We have entered the new millennium where the role of women in the socio-economic system is increasing. The spending power in most of the countries is on the rise. With two-thirds of the world's wealth in the Pacific Rim, the Asia-Pacific regions are fertile grounds for entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ventures.

The word `entrepreneur' does not discriminate between genders. Hence, all that is said and written about entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship holds good for women entrepreneurs too. Entrepreneur is a person who enters the business for commercial purpose and undertakes both personal and financial risks. Hence, that person could be `He' or `She'. However, because of the social milieu and economic environment which existed till the mid of the 19^th century, women as entrepreneurs were rarely heard off. If ever, women ventured out of home to do something, first and foremost it was to engage themselves and not for commercial purposes and secondly, the activities they sought to do had roots in their hobbies or art; such women were rare too. The classic example is of herbal queen Shahnaz Hussain and in the field of art, Mrinalini Sarabhai.

But things changed after the 1950s. Because of urbanization, education, economic restructuring and societal acceptance more and more women have started establishing business enterprises, yet being women for whom the social barriers are just breaking. But one can say that women entrepreneurship is still in its nascent stage even at the dawn of the new millennium.

MBA Review Magazine, Women Entrepreneurship, Socio-Economic System, Entrepreneurial Ventures, Economic Environment, Economic Restructuring, Center For Women Business Research, CWBR, Women Empowerment, Decision Making Process, Entrepreneurial Ventures, Liberalization Policy, Non-Governmental Organizations.