyday business tasks. Smarta has the support of leading UK entrepreneurs such as Theo Paphitis, Deborah Meaden and Michael Birch.