In this age of artificial intelligence and digitalization, a significant gap remains between men and women in creating or developing their businesses online. According to the World Bank, 42% of women in developed countries engage in e-commerce, compared to only 19% in less developed countries. In Lithuania, as in other EU countries, initiatives are underway to support women and girls in developing their information and communication technology (ICT), business, and soft skills to promote their employment and entrepreneurship in the e-commerce sector.

Reda Juodkūnienė, project manager at Kazimieras Simonavičius University (KSU), highlighted that to increase women’s participation in e-commerce, the university, along with international partners, implemented a project aimed at developing the necessary competencies for women in e-commerce. According to  Juodkūnienė, empowering women to feel comfortable in the digital space opens up greater opportunities for them to realize their business ideas. “Women can create jobs with minimal costs and test business ideas with less risk. Having their own business online allows women to balance work with family needs more flexibly, be independent, and self-sufficient,” says  Juodkūnienė.

Addressing Women’s Unemployment Through E-commerce

The drive to address women’s unemployment by enabling them to participate in creating their own e-businesses led to the creation and implementation of the project “E-commerce Training for Women Entrepreneurs.” This project developed a training program to improve digital skills and knowledge related to e-commerce, offering interactive training courses freely accessible on an online platform. The platform also includes a special e-commerce business guide filled with examples and practical tips.

Community Engagement and Expert Insights

The KSU project team invited women entrepreneurs to a brunch where they discussed the project results and offered lectures from invited professionals. Indrė Kudrevičė, founder of Mentorės.lt and the “Sėkminga Aš” community, shared her insights on promoting women’s entrepreneurship and the opportunities in e-commerce. She emphasized that the learning platform created during the project is an excellent tool for women wanting to take their first independent steps in both creating and developing a business.

Balancing E-business and Family

Vaida Ivaniukaitė, developer of the “Y Tėvai” brand and family educator, shared her experience on balancing efforts between e-business and family. “It is very important to plan time to achieve balance, set personal priorities, and the more knowledge and experience you accumulate, the easier things go,” said Vaida.

Professional Communication and Etiquette

Indrė Sapagovaitė, an etiquette and protocol specialist and founder of www.modernusetiketas.lt, advised women on how to handle certain situations when interacting with business partners and clients. She emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance between friendliness and professional communication.

Personal Experiences and Encouragement

Natalija Glazunova, entrepreneur and founder of “Skonio burtai,” encourages women to engage in e-commerce boldly and shared her personal experience of managing her business while working a regular job. She highlighted the importance of planning, proper knowledge, and continuous learning.

Brigita Šilinskė, developer of the “Aš Lietuvė” brand, improved her knowledge in cybersecurity and financial management through the training program. She found that the self-study courses clarified various essential actions in e-commerce, making her work much easier.

Training Program and Future Use

The training program is also adapted for lecturers, ensuring its continued use to promote women’s entrepreneurship. Anyone interested in strengthening their knowledge in e-commerce can learn independently on the platform.

For more information about the entrepreneurial women’s project implemented by Kazimieras Simonavičius University (Project No. 2021-1-LT01-KA220-ADU-000026390), in cooperation with international partners from Turkey, Austria, France, Italy, Croatia, and Romania, click here (https://ksu.lt/apie-universiteta/padaliniai/projektu-pletros-skyrius/ekomercija-2/).

You can find the e-learning platform [here](https://www.ecommerce4women.com/challenges).