A gender-responsive team of project staff and technical assistants is needed to coach and mentor managers of BDS to respond to the distinct needs of male and female business owner-managers. A growing body of experience in both the micro and SME sectors shows the critical need for coaching, especially of female SME owner-operators, male and female graduates and start-up entrepreneurs. Awareness, creativity and pro-active outreach can work towards recruiting females and males as BDS specialists, trainers/facilitators and beneficiaries to meet the need for a gender mix in BDS facilitators/providers/trainers.