Saturday, August 27, 2016

What Leads to Success in Starting a Business?

Is the following what you are thinking?  When I started my business, it's what I thought.
Many people start a business thinking they will start making money immediately they open their doors - only to find that making money in a business is much more difficult than they thought.
Below, women entrepreneurs share basic steps that led to success in their businesses.

How successful women grow their businesses 



Sunday, August 21, 2016

Entrepreneurship Can Be a Lonely Endeavor

Entrepreneurship can be a grueling and solitary journey.  Ask some of the women who attended a recent conference hosted by Amazon in Seattle, Washington.
For the attendees who came from 43 U.S. states, the U.K., Canada and Australia, it was a rare close encounter with the company that enables their entrepreneurial ambitions but is also the hard-to-read arbiter of a ruthlessly competitive platform.
Amazon wants to personally connect with its merchants, particularly due to the Marketplace becoming one of the main pillars of Amazon's fast growth.

Read more:  Women entrepreneurs find Amazon marketplace profitable, sometimes perplexing

Screenshot courtesy:  The Seattle Times

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Top 5 Cities That Cultivate Women Entrepreneurs

The top five cities considered the best to be a female entrepreneur:
  1. New York
  2. San Francisco Bay area
  3. London
  4. Stockholm
  5. Singapore.
To make it to the top of the list, five important categories of city characteristics were identified:
  1. Capital
  2. Technology
  3. Talent
  4. Culture
  5. Markets
New York is doing something about it.
The [New York] city is encouraging women like Rita [a retired school teacher from India] to understand they are not in this alone, that there is assistance and encouragement as they move into a new business enterprise and for many, a new role in life.
Read more:  New York Program Cultivates Women Entrepreneurs

Saturday, August 06, 2016

Women Entrepreneurs Get a Confidence Boost

Is the glass half full for women entrepreneurs when it comes to growing our businesses?  We certainly hope so.  Yet, for our male counterparts, they share a glass half empty outlook.  At least that is according to the inaugural Bank of America Women Business Owner Spotlight.  Take a look:
Based on a national survey of 1,000 small business owners, BofA (BAC) found that 54% of women small business owners expect their revenue to increase over the next year, compared to 48% of men. And of those surveyed, 60% of women expect to grow their business over the next five years vs. 52% of men. 
Read more:  Female Entrepreneurs Getting a Confidence Boost in 2016

Saturday, July 30, 2016

How to Get Finance Ready

Women are also nearly twice as likely as men to rely on family members to fund their new businesses, and young men age 18 to 24 are about twice as likely to start a business as young women of that age.  What factors are at play here?  Women business owners:
  • Are more efficient with their money when it comes to launching a new company
  • Have less access to capital
  • Are wary about the financing process
True or not true?  Regardless, find out what actions you can take to get your business finance ready. 

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Entrepreneur Ivanka Trump

Ivanka Trump owns her own company.  More importantly, she wore a dress from her own label to introduce her father at the Republican National Convention 7/21/16.  According to the New York Post:
...the 34-year-old mother [Ivanka Trump] of three is putting out the message that she’s an up-by-her-bootstraps, entrepreneurial kind of gal, too.
©2016 Laurel J. Delaney.
Now, the big question becomes:  Where does she make these dresses?  I have a feeling they might not be made in the USA, which leads me to ... her father better take a more favorable position on international trade (TPP, NAFTA, etc.).

Read more:  Ivanka Trump wears her own label's $158 dress to introduce her Dad

Saturday, July 16, 2016

It's Still a Man's World in the Aftermarket Automotive Industry

Come on ... research shows that more diverse companies are more profitable.  So what gives when it comes to the old boy's network in the aftermarket automotive industry?

Women business owners have experienced this:
Several female auto business owners said it was commonly assumed they knew nothing about the industry, with customers and distributors asking to speak to men.
They go on to say:

“It is unfortunate to say, but in the field, women are not viewed as competent by their male counterparts . . . the biggest problem is not being seen as having equal intelligence with regards to the trade,” one women told Hachem [St. Clair College researcher Nour Hachem] in a focus group.

Hachem conducted a study for Automotive Industries Association Canada, which entailed surveying owners, employees and hosting seven focus groups for women in the industry across the nation.  The net result is:

Women working in the aftermarket automotive industries say it’s still a man’s world.

Hopefully these issues don't apply to Mary Barra, CEO of GM.

Read more:  Automotive industries still filled with barriers for women.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

Are You a Chicago Woman?

Chicago Woman is a magazine and media brand that speaks directly to professional women who live, work and play in Chicago. They tell the stories that empower women, while inspiring them to live their best lives, at the office and at home. Chicago Woman was created to serve as a platform for the women who are the movers, shakers and makers in the beautiful city of Chicago (my hometown I  might add :-)!

Whether you live in Chattanooga or Chicago, you'll find many of the articles featured at Chicago Woman Magazine inspiring and informative.  Here's an example.

Learn more:  Chicago Woman Magazine

Sunday, July 03, 2016

Best Beach Reads to Build Your Business

I am not a big beach reader but I love to squirrel away in my home and knock down a business book or two each week.  Everyone has to find their special place to recharge.  Inc. Magazine has put together a wonderful list of great reads for the summer.  One I'm sure to buy is Adam Grant's "Originals."  It looks fabulous.

Read:  Top 23 Business Books You Should Read This Summer

P.S.  I also just finished updating my best-selling Exporting book and the 2nd edition will be ready in early fall.  Watch for more on that coming soon!  Have a great 4th of July holiday weekend!  Oh, one more thing ...

P.P.S.  Escape From Corporate America is 12 years old on July 7th.  We launched EFCA on July 7, 2004. Yay to you for your interest and yay to us for keeping on, keeping on.  To the future!  And thank you for your readership.

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Fake It Till You Make It

It's hard to believe that women the world over running successful businesses still struggle to be taken seriously.  One woman business owner who runs Australian-based Cupcake Central says "To a certain extent, I had to fake it till I make it."  She goes on to say, "You have to sell the dream."

Whether you fake it till you make it or have a hard time being taken seriously, never give up.

Learn more great inspiring tips from women business owners: The truth about discrimination facing female entrepreneurs

Screenshot courtesy: Cupcake Central

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Leading Reasons Why Men and Women Go Bankrupt

What a sensitive topic.  Who likes to talk about insolvency whether personal or professional?  Best to sweep it under a carpet and move on.  Not so fast.  Men’s and women’s distinctively different roles in the economy reveals pronounced differences in the factors that cause them to go into bankruptcy.
The leading reasons for men to go bankrupt are job loss and business failure, while the most common causes for women are the breakdown of a relationship, living beyond their means and the loss of a partner’s income, according to a study by R3, a professional association for insolvency practitioners.
Read more:  Men and women go bankrupt for different reasons | FT.com

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Young Women Entrepreneurs Are Leading the Job Creation Charge

According to a new survey, EY Global Job Creation Survey 2016, released this week, women are creating more jobs and hiring more workers than their male peers.  The survey shows that job creation levels are even higher among younger women.

But what is even more exciting is that young women entrepreneurs, are leading the job creation charge.
Women younger than 35 expect to have an average 16 percent increase in their workforces this year, and 56 percent report they hired more new workers last year than expected. That's compared to 13 percent of young men who expect to grow their employee numbers this year, and 56 percent who hired more people than they anticipated last year.
Read more:  Women Entrepreneurs Are Creating More Jobs Than Men

Saturday, June 04, 2016

How Women Entrepreneurs Fare on Business Ownership in Kansas City

How well are Kansas City women entrepreneurs actually doing in comparison to their male counterparts on business ownership? And how does Kansas City stack up against other cities and the national average?

Read more:  Women in Entrepreneurship:  How KC Stacks Up to Other Cities

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Become a WEGG Warrior

For those of you who currently export or desire to, Women Entrepreneurs GROW Global (WEGG), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization offers monthly webinars that are no charge on how to take your business global.  Full disclosure:  I serve as the Executive Director of WEGG so I'll be on the webinars with you.

Learn more:  WEGG Webinars  Sign up for the next one on June 8th.  Become a WEGG warrior.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

How Opening a Business Can Be Surreal

According to the Center for American Progress, black women comprise 13 percent of the female population in the United States.  Between 1997 to 2013, the number of companies created by black women nationwide grew by nearly 258 percent — and the trend is growing in Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana.

The [Shreveport] Times recently sat down with four black women entrepreneurs driven by past experiences, hardship and unique circumstances.

Learn more about their stories:  Four Inspirational Women You Should Know

Screenshot courtesy:  Suite 9 1 Six (the business of one of the four women interviewed in the article)

Saturday, May 07, 2016

Tips On Landing Government Contracts

Gloria Larkin (pictured) is president of marketing consulting company TargetGov and author of The Basic Guide to Government Contracting and The Veterans Business Guide: How to Build a Successful Government Contracting Business.  In addition, she is the past National Procurement Committee co-chairwoman for Women Impacting Public Policy.

Below Larkin shares two main points on how to land government contracts:
  1. One piece of paper can accomplish more than an expensive, glossy brochure by precisely pinpointing what a company’s abilities and offerings are and how they can benefit a customer.
  2. Capability statements (word-heavy documents) help create critical first impressions and define business strategy while appealing to three layers of decision-makers: Small-business representatives, contracting officers and program managers.
What not to do?  Larkin adds:
"Don’t use pretty pictures of people smiling, because they don’t say anything to your target."
Read the article:  Business owners soak up advice on landing government contracts

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Project Entrepreneur: Increasing the Number of Female-led High-Growth Companies

UBS has launched a philanthropic program called Elevating Entrepreneurs. The initiative serves under-resourced, high-potential companies by connecting them with people to help grow their businesses.

One of their initiatives is:
Project Entrepreneur, in partnership with the Rent the Runway Foundation, [which] aims to increase the number of female-led high-growth, economically impactful companies. Program elements include a venture competition, digital hub, multi-city events, and an accelerator program.” 
Learn more:  Elevating Entrepreneurs program helps under-served businesses achieve success

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Oh, No Let's Go!


Our tribute to the late Prince.  Beginning lyrics to his song, "Let's Go Crazy:"

"Dearly beloved
We are gathered here today
To get through this thing called life ..."

May he rest in peace in purple heaven.

Saturday, April 16, 2016

The Sunny Realities of What It Is Like at the Top

At the  recent Women’s Entrepreneur Festival, a couple hundred businesswomen came together to share their best-kept work secrets. The group discussed the sunny realities of what it’s like to be at the top, or at least somewhere vaguely near it.  Here are seven insider secrets they shared.
  1. Cybrids are the future. 
  2. If you want to start a business, start small.
  3. But it’s important to remember that “it’s very hard to come back from a bad culture.” 
  4. Accept that you don’t know everything. 
  5. Be able to sell your vision — not just to investors, but to everyone. 
  6. Rejection is simply information. 
  7. Kim Kardashian and Sheryl Sandberg are two sides of the same coin.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

A Positive Attitude Can Drive You Almost Anywhere

Ever watch Shark Tank, a place where budding entrepreneurs bring their dreams to fruition?  Kristen Asleson has and in the article below she talks about the importance of attitude when pitching a product.
Having a fresh, positive outlook and attitude can drive you just about anywhere. Even if you financial brilliance and an idea that would make other inventors green with jealousy, without the right attitude, you won't get too far.
Read:  Women at Work:  A positive attitude can drive you almost anywhere

Saturday, April 02, 2016

To Get Ahead, Advocate For Yourself

Interesting twist here:  The article below shares a few tips gleaned from a panel of five executive women -- yes, you read that right ... executive women, not entrepreneurs -- who have accomplished a great deal during their careers in corporate America but the conversation takes place during the Women Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship event last week at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center.

Take a look at what the women executives had to say about life in Corporate America:
  • "The glass ceiling still exists in the corporate world for women and even though they have cracked the surface, it has not yet been shattered."
  • "The glass ceiling is alive and well," said Christann M. Vasquez, president of Dell Seton Medical Center.
  • “It’s hard to know even within your own corporation whether you are getting fair and equitable pay,” she said. But some online sites like Glassdoor can provide insight into industry salaries.
And here's to a great ending of the article:
“I learned to have a sense of confidence in myself and not to be pushed around,” she said. “That was to discourage me. That’s what I call dream thieves and I wasn’t going to let anyone steal my dreams.”
Definitely read the entire piece to get your day's dose of inspiration:  How to Empower Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders

Saturday, March 26, 2016

The Future of Leadership is Women

Meet the world's greatest female leaders.  Forbes has put together its 2016 list of game-changing leaders, which includes 23 women.

Screenshot of Mina Guli, CEO of Thirst and one of the women featured on the list.

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Achievement Brings Its Own Rewards

In the article below, learn about Grace.  Not just any Grace, but amazing Grace -- the untold story.
Grace is a Gen X. She comes from humble family roots with a strong work ethic. She may not have been the high school beauty queen or the class clown, but she learned early in life that achievement brings its own rewards. 
Read:  The story of amazing Grace and women in business

Saturday, March 12, 2016

Road to Entrepreneurial Success Is Never Smooth

The road to entrepreneurial success is never smooth.  In fact, it's quite bumpy and filled with twists and turns.  Some liken it to a roller-coaster ride!  Yet, there are strategies for combating what might be considered self-defeating beliefs and achieving new heights in your career.

Here are three.

Saturday, March 05, 2016

As an Entrepreneur, What Should You Watch on TV?

As USA Today contributor Rhonda Abrams says, "Small business is the second-most admired institution in America, yet it’s rare to see small business owners on television. Cops?  Sure. Dysfunctional families?  Plenty.  Even aliens.  Small business owners?  Not so many."

Below, she highlights the results of asking small business owners to share their favorite TV small business characters -- from The Shark Tank to The Good Wife to The Simpsons.  I know, I know, who has time for TV but you'd be surprised at how many successful entrepreneurs do.  See what you are missing.

Read the entire article:  Strategies:  Who has the best small business on TV?

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Are Black Women Entrepreneurs Not Getting Investors?

Despite Black women being the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. —owning 1.5 million businesses and generating $44 billion a year— the initial support to launch is not there.  Why is that?
“They weren’t getting the seed funding they needed,” Finney [research lead by Kathryn Finney with Dr. Marlo Rencher was published in “The Real Unicorns of Tech: Black Women Founders” and examined 60,000 startups 88 of which were Black women led ...] told Forbes. “We don’t have lead investors. We don’t have people willing to write that first big check.”
Black women entrepreneurs only received 0.2 percent of all venture funding in the past five years.  It's as if black women entrepreneurs are not seen as innovators or women who can run successful businesses.

Read more:  Study Discovers Black Women Entrepreneurs Not Getting Investors

Saturday, February 20, 2016

A Place Where Business Owners Turn to Get Inspired

Loren Feldman (pictured), formerly the small business editor of The New York Times, now oversees entrepreneurship coverage at Forbes. You don't want to miss his features.

In the article below he covers today's must-reads for entrepreneurs, including one that features women entrepreneurs.  Great stuff.  Here's a clip:
Six women entrepreneurs begin a conversation about imposter syndrome and breaking through $1 million in revenue: “Several of us had been called “that girl,” as if we hadn’t yet made it past puberty. 
Read more:  Today's Must-Reads For Entrepreneurs:  Can Gusto Supplant Zenefits?

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Give Back. Reach Out to Help.

There are millions of executive coaches out there in the world but what about mentors to women entrepreneurs and business owners?  Founder, Encore Entrepreneur Institute, Janice Celeste (pictured) says:
With 10.6 million women-owned businesses in America, there should be plenty of women mentors, right? No, there is a drought of female mentors in the United States. A survey by LinkedIn shows that only one out of five women has a mentor.  
Yet, anyone who has solid business experience, particularly growing a successful business, can mentor a woman-owned start-up enterprise.

The key:  You must ask.  

If there is someone you have your eye on, reach out to her today to see whether she has time to mentor you.

What are you waiting for?  

Read more:  Why women-owned startups are desperate for female mentors.

Saturday, February 06, 2016

Growing a Business Requires an Investment of Time

According to data from the most recent American Express OPEN Small Business Growth Pulse, 89% of small businesses indicate they invest a significant amount of their personal time in an effort to grow their business.

Also in line with these findings:
Six in ten (60%) small business owners say they spend a larger percentage of time working ON their business to drive growth rather than IN their business managing details.
Women Business Owner Highlights
Nearly eight-in-ten women businesses owners (78%) state growth is the top priority for their business, on par with men (80%) and small business owners overall (79%).  However, while growth is a priority for women business owners they are not following through with hiring (58%) and capital investment plans (64%) at the same rate as their male counterparts (61% and 77% respectively). 
Read more:  Small Business Owners Investing Significant Personal Time and Savings to Grow Their Business, According to American Express OPEN Research

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Where in the World Are Women Most Likely to Found a Business?

According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking 2015, the number of female entrepreneurs is now significantly higher than in previous years.
Even so, it is much lower than the number of men starting new businesses. In 2012, approximately 12 percent of global startups had a female founder and this increased to 18 percent in the 2015.
Which global city grabs the top spot for women starting a business?  I am proud to say it's my home town:  Chicago!

Read more:  The World's Top Cities For Female Entrepreneurs

Note:  For women business owners who want to finance their international business activities, you might want to register for a webinar on 2/3 at 10:00 a.m. Central.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

In 2015, Women Entrepreneurs Own 30 Percent of all Enterprises in USA

According to the 2015 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, commissioned by American Express OPEN:
Women entrepreneurs now own 30% of all enterprises in the United States. As of 2015, there are slightly more than 9.4 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., yet, these account for only 4.23% of business revenues, which is roughly the same amount they contributed in 1997. In addition, 70% of women-owned firms have less than $25,000 in revenue and only 10% have paid employees.
These women need business-friendly loans and services and the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, a leading advocate for women on economic and leadership issues, is on a mission to find the right credit union to serve its more than 500,000 members’ needs.

Learn more:  Credit Union Partner Sough for Women's Chamber of Commerce

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Canadian Women Entrepreneurs: Power Your Business

Cisco Canada has launched the Cisco Women Entrepreneurs’ Circle to empower women leading small and medium businesses in Canada by providing the resources, training, and IT solutions they need in order to build capacity and accelerate growth.
  1. Cisco Canada Women Entrepreneuers' Academy.
  2. Cisco Entrepreneur Xperience solution.
  3. Cisco Circle of Innovation -- an internship program managed by Cisco to help women entrepreneurs build a digital strategy and expand their company's reach in the marketplace.
Go here to learn more.

Saturday, January 09, 2016

Macy's Gives Women Entrepreneurs a Leg Up in the Retail Industry

Department store Macy's is offering The Workshop, a program that lasts for a period of four days in which candidates will learn and be tested on everything from retail math to the art of the pitch, while learning how to build and execute an effective business strategy.
The four-day workshop begins by teaching candidates the basics—the fundamental building blocks of growing and maintaining a successful business and developing relationships and partnerships with large retailers such as Macy's.
Could you be the next female retail rock star?  Apply and find out.  Note:  The program is completely free; you need only apply. Applications are due by 11:58 p.m. EST on January 31, 2016.

Learn more:   Macy's Exclusive Workshop Gives Entrepreneurs the Secrets to Success 

Monday, January 04, 2016

Take Your Business Global in 2016

For those eager to start out the new year with a global footprint, join me [Laurel] on a webinar I am giving Wednesday, January 6th at 11:00 a.m. Central (FREE) on Getting Started in Exporting -- Ready Your Business For Growth:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6551786751409319169

Here's a sampling of what you will learn:
  • What you need to do to get your business export ready
  • How to craft a back-of-the napkin export business plan
  • How to create a social media and networking presence
  • How to market your business worldwide
See you there on Wednesday, January 6th at 11:00 a.m. Central! Let's get ready to take our businesses to the next level through exports.

Saturday, January 02, 2016

Are You a Wantrepreneur?

Are you thinking about starting your own business in 2016?  Then you are considered a wantrepreneur.  Here are some thoughts by Prosper Women Entrepreneurs from turning your entrepreneurial thoughts into action.  Get going!

Dear Prosper Women Entrepreneurs:  "Help!  I'm a wantrepreneur!"

Happy 2016!  Make it yours.  Make it great!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Create Your Own Success in 2016

You don't have to be an introvert to appreciate these tips because even entrepreneurs need a little solitude and a chance to be themselves:  Introvert holiday party survival guide.  And when you take time out to re-energize, you might read five new year's resolutions for entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, I wish you a new year filled with success, happiness, and high impact initiatives.  Can't wait to reconnect with you in 2016!

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Helping Women Break Barriers

To increase the amount of funding for women entrepreneurs we need to get more money targeted toward women entrepreneurs and increase the number women VC's in charge of that money.  But there's more and Anne Ravanona, Founder & CEO of Global Invest Her, reveals what else is needed to boost business for women entrepreneurs and mentions a competition for women entrepreneurs -- The Babson Breakaway Challenge -- that offers a $250,000 grand prize to one winner business as well as the creation of a customized brand identity platform..

Read more:  Breaking Barriers for Women Entrepreneurs and Women VC's: Babson Breakaway Challenge With $250K prize

Note:  You must apply by January 5, 2016 for a chance at $250,000 in funding.  Good luck!

Sunday, December 06, 2015

Buying Versus Starting Your Own Business: Pros and Cons

As you contemplate running your own business, should you start it from scratch or buy one?  Here are some pros and cons to both.

Read more:  Buy a business or start your own?

Sunday, November 29, 2015

How to Put Yourself in a Good Mood Every Day

So I'm reading the article 20 Career Tips From Entrepreneurs and what stands out?
I don’t mean real stress like bad health or how you are going to pay the predicted 300K tuition for your kid’s future college, I mean that nagging stuff that makes you in a slightly less good mood every single day.
Beyond putting yourself in a good mood everyday -- who wouldn't want to accomplish that? -- what else matters on the career front for women entrepreneurs?

Have a look, it's worth it:  20 Career Tips From Entrepreneurs

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Build a Better Business

How do women entrepreneurs build better businesses? Governments must ease up regulations and help create stronger work-family policies. Are there certain policies that can promote women’s engagement in high-growth forms of entrepreneurship, not just business creation in general?

In the article below, that's the question posed by author Sarah Thebaud, Assistant Professor, Sociology, University of California, Santa Barbara. She says:
In a recent analysis, I show some surprising new evidence that work-family policies may be of critical importance. I found that when women have access to policies like paid leave or subsidized childcare, their odds of starting a venture oriented toward economic growth and job creation are higher. When they don’t, their odds are lower.
Read more:  Stronger work-family policies help women entrepreneurs build better businesses

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Women Entrepreneurs Are Making Progress

According to Margot Dorfman (pictured), CEO of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, women entrepreneurs face daunting challenges but they are making progress.
About 10 million women-led businesses in the United States generate $1.6 trillion in annual revenue. Almost every major industry sector — including technology, services and construction — has seen increases in women-led companies, Dorfman said.
Dorfman also says that if you look at the number of women running businesses, it's good but if you look strictly at the numbers in terms of revenues, it becomes problematic.

Read more:  State of Women Entrepreneurship

Sunday, November 08, 2015

Don't Take a Back Seat to Anyone

Representatives from Microsoft, PayPal, Google and the SBDC Pennsylvania recently hosted a seminar "Tips from the Pros: Using Technology and Online Tools to Boost Your Small Business."  They talked about the latest products and services offered by those companies and gave tips for businesses to effectively use various forms of technology.
Marino [U.S. Rep. Tom Marino] said because his wife owns a small business, he sees and understands the challenges small business owners, especially women, face on a regular basis, and he respects them for the hurdles they have to overcome.
“The women I’ve dealt with in small business, they don’t take a back seat to anybody,” he said.
Read more:  Representatives from Microsoft, PayPal, Google and local organizations offer tips for small business owners 

Sunday, November 01, 2015

Is Now the Best Time to Have a Baby in Corporate America or When You Work at a Small Business?

Whether you work in Corporate America or a small business, is now the best time to have a baby?
“Employees want work to be more flexible, and companies are realizing we have to be better. It’s not just an economic issue; it is a moral imperative. As I’ve [Stewart Friedman, Wharton practice professor of management and founding director of the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project] been saying for decades, we need a new national policy.”
Read more:  Is Now the Best Time to Have a Baby in Corporate America?

Note:  According to the article, when it comes to parental leave, sadly, the U.S. is at the bottom of the list of developed countries.

Sunday, October 25, 2015

Accelerate Your Business With Social Media

Women in the United States make 78 cents for every man's dollar made according to the Institute for Women's Policy Research. What's the solution to overcoming gender inequality in the workplace?  Start a business and get a grip on your social media skills.

A new program Power, Prestige & Profits (PP&P), offers a step-by-step how-to online course to help women take control of their lives and build their social media empire.
PP&P focuses on delivering high value online courses to serve the growing small business, entrepreneur and solopreneur communities in need of social media help at a price point they could afford.
Learn more:  Kyra Reed and Gretchen Fox Help Female Business Owners Overcome Gender Pay Gap and Accelerate Their Business With Social Media

Photo courtesy:  Kyra Reed and Gretchen Fox, PP&P

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Gender Equality is a Long Way Off at Most U.S. Companies

If, according to a recent WSJ article, gender equality is a long way off at most U.S. companies, what is a woman to do?  That's the purpose of this blog is to escape from corporate America and start your own business.  That way, you are in control of your own destiny.

Read:  What's Holding Women Back in the Workplace?

Sunday, October 11, 2015

What the World Needs Now is ... More Entrepreneurs

According to Dell, the world needs 600 million new jobs by 2025 to handle the growing working-age population. Those jobs, Michael Dell points out, aren't likely to come from big corporations like Dell, but instead from entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Rhonda Abrams says, "if you think that small companies and start-ups can change the world, you're not alone."
"Nothing will build a country out of poverty more quickly than jobs," said [Elizabeth] Gore [former Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) for the United Nations Foundation and now EIR for Dell]. "And entrepreneurs create 70 to 90 percent of jobs worldwide. In turn, that supports building a health infrastructure, leads to better governance, and focuses on what people need to succeed."
Read more:  Why the world needs entrepreneurs

Screenshot:  Elizabeth Gore

Saturday, October 03, 2015

Female Funders

Katherine Hague, founder of Toronto-based ShopLocket, an online sales platform for hardware startups, says a $10,000 commitment from angel investor Heather Payne, founder of HackerYou, helped launch her company in 2011.  Now, Hague is bringing that experience to her latest project, Female Funders, a site dedicated to providing women with “approachable” resources to help them jump into angel investing.

Read more:  How female entrepreneurs hope to spark a new wave of women-led ventures

Screenshot courtesy:  Female Funders