Expand the Visibility of Female Founders

How much does culture and society play a role in keeping female entrepreneurs behind and what can we do to change this?

According to Entreprenista Founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer, in order to change this, we need to expand the visibility of successful women founders – which is the driving force behind our Entreprenista 100 awards. Telling these stories and highlighting these women will inspire the next generation.

We also need to rethink how we portray entrepreneurs and leaders – emphasizing qualities like creativity, empathy and collaboration rather than outdated masculine stereotypes. Founders in our community are making billions of dollars in revenue collectively, and they’re wearing pink while they do it. 

Learn more from Cartin and Spritzer – their biggest piece of advice to women considering entrepreneurship and what the perfect plan might reveal. 

Redefining Recognition and Celebrating Female Founders For Their True Worth

Changing the way we talk about female founders is a small but significant step towards creating a more inclusive and respectful business environment. 

By focusing on their accomplishments and expertise, we can help ensure that their professional achievements are recognized and appreciated, rather than overshadowed by irrelevant comments about their appearance. 

Let’s redefine recognition and celebrate female founders for their true worth – their talent, determination, and the remarkable contributions they make to our world.

Making the Leap to Entrepreneurship

After working in bookkeeping and office management for a variety of businesses and nonprofits over the years, Kristin Cole of kCole Bookkeeping and Small Business Consulting finally made the leap into entrepreneurship by opening her own small business.

Cole knows from experience that giving up a regular paycheck and benefits to become self-employed is just one of the leaps of faith that entrepreneurs must take when they step out on their own. “If you don’t have a background in this sort of thing, it can feel really overwhelming – not knowing what you don’t know,” she said.

She offers a handful of suggestions for aspiring female entrepreneurs, one being, "Pull in extra help.  Life – especially as an entrepreneur – can be overwhelming. Businesspeople recognize when they need assistance, whether it’s by hiring a professional to help with the books or by making use of free resources like the Small Business Development Center or free webinars."

Learn more how Kristin Cole of kCole Bookkeeping and Small Business Consulting helps entrepreneurs with the unknowns they face.

Women's Entrepreneurial Landscape Is Changing While They Fight for their Dreams

While women have historically faced additional challenges, some female founders say the landscape is changing for the better.  

According to a report from Gusto, more women are starting their own businesses, accounting for nearly half of new entrepreneurs in recent years.

In 2020, women made up 47% of new business owners, a significant jump from 29% in 2019, the report showed. That figure has held near that level — at 49% in 2021 and 47% in 2022 — signaling a stable trend rather than a one-off surge, the report said.

Learn how women are fighting for their dreams and making them reality here.