The rapidly growing service sector in Suzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, has provided local women with unprecedented opportunities for starting their own business. A recent survey by the Women's Federation of Suzhou City shows that this new generation of businesswomen is finding success through endurance, industriousness, ambition and honesty.

It's tough for women to succeed in today's business world. They often start from a disadvantageous position, and have to work harder to prove themselves in the workplace. In spite of this, the Women's Federation survey shows that 30 percent of the individual owners or private entrepreneurs in Suzhou City are women.

Many of these successful women share certain traits, like a determination, willingness to work hard and make sacrifices, and a never-say-die spirit. Although the going has often been tough, 98 percent of them say that if they had it to do all over again, they would make the same choice.

Most of the women entrepreneurs surveyed attribute their success to honesty and credibility, with humane management, teamwork and concern for employees also garnering high marks. Some 98 percent believe that credibility is crucial for businesses to succeed. Entrepreneur Wu Jiang says that for small enterprises, it is product that is important; if you want to get big, you must have credibility.

In another survey of entrepreneurs, 20 percent of the respondents were female. Some 98 percent of these women reported that their businesses were profitable. This is something of a miracle in China, where 20 percent of enterprises are operating in the red. Industry insiders say that one important reason is that the overall credibility of women entrepreneurs is higher than that of men.

The majority of the female entrepreneurs surveyed say that accumulating knowledge is more important than accumulating wealth. In response to the question, "What makes a successful businesswoman?" 30.8 percent said having a specialty; only 12 percent said material assets were more important.

About 87.4 percent of these business pioneers did not go beyond high school in their early education, and only 12. 6 percent had a college background. But many later sought adult and continuing education, so that the number with a college education rose to 30.3 percent, while women with only middle or high school background dipped to 57.1 percent.

Almost all the women surveyed felt that it was essential that they continue to improve themselves. For example, working with foreigners requires the acquisition of foreign language skills. They felt that a lack of spare time and opportunities to study seriously hindered their development.

Many successful businesswomen want to have it all, both family and business. They believe that the old adage about "Successful in business, miserable in marriage," is long out of date. They are prepared to put their enterprising spirits to work to manage both family and business.

In Suzhou, many married couples are good business partners as well. Children of successful women tend to do well in school, perhaps because of the examples their mothers set.

(China.org.cn by Tang Fuchun March 2, 2004)