A Word From Wikipedia About Female Entrepreneurs

The word entrepreneur, especially female entrepreneur, has been around for a very long time.  According to Wikipedia:

Before the 20th century, females operated small businesses as a way of supplementing their income. In many cases, they were trying to avoid poverty or were replacing the income from the loss of a spouse.

They go on to say, "The term entrepreneur is used to describe individuals who have ideas for products and/or services that they turn into a working business. In earlier times, this term was reserved for men."

Well what do you know about that?

And then they talk about example from Finnish entrepreneur Armi Ratia (1912–1979), founder of the Marimekko textile and home decorating company and, of course, our very own American entrepreneur, television host and media executive Oprah Winfrey, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from US President Barack Obama in 2013.

We've come a long way baby!

Follow Your Gut

Whether you start a business, form a joint-venture or take a business global, there are two ways to make your decision.  You can conduct research and think a long time about something or you can simply follow your gut.  

Join us on September 12 (downtown Chicago!) to hear Julie Smolyansky, President and CEO, Lifeway Foods, when she talks about how she has learned to follow her gut for the right way to go on the following:

• How global factors influence company values and mission
• Why we should empower women entrepreneurs around the world
• How to channel inspiration from travel experiences into marketing initiatives 

I'll be there.  Hope you will too! To learn more and to register, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/weggtm-workshop-follow-your-gut-presented-by-julie-smolyansky-tickets-48655708534

2018 Top Franchises for Women Report

Franchising is a great way to start a business without all the risks.  Typically a franchisee pays an initial fee and ongoing royalties to a franchisor. In return, the franchisee has use of ongoing support, a trademark, a designated geographic territory, and the right to use the franchisor's processes and systems.

The Midwest-based coffee franchise Scooter’s Coffee, for example, has experienced incredible growth this past year and was recently named a top franchise by Franchise Business Review in its 2018 Top Franchises for Women Report.

Might be worth a look.

How to Look Bigger at an Affordable Price: Virtual Office Space

A virtual office or co-working space offers small business owners an official address, communication options and flexible working space.  It can also help women have a professional edge.

Even if you run a home-based business:

... business owners can use a virtual office space for conferences, mail delivery, customer service and as part-time dedicated work space.

Read more about how virtual office spaces can be a good option for female entrepreneurs.

Black Women Vintners Are Changing the World of Winemaking

Indianapolis, Indiana-based women wine makers from Sip and Share Winery and Wine and Candles differ from other wineries.  While both women enjoy making and sharing their wines, they also love educating consumers on wine etiquette, different wine varieties and the winemaking process.  And the two owners are Black women.

In her research, Kearney [owner of Sip and Share] said she’s found about 100 Black and Latino winemakers throughout the country. The wine industry is ripe for more people of color to get into winemaking. Revenues from wine sales are $62.7 billion worldwide.

Read more about how these Black women entrepreneurs are changing the world of winemaking.

Amplifying the Voices and Work of Women

The Women’s Equality Coalition (WEC) of Linn County is getting ready to celebrate Women’s Equality Day scheduled for Aug. 26, and they are currently seeking nominations from the community for their Woman of the Year award, which is presented at the event. The last day to submit a nomination is July 25, and nomination forms are available on the WEC website, womensequalitycoalition.org.

According to WEC, role models are key to changing perceptions, and bettering lives.  But if their goal is equality, the first steps must come in their communities, by amplifying the voices and work of local women.

So, please, nominate a woman you value in Linn County -- a positive female role model so she can be honored and everyone can learn from.

Read more about looking for a few (more) good women.

Women Have a Lock-Down on Entrepreneurship

From trucking titan to the immigrant taking on Elon Musk in space, here is the annual Forbes ranking of the 60 richest self-made women.

These 60 women, who have a record combined net worth of $71 billion, up 15% from $61.5 billion in 2017, have shattered [glass] ceilings and scaled new heights, making fortunes in everything from genetic testing to slimming shapewear. The minimum net worth needed to make this year’s list is $320 million, up from $260 million last year.

Find out who made the list.  You won't be disappointed.  In fact, you even might be surprised!

Women-Owned Businesses Are Growing Five Times National Average

According to a survey by the National Association of Women Business Owners, the number of women-owned businesses is growing five times the national average, with 1 in every 11 women being an entrepreneur.

"To be able to support a woman-owned business is just the icing on the cake," said Katelyn Perry, a shopper at the Sequin Siren [on Popps Ferry Road in Mississippi].

A woman-owned business is something other women have no problem supporting.  Read more here.

Are You a Hair-Care Entrepreneur?

If you are running a hair-care business, this post is for you because beauty-supply company Sally Beauty recently launched a business-accelerator program specifically designed to help female beauty entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

Women is actively seeking out the next line of innovative hair-care products, offering one phenomenal female-owned brand entrepreneurial mentorship, $25,000 in financial support and distribution through Sally Beauty’s website.

Do you have the next best hair product?  Go get your opportunity now.

Ready to Launch? Have the Right Mindset.

Author Canyon Siang radiates a sense of possibility for women entrepreneurs.  After all, she wrote the book, The Launch Book: Motivational Stories to Launch Your Idea, Business or Next Career (as of this writing, 53 reviews on Amazon).

When launching a business, what is most often overlooked?  Having the right mindset.  Siang says:

"Whether you are a 20-year-old entrepreneur or a 70-year-old entrepreneur, what is critical is your mindset."

Read more and discover several mindset strategies that will help you with a successful launch.

Saluting the Notable and Visible Women in Business

Let's take a moment to salute and congratulate the notable and visible women in business.  As Deborah Levine (pictured), editor of the American Diversity Report, writes at the Times Free Press:

The national number of women-owned businesses grew 45 percent between 2007 and 2016, five times faster than the national average. Their flight to entrepreneurship may be a rejection of corporate dead ends and closed doors to the executive suite. But their entrepreneurship is driving our economy to the tune of 3 trillion dollars.

Read more to learn what this growth means for women and how venture capital is still, sadly, hard to come by for women business owners.

Likable Female Power Entrepreneurs

Here are three business lessons entrepreneurs can learn from women with ambition who are challenging what it means to be likable -- and succeeding.  Meanwhile ...

Flaunt your success.  Trust your instincts.  Don't ask for permission.

Newfound Respect for Female Entrepreneurs

Since quitting her day job and founding her own brewing company Lineup Brewing, Katarina Martinez (pictured) is one of the most-watched women on New York's bar scene.  In addition, she has developed a newfound respect for female small business owners.

Over the last year, the demand for her craft beers has grown so immensely that she is planning to open a new space — including a brewery with a 15-barrel system, an outdoor area, and a bar.

After she was disenchanted with the work scene, she decided to quit her job and launch her own business.

“I was just like ‘I want to start my own company, I don’t want to work for ‘The Man’ anymore,’ ” she remembered. “It was that moment when it clicked that I could do my hobby and my passion as a real-life career.”

Read more about how Martinez achieved success pursuing her passion, despite the fact that she won’t ever forget the hard work that comes with being a woman taking a risk.

Note:  You must read some of the media articles on how Martinez named one of her beers, 'Bieryonce' and how Beyonce came after her.

Make Something Out of Nothing

Pink-haired Therese Tucker's company, BlackLine was born in 2001 as a software company handling accounting tasks.

"I cashed out my nest egg from my options, I maxed out my credit cards, I took out a second mortgage on my house," Tucker says. "If I could have figured out how to get into my kids' college funds, I would have taken that too." Tucker was a single mother of two at the time.

Learn more about how Therese went against all odds, broke through a glass ceiling, and started her own $2 billion tech company.

And the pink hair?  It started as a dare and now has become a magnet for all things social and interesting at her company.

Everything You Need to Know About Podcasting to Grow your Business

We just love the work of Kathrin Bussmann over at Verbaccino.  Kathrin is considered the queen of podcasting and when you read the following article, listen to her WEGGinar™ and go over her SlideShare deck, there isn't anything you won't know about podcasting.  Tune in.  Learn a ton.

Kathrin Bussmann Offers Tips and Advice on Global Podcasting

Screenshot courtesy of Verbaccino.  Kathrin Bussmann's podcast setup.

Lessons From Mom

A Mom plays a big role in everyone's life, especially for people who go on to become successful entrepreneurs.  Here's what 14 leaders said they learned from their mother.

Example:

Follow your gut.  S'well founder Sarah Kauss left her career in commercial real estate after her mother asked her what she wanted out of life. When Kauss brought up a fashionable-reusable water bottle, her mother pushed her to take the plunge. 

14 Lessons Learned From Mom and Happy Mother's Day!

Striking Out On Your Own in the Porn Industry

Women have always capitalized on technological change to find a way into the male-dominated industry. Enter the zone of porn as earning a living.

“Doing porn, in the beginning, was never about politics,” Ms. [Kelly] Shibari said. “I wasn’t trying to break any barriers. I just wanted to have a good time.” And make some money, too. She found that both were more attainable by striking out on her own.

With technology, performers can now run their own shows. The rise of webcam work has opened up a style of performance that can be totally controlled by the model in her bedroom.

Read more here.

Your Best Coach is the One Who Cares Enough to Give You Feedback

How does one start a business called Project Gravitas?  Easy.

When Lisa Sun (pictured) was just 22 years old and starting out in her career, her boss at global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company told her that she lacked gravitas. “When I asked her how to get confidence, she said, ‘go get a new dress, big jewelry and great shoes,’” Sun said. So, Sun went out to purchase a new outfit and embraced the larger message.

"Feedback is a gift; your best coach is the one who cares enough to tell you,” says Ms. Sun.

Read more bout Lisa's new company and discover her best tips -- as shown below -- for putting the best foot forward when traveling for business.

• Never pack a bag
• Leave a pair of sneakers and workout clothes in another city
• Double up
• Stay organized
• Plan one thing fun for yourself on each trip

Bias Against Female Founders on VC Funding

My colleague, Devishobha Chandramouli (pictured), Founder and Editor of Kidskintha, authored two really good articles that will give you can idea of the bias that still exists -- even after the #MeToo campaign -- when women entrepreneurs go after VC funding to grow their business.

• 6 Disadvantages Confronting Female Entrepreneurs Seeking Venture Capital
• New Study Finds 5 Key Differences in How Male and Female Founders Raise Capital

As Devishobha says:

"The more women we bring to the decision-making side of the table, the more the skew of the male VC ecosystem is offset. VC firms with more women determined to see women entrepreneurs succeed are the need of the hour."

How One Idea Can Lead to Another When Starting a Business

What does Birmingham, U.K-based Katjes Magic Candy Factory do that no other factory can:  make customer-designed sweets using a specially engineered 3D printer.

Here's the scoop.  The idea came to Melissa Snover while she was in the process of growing her first confectionary startup, Goody Good Stuff, a pioneer in the market for vegan sweets.

The company started as a business-to-business model leasing the 3D printers, licensing software, and ingredients that would allow customers in stores to design bespoke gummy candy. It has since added two more revenue streams: consulting about 3D food printing and marketing to the entertainment industry (which included an appearance at an after-party at last year’s Grammy Awards). The company turned a profit by the 18-month mark, and revenues are forecast to double annually.

How about that for a turn of events?  It goes to show you how one idea can lead to another when starting a business.