Female Entrepreneurs: What Book Changed Your Life?

Lindsay Tigar asked a group of female entrepreneurs to share the book that changed their perspective: professionally, personally or both. These aren’t just titles they admired. They’re books that cracked something open, offered clarity, or gave permission to think differently.

Here, female entrepreneurs share their must-reads for you and for me.  Oh, and my favorite?  Anything by Jim Collins, the late Clayton Christensen or Peter Drucker.

This Woman Entrepreneur Turned Grass Into Bonnets

Image created by ChatGPT prompt: Sophia Woodhouse's 1819 straw hat

Going back in time, Sophia Woodhouse was born in Wethersfield in 1799. She and her family lived on Main Street in town, and she would go to the meadows to pick grass. But what she did with the grass was groundbreaking.

“She went and picked the grass and discovered a method of turning it into beautiful bonnets,” said Gillie Johnson, Wethersfield Historical Society. “And in 1819 she entered the Hartford Agricultural Society’s Cattle Show and Fair and displayed a bonnet that dazzled people and what was popular at the time were Leghorn bonnets from Italy, and people said her bonnet was just as good if not better than those bonnets.”

Sophia Woodhouse turned her bonnet making into a business, creating a cottage industry. She is known today as one of the first female entrepreneurs of the greater Hartford, Connecticut area, even earning a patent for her design in 1821.

Two first ladies, Dolley Madison and Louisa Adams, wore her design. President John Quincy Adams called the bonnets “an extraordinary specimen of American manufacturing.”

Women Entrepreneurs: Engine of Growth, Employment and Exports

Data from the Ministry of micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India suggests that women-owned enterprises have been growing, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of all own-account enterprises. While 20 per cent is still a small percentage, it could also be construed as the effects of the women-centric policies finally taking off.  There is little doubt that MSMEs are heralded as the backbone of the economy in India, yet, within this engine of growth lies there remains the untapped potential of the woman entrepreneur. 

Despite these green shoots, the path for a woman entrepreneur or employee in the MSME sector is less of a ladder and more of a labyrinth. The challenges are not merely operational but are also, unfortunately, deeply entrenched in the social fabric. One of the most glaring issues remains the lack of asset ownership.

Women entrepreneurs, no matter where they are based continue to shoulder the responsibility of propelling economic growth, employment, and exports.

Personal note from Laurel – Happy 2026!  Make it a standout year for you.  Also, feel free to attend a wegginar I am presenting on 1/7 at 11:00 AM CT on global trade trends.  It's free of charge but you must register to get the sign-in link.  Get a leg up for your business in 2026. 

New Year, New You ... and a New Business Too!

As 2026 is about to begin, it's the perfect time for entrepreneurs to take stock, plan ahead, and set the stage for success in the coming months. Starting fresh with a clear focus can help streamline efforts, optimize resources, and ignite motivation.  

Proactive year-end planning can help business owners reduce their tax bill, maximize deductions and set their businesses up for a profitable new year.

Here are a couple of other ideas to get your creative juices flowing for 2026.

• How to use TikTok for business success in 2026
• 35 great business ideas for motivated entrepreneurs in 2026
• How to start a successful blog in 2026
• 25 best business ideas for 2026

Go, go, go!  Best wishes for a merry, bright and prosperous 2026!

SHE is the Pulse of the Holidays

©2025 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

SHE (meaning you dear woman entrepreneur) is the pulse of the holidays – the heartbeat of giving made real.  Happy Holidays from Escape From Corporate America!" – Laurel J. Delaney, founder

Gifts for Women Entrepreneurs That Will Make Her Feel On Top of the World

Check out some gifts for female entrepreneurs that’ll make her entrepreneurial heart skip a beat – in the best way possible!

Picture this: a world where gifts aren’t just things you give but celebrations of her unwavering hustle, creativity, and drive. Yeah, that’s the vibe I’m going for today. Whether she’s rocking the boardroom, slaying at running an online business, or just generally being a business badass, this list of amazing gifts will be just what she wants and needs.

Explore a gift guide that’s anything but ordinary, just like the female entrepreneurs we’re celebrating this year. One of our favs can be found here.

Cool Winter Grants That Will Warm Up Your Business

As you plan for the months ahead, consider how a seasonal spark can translate into long-term progress. Reviewing these cool winter grants now can position your business for a strong start in the new year.

GrantWatch offers the structure, clarity, and direction to help you move from ideas to action with confidence.

Inspiration Can Come From Anywhere (Video)

Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs: That's You!

The force behind Women’s Entrepreneurship Day came upon us on November 19th, yet many of us work year-round (like here) to drive women’s economic independence – sparking leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to fuel growth, shape policies, and uplift communities.

When women thrive, families, communities, and nations flourish. Say YES and be part of a powerful movement creating a world where every woman becomes a force for equality and unstoppable impact!

Go here to visit and join the Women's Entrepreneurship Day Organization (WEDO), which was founded in 2013 by Wendy Diamond, an entrepreneur and humanitarian, with the aim of celebrating, supporting, and empowering women entrepreneurs worldwide

The BIG wegg® 10-Year Anniversary Gala in Chicago on 11/6/25!

Oh what a party and oh what a turnout!  Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us.  The pictures say it all.

More here.  Happy 10 Years wegg!

All photos courtesy:  Lisa Miller Photography

The Role of Women's Entrepreneurship, Unemployment, Global Warming, and Technology in Sustainable Development

This study examines the effects of women's entrepreneurship, global warming, technological advancements, and unemployment on the achievement of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) across 38 OECD countries. 

Success On Her Terms With Shelly Sun Berkowitz Discussing "Finding Your Truth North" (11/4/25 at 11 AM CT)

©Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®  All rights reserved.

Summary:  Join us LIVE with Shelly Sun Berkowitz, CEO, Founder 2 Founder on Tuesday, November 4th at 11 AM CT.  Shelly will be talking about "Finding Your Truth North" – redefining success in a way that protects both your ambition and your well-being.  To learn more and to register free of charge for the virtual program visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/programs/success-on-her-terms/

More about Success On Her Terms (SoHT)  

Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global unveils its newest and most exciting program yet!  "Success On Her Terms," a dynamic four-part series presented by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® in collaboration with Merrill’s Baldwin Marcovici Group and moderated by Alex Didac.

It is designed to spotlight high-potential, growth-stage women entrepreneurs who share their personal journeys and offer actionable insights on how to align purpose, people, and profit while building and scaling a business.

Join wegg® for the *first session* – Finding Your True North – in our four-part series on Tuesday, November 4th at 11 AM CT with Shelly Sun Berkowitz, founder and Executive Chair of BrightStar Care, a national home care franchise system she built over 20 years, scaled to over 400 locations, and led through a majority sale in 2025. 

More about Shelly Sun Berkowitz

Shelly now serves as CEO of her advisory firm, Founder 2 Founder, where she is helping other founders scale, sell, and secure their business legacies. Through her family office, Next Phase Capital (NPC), Shelly offers patient, values-aligned capital to franchise businesses. 

Shelly will be talking about clarity, resilience, and redefining success in a way that protects both your ambition and your well-being.

To register

Again, to learn more and to register (free of charge) for the first session that Shelly is kicking off, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/programs/success-on-her-terms/

I [Laurel Delaney] hope to see you there!  

Illinois Rocks When It Comes to Supporting Women-Owned Businesses

In Illinois there are nearly 561,000 women-owned businesses employing more than 661,000 workers and bringing in $165 billion in revenue each year. During this monthlong celebration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has been elevating resources and events to help bolster Illinois’ women-owned businesses and aspiring female entrepreneurs.

During October DCEO is celebrating National Women's Business Month throughout October by recognizing the significant contributions of women-owned businesses across the state.

“I’m proud to celebrate the wealth of women-owned businesses across our state – and the thousands of talented women who’ve helped establish Illinois’ vibrant business community as the best in the nation,” said Gov. JB Pritzker.

Read on to learn of additional resources that are available to women-owned IL businesses.

How to Create Trustworthy Brands

Creating a brand that resonates with the world is a tough job.  Yet Jeff Raider, co-founder of Warby Parker and now co-founder and co-CEO of Mammoth Brands, which includes Harry’s Razors, Lume, and Flamingo has built some of the most recognizable consumer companies of the last decade, with a track record of creating trustworthy brands that positively impact people’s lives. 

How has he done it?  

Before jumping into reading the entire article, I'll give you a spoiler alert:  Raider’s advice to aspiring [women] entrepreneurs is to, “Create a product that is unique, different, and better in some way, and make it easy to explain.”

Read on to see what else he has to say.  

Black Women Shoulder Additional Burdens On Their Path to Success

Black women shoulder additional burdens beyond men on their path to success, especially in accessing venture capital funding, including networking gaps and less access to personal investment due to racial wealth gaps.

Alicia Sheares’ research on Black tech entrepreneurship in Atlanta and Silicon Valley identifies additional barriers faced by Black women in the field due to negative assumptions about their abilities, signals that they do not belong, sexual advances, and distractions relating to their appearance and attractiveness.

These challenges for Black women are distinct from those reported by Black men and by white women. 

For her presentation to the Clayman Institute, Sheares dug into her research on Black women.

Celebrate 10 Years of Success with Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global on 11/6/25 in Chicago!

©2025 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global.  All rights reserved.

Anyone can join Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® in Chicago on November 6, 2025 to celebrate 10 years of success! 

Enjoy exceptional food, signature cocktails, lively conversation, and a soundtrack curated entirely by women artists—plus gift bags filled with products made by women. And to top it all off, the evening will be emceed by the sensational Whitney Reynolds!

To learn more and to buy your tickets, visit: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/about/10yr-anniversary/

Listening to Women's Lived Experience Is Essential to Economic Empowerment

We all agree.  Issues come and go, but the speed at which diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has dropped down the business sustainability agenda in recent months is extraordinary.

One influential voice pushing against the “anti-woke” tide is Cherie Blair, a leading British barrister and, most famously, wife of former UK Prime Minister (1997-2007) Tony Blair.

As a feminist, the 71-year-old international trade and human rights specialist is focused on what she sees as business’s systemic bias against women. “Business was built by men, for men, on the assumption that a lot of other things were being done by somebody else; (i.e.) women,” she says.

Blair compares female economic exclusion to an airplane flying with one engine; companies will eventually get to their destination, she says, but they would get there much quicker with two.

She concedes that philanthropic approaches can only go so far: Companies need to think harder about how women’s lived experience can be designed into their digital products and services. Her goal is to empower one million women entrepreneurs by 2030.

Learn more about Cherie Blair, her program and how she encourages women to back themselves.

The Funding Gap Continues For Women Entrepreneurs

While many female founders are addressing social good, they still are denied resources.

Female entrepreneurs are on equal footing with their male counterparts in creating businesses with a societal impact. But there is still a colossal gap in startup funding between women and men who prioritize social issues alongside corporate profit. That is in danger of growing even larger as DEI policies are increasingly removed.

For Women Entrepreneurs, Setbacks Can Be Turning Points That Fuel Growth

Geri Stengel for Forbes writes about how women entrepreneurs turn setbacks into opportunities.

For many women entrepreneurs, the old saying rings true: When one door closes, another opens. Tariffs, changing corporate priorities, and economic uncertainty may shut down opportunities, but resilience and adaptability often lead to new paths forward.

Geri spoke with two CEOs—Karla Trotman of Electro Soft and Dee C. Marshall of Diverse & Engaged—who shared how their companies evolved in response to challenges. She also spoke with Carolyn Rodz, CEO and cofounder of Hello Alice, whose platform serves thousands of small businesses nationwide. Her observations, based on working directly with women entrepreneurs, add another layer to understanding how business owners can turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

As Geri concludes, "For women entrepreneurs, setbacks are not just obstacles. They are the turning points that fuel reinvention and drive future growth."

Read the entire article here.

US Investment Trends For Women Startup Founders

In recent years, US companies founded or co-founded by women have received a smaller share of total deals compared to previous years. However, those companies continue to grow their share of capital raised.

This dashboard dives into US investment trends for women startup founders over the last 16 years with data on deal counts and capital raised by state, industry and stage, and featuring select female-founded startups and firms. The data is sourced from the PitchBook Platform and will be updated monthly.