As an active advocate for gender equality, Standard Chartered Malaysia, alongside Standard Chartered Saadiq, is excited to announce the introduction of its newest offering, the Standard Chartered Women’s International Network, or SC WIN. SC WIN is an innovative proposition designed to accelerate the growth of businesses led by female entrepreneurs by offering bespoke financial solutions, critical business education, and the opportunity to forge connections with like-minded entrepreneurs within a global network. The successful implementation of SC WIN in India and Kenya precedes its first launch in the Bank’s regional network.
SC WIN: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
This program is carefully crafted to fuel the growth of women-led enterprises on a local and international scale. SC WIN not only addresses the typical hurdles women entrepreneurs may encounter while scaling their ventures, but also furnishes them with necessary tools and resources to outshine the competition.
Three Fundamental Pillars of SC WIN
SC WIN’s core areas of focus include Scale, Connect, and Belong.
Scale helps entrepreneurs secure capital and expand their business. This includes offering flexible repayment options on unsecured business loans with a six-month principal moratorium in alliance with Credit Guarantee Corp Malaysia Bhd (CGC) and Guarantee Government Scheme Provider in Malaysia (SJPP). Priority Banking status, access to the Bank’s global network, and the potential to earn a high-interest rate through the Smart Business$aver account are some of the other benefits.
The Connect pillar allows entrepreneurs to create a global business network through cross-border business matching events. It also includes access to the Mastercard Academy: The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey, which is designed to enhance business skills.
Belong lets entrepreneurs be part of a community with like-minded individuals. They can partake in specialized business workshops and receive personal coaching by industry experts, all made possible through the Bank’s collaboration with the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia (NAWEM).
Building a Strong Foundation for Gender Equality
Commenting on the launch, Sameer, the Managing Director and Head of Consumer, Private and Business Banking at Standard Chartered Malaysia, said, “Women-owned businesses constitute 20% of the total SMEs in Malaysia and has grown rapidly over the years. In support of the country’s push to drive more economic participation of women entrepreneurs, the launch of SC WIN is timely to help them benefit from the right opportunities, navigate challenges and, ultimately, achieve long-term sustainable growth. This latest offering also demonstrates Standard Chartered’s continued commitment to gender equality, by tackling the many structural barriers that stand in the way of entrepreneurial women.”
Standard Chartered Malaysia has long been a champion for gender equality. Previous initiatives include WOWnita in 2019, a program dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs, and in 2021, becoming the first Malaysian bank to receive the Economic Dividends for Gender Equality (EDGE) certification.
For more information on SC WIN, visit – www.sc.com/my/scwin.
