Inspiring Women Entrepreneurs

“Believe in yourself and own your own success.”

          ~ Sheryl Sandberg

Things are looking up for female entrepreneurs. In 2017, more than 11 million U.S. firms were owned by women, employing 9 million people and generating over $1.7 trillion in sales. That’s according to the National Association of Women Business Owners. The organization estimates that nearly one in four businesses are owned by women. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows though. Women entrepreneurs still face a steep barrier, especially when they’re first starting out. The challenges these women face are varied. It might be overcoming self-doubt or struggling to be taken seriously. More practically, women face greater challenges generating the start-up capital they need to succeed. 

Lack of funds doesn’t have to be a dream killer though. That’s why, when Angelia Trinidad raised over $48,000 during her first Kickstarter campaign in just 23 days, people took notice.  Her product, Passion Planner, was the number two best-rated planner on Amazon.com a month later. You can read more about how Trinidad used Kickstarter and how she created her product. It’s a great story of how her idea grew into a business with estimated annual revenue of $5.1 million.

Some business ideas aren’t all glamorous, even if their founders are passionate about them. Suzy Batiz, who came in at #77 on the 2019 Forbes’ America’s Self-Made Women list, is the woman behind Poo-pourri, the before-you-go spray.  Through hard work and a series of creative and well-received ad campaigns, Batiz and her Poo-pourri not only became a success, but created an entire market. Along her road to success, Batiz has learned that “It’s amazing what a little fresh thinking and a lot of hard work can do…”

An idea can be a good starting point, but many times personality is what really sells the business.  A humorous, yet bullying nature is what has helped Keita Williams start her business Success Bully. Working with both individuals and businesses, Williams coaches and helps form actionable plans to achieve actionable results. Listen to this podcast interview with Williams and find out how she has become an inspiring entrepreneur.

Women entrepreneurs still face many challenges including defying social expectations and finding ways to balance work and family life. There can also be a challenge in finding quality mentors. No man is an island, so the saying goes, and the same applies for women. There is no underestimating the importance of a good support network in creating and running a business. 

These success stories show that these challenges can be overcome. One way that female entrepreneurs can accomplish this is by growing their support networks, not being afraid to ask for help when needed and perhaps just as importantly, sharing their stories. Every triumph can become an inspiration to someone else. Every failure can become a lesson. Above all, the most important thing is persistence. The road to success is filled with obstacles and detours, but perseverance can help you get where you want to go.