Since 2010, Dell Technologies has undertaken its Women Entrepreneur (WE) Cities Index report, with global hubs rated on local policies, programs and characteristics as well as national law and customs to boost support for women entrepreneurs and the overall economy. 

Australia had strong results as Sydney and Melbourne both featured in the top 15 cities, with Sydney slightly edging out Melbourne, finishing one place higher at 12th. Those were the only two Australian cities that were examined and rated as the highest across the Asia-Pacific region.

Angela Fox, SVP and general manager ANZ, Dell Technologies, believes it’s heartening to see Australian cities scoring highly.

“Every day I meet inspiring women in Australia and New Zealand, so it is heartening to see Sydney and Melbourne rank in the top 15 cities globally in our WE Cities Index report,” said Ms Fox.

In the 2019 research, Sydney remained in 12th place, while Melbourne has jumped five places from 17 to 13, showing improvement in the city’s ability to foster female entrepreneurs. 

This has been done through a strong pipeline of upcoming talent with 85.2 per cent of university students being female. The city also boasts strong female business leaders with its government-led women’s leadership programs. 

Dr Jemma Green of Curtin University and chairman and co-founder of Power Ledger, said: “Networks like DWEN provide invaluable opportunity for women entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and share stories of resilience, allowing us to learn from each other and gain a global perspective on business opportunities and challenges.”

The San Francisco Bay area outranked New York for the number 1 spot in the 2019 guide, largely due to the Bay Area being one of the best places for women to gain capital. Out of a total of 100 points, San Francisco Bay Area scored only 63.7, meaning improvements can still be made. 

The biggest improver was Mexico City, which has moved up from 45 in 2017 to 29 in the 2019 survey through increased education to women. Delhi rounded out the list of cities studied. 

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About the author

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

About the author

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

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