The seminar began with Equality Minister Maria Arnholm giving her view on the work being done by the government to increase equality and female entrepreneurship. Then, economist Ph.D. Anita Du Rietz gave a historical overview based on her newly published book "Women's Entrepreneurship Over 400 Years." In the book, she highlights a number of factors that have made it harder for women to start and run businesses over the past century. Watch and listen to her lecture here.

A panel consisting of representatives from the business community then highlighted the issues they considered most important to encourage more women to start businesses. All three entrepreneurs in the panel have started companies in the welfare sector and reported experiencing resistance from municipalities and county councils.
– There is a fear among municipalities and county councils that private companies can deliver better, said Christina Wahlström, founder of the care company Mama Mia.

The issue of profit was also raised as an important point. If it were to be forbidden to make a profit or to use the profit as one wishes, many companies would go under and new ones would be started. This is within a sector where women are indeed starting businesses today.
– This is very strange to me. No one questions that large construction companies doing procurement to build, for example, roads and bridges, make a profit, emphasized Annika Lundius, Deputy CEO of Svenskt Näringsliv.

The seminar was arranged by the Centre for Business History, Svenskt Näringsliv, and Almega.