坦妮娅•希普勒是美国国务院的妇女创业事务资深顾问。

坦妮娅·希普勒（Tanya Hiple）是美国国务院的妇女创业事务高级顾问。她以前曾拥有一家商业咨询事务所。

在与经营小企业的妇女们一起工作的十年间，我目睹了过山车似的创业历程以及走过这个历程所需的毅力。从借助她们的汽车后备箱起家，到打造数百万美元的企业，妇女正在付出获得成功所需的努力。

据“全球创业观察”（Global Entrepreneurship Monitor）报告，2012年，全世界67个经济体中的1.26亿名妇女开创企业，创造了数百万个就业机会，并为她们[各自国家]的国内生产总值（gross domestic product）做出了巨大贡献。除她们之外，还有9800万名妇女在经营已立足的企业。

根据《2013年女性拥有的企业状况报告》（The 2013 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report），仅在美国就有860万家女性拥有的企业，创造了1.3万亿美元的收入，雇用了将近800万人。

尽管女性企业家已为全球经济做出显著贡献，但统计数据显示她们并没有雇用大量员工。她们面临阻碍她们企业发展的许多障碍，无法获得或只能有限获得市场准入、资本、更高的商业教育和网络，以及法规不健全等，不一而足。

许多女性企业家面临文化传统和社会观念的障碍。为了成功经营企业，一些人必须背离传统，开拓新的理解之路。“生命之声”（Vital Voices）、“高盛集团一万名女性巾帼圆梦计划”（Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative）、“雷鸟爱心”（Thunderbird for Good）和“我们联系世界”（WEConnect International）这样的组织一直在努力提供克服这些障碍的资源。

大公司和政府日益认识到解决阻碍企业所有权的问题可以带来经济效益。大公司已开始将女性拥有的企业纳入它们的供应链中，各国政府也在努力扫清监管障碍。

鼓励妇女认识到她们的创业潜力可惠及各经济体。在我多次外出旅行中，我有机会结识了世界各地的女性企业家。从在全球销售高品质丝绸产品的柬埔寨圣淘沙丝绸店（SentoSaSilk）的森·塔卡克涅瑞（Seng Takakneary），到华盛顿机场的艺术品和珠宝店“心心相印”（As Kindred Spirits）的创始人卢克米妮·沃克（Rukmini Walker），妇女正在占据一席之地。

女性企业主在新兴经济体的发展中发挥着关键作用。她们势不可挡地将经济发展推向新高。 

Tanya Hiple is senior adviser for women’s entrepreneurship at the U.S. Department of State.

Tanya Hiple is senior adviser for women’s entrepreneurship at the U.S. Department of State. Earlier, she owned a business consulting firm.

In a decade of working with women running small businesses, I have witnessed the roller coaster called entrepreneurship, along with the perseverance required to ride it. From working out of the trunks of their cars to building multimillion-dollar businesses, women are doing what it takes to succeed.

In 2012, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reported, 126 million women in 67 world economies started business ventures, generating millions of jobs and contributing substantially to their gross domestic product. They were in addition to the 98 million women already running established businesses.

In the United States alone, there are 8.6 million women-owned businesses, generating $1.3 trillion in revenues and employing nearly 8 million people, according to The 2013 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report.

Despite the significant contributions women entrepreneurs have made to the global economy, the statistics show they are not employing large numbers of workers. They face numerous obstacles impeding the growth of their businesses, such as limited or no access to markets, capital, advanced business education and networks, as well as inadequate regulations, just to name a few.

Many women entrepreneurs are confronted by the barriers of cultural traditions and societal perceptions. To run a successful business, some must go against the grain of tradition and forge new paths of understanding. Organizations such as Vital Voices, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative, Thunderbird for Good and WEConnect International have worked diligently to provide resources to address these barriers.

Corporations and governments increasingly realize the economic benefits of addressing issues that hinder business ownership. Corporations have begun to incorporate women-owned businesses into their supply chains while governments work to dismantle regulatory barriers.

Encouraging women to realize their entrepreneurial potential brings benefits to economies. Throughout my travels, I have had the opportunity to meet with women entrepreneurs all over the world. From Seng Takakneary of SentoSaSilk in Cambodia, who sells high-quality silk products worldwide, to Rukmini Walker, founder of As Kindred Spirits, an arts and jewelry shop in Washington’s airport, women are taking a seat at the table.

Women business owners are vital players in the development of emerging economies. They irrevocably can push economic development to new heights.