Corporate America Must Examine Its Hiring and Promotion Policies for Gender Bias

Love this post by Jeanne Shaheen, United States Senator, Ranking Member, U.S. Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship.  In it, she talks about the barriers that keep women entrepreneurs from achieving their best in growing a business.  One of her findings is this:

Corporate America must examine its hiring and promotion policies for gender bias. Investors, company leaders and human resources departments must also have zero tolerance for sexual harassment and discrimination that hurts qualified women.

In "Tackling the Gender Gap:  What Women Entrepreneurs Need to Thrive," Senator Shaheen claims that women are the center of the American economy.  I personally feel women [entrepreneurs] are the center of the universe.

She ends with, "Let’s lift up the stories of successful women-led businesses and inspire the next generation of women entrepreneurs. There is nothing women can’t achieve if given an equal opportunity to compete."

Thank you Senator Shaheen.  We salute you for putting the wind behind our sails!  

Keep Up With Trends in 2018

I trust you are off to a great start in the New Year!  May it be your best year yet.

I am presenting a WEGGinar™ on Wednesday, January 10 at 11:00 a.m. Central time on "Laurel Delaney's Global Trade Trends Report 2018."  I would love for you to participate and my gift to you is that it is FREE!  All you have to do is register and even if you get busy, you can listen to it later, at your convenience.

I"ll cover artificial intelligence, micro-learning, wearables, quantum computing and more -- technology advancements that we need to know about to run our businesses successfully.

Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1940601026277957634  Connect then!

Shine Bright Like a Star in 2018

©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Joy.  Healthy.  Prosperous.  Inspire. Dare.  New business.

May Your Dream Business Come True in 2018

©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Happy Holidays

May Your Dream Business Come True in 2018

Dip Your Toes Into the Gig Economy

One of the best ways to eventually start a business is to dip your toes into the gig economy first. Clueless on ideas?  I've got it covered. USA Today author Jenny Knizner offers a little inspiration for what you can do with your talents. Here are some personal business ideas to help get you going.

Read more about eight personal business ideas that might lead to starting your own business.

Support Women Entrepreneurs This Holiday Season

©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Tis the season to be jolly and support businesses that employ, empower, and bolster women entrepreneurs around the world.

Here are companies led by visionary women who are using their businesses to employ more people and create planet-friendly products.

Learn more about the ultimate holiday gift guide for women, and by women entrepreneurs.

It's a Magical Moment When a Ladybug Lands On You

©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

According to Mom.me:

Some cultures believe seeing a ladybug brings good luck. The person may then succeed in love, have good weather, experience financial success or simply receive some other desired wish. Other cultures presume having a ladybug land on you brings good luck, or that whatever a ladybug lands on will be replaced with an improved version.

So, I had a ladybug land on me and the first thing I did was take a photo!  Now it's up to me to make it magical for a lifetime.

Never Let Obstacles Get In the Way of Starting Your Dream Business

For a person with a disability, it can be very hard to get a job or take care of others.  That's what prompted Hattie Allen to start Helping Hands For Homemaking And Companionship. Hattie is blind and takes care of her ailing husband and elderly mother. She also watches her grandkids on an as-needed basis.

So far, Allen has one employee at her business, but she hopes to expand. Her goal is to hire other people with disabilities because she knows how difficult it can be for them to find work.

Allen says:  “I do not let any obstacles get in my way or stop me from doing what I have to do.” She goes on to say:  “I keep on pressing.”

Good advice for all of us.

I Wanted You to be the First To Know: I Am Launching an E-Commerce Site

Like you, I've been contemplating whether to start a new business, this one e-commerce.  I hosted an amazing Global Small Business Forum in Chicago in October and the theme was e-commerce.  I was so inspired by the stories business owners shared about running successful e-commerce businesses that I decided to start one myself.

So, again like you, I must take it one step at a time, minimize risks and only focus on upside potential.  First, I had to come up with a name that makes sense for what I am about to do, and second, I had to reserve a domain name.  I've done both today (11/18/17).

I figure if Tory Burch and Rebecca Minkoff can do it.  So can I!

I'll keep you posted on developments because I want you to be the first to see the site when it's all done.  Wish me luck!

How to Maintain and Surpass Your Dad's Legacy Running a Business

The West Philadelphia-based minority business enterprise, Watts Facility Solutions, specializes in providing commercial janitorial services, window cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning and post construction cleaning. The company serves corporations, educational institutions, government agencies and medical facilities.

Theartis Watts started the business in 1956 by offering window cleaning services.  Yvette Watts (pictured) Theartis's daughter, joined the company in 1989 as a part-time supervisor while she was in college and subsequently took on advanced managerial duties.

Watts and her father worked together for 10 years and when he passed in 1999 she assumed the responsibility of becoming CEO and running the business.

Watts said networking through entities such as The Enterprise Center, the African American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and the Women’s Business Enterprise Council has been a key aspect of helping expand her client base.

Learn more about what else has propelled her to the top of her game in running a business.

Leverage Social Media to Grow Your Business

I use LinkedIn to strategically connect with people who can help me grow my business and I write articles every once in a while about importing and exporting.  I use Twitter to post events, articles and helpful tips about anything to do with taking a business global (oh, and on the weekend, when I run, I post pictures of areas I run by).  On Facebook, it depends on my mood, but I typically post fabulous Chicago pictures, Like a lot of other friend's Pages and post an occasional article or event I am hosting on international trade.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.  My goal when I post on social media, is to create value for people in the global trade space.  See what other social media platforms I leverage to become a savvy global marketer.  I even share a few tools for monitoring your competitors.

Here you go ... access a few tools and tips for savvy global marketers.

Women Business Owners Are an Impressive Economic Force

Women are an impressive economic force, now. Imagine what they could achieve with some help from lawmakers.

October is National Women’s Small Business Month. There’s big news happening every day, so why should we focus on women small business owners?

Because women business owners—the vast majority of whom own small businesses—make up more than a third of our economy. And women start businesses at a rate five times higher than the national average. Clearly, women are driving economic growth, making it more important than ever that we recognize and supercharge their economic might.

Let's celebrate women small business owners!

Her Dream Come True

The love of creating and crafting initially led Joyce Stinnett to craft shows and launch Little Red Rooster, a unique home decor store featuring candles, craft items, jewelry, purses and more.

“I make a lot of my stuff,” she said. “My future daughter-in-law helps me, and my son cuts items out for me. My husband helps me also. I want to provide unique gifts; I strive to have different items in my store that one wouldn’t find elsewhere.”

Stinnett has made her dream come true by starting her own business.

Hurry! Only 6 Days Left to Register for our Chicago Forum on 10/20

©2017 GSBB Media LLC.  All rights reserved.

If you are thinking about setting up an e-commerce business or want to grow what you have already started, you should attend this event held in Chicago on Friday, October 20, 2017.

Name:  Global E-Commerce Explosion (GEE)!

Why:  Four (4) reasons why you should attend:

1. Network with entrepreneurs, business leaders, business owners, top executives, young professionals and students.
2. Enjoy and learn from experienced business owners who run multimillion dollar e-commerce companies as they share their perspectives and stories on expanding their businesses internationally.
3. Connect with seasoned international trade experts who can help you grow your business globally.
4. Be eligible to enter an exciting raffle for a chance to win special prizes donated by the speakers' companies.

Time:  7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Central time

Location:  The John and Kathy Schreiber Center, Loyola University Chicago, 16 East Pearson Street, 9th floor, Chicago.

A big shout-out to our sponsor:  MB Financial and event host Loyola University Chicago, Center for International Business, Quinlan School of Business.  Without them, this program would not be possible.

To learn more (full lineup of speakers) and to register, visit: http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com.  For my Escape followers :-), use code GSBF25OFF to receive a 25% discount.  I'll be there.  See you there!

Entrepreneurship Is a Valid Choice For Women

The video, "What They Don't Teach in Business School about Entrepreneurship" is a tad long but worth listening to every word, especially from Nazila Alasti of Jooners, because she says, "entrepreneurship is a valid choice for women."

It's Fine to Source Your Products From All Over the World

©2017 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

When you try to make a quality product as cheap as possible, it's perfectly fine to source your goods worldwide.  But you must be truthful and fully transparent on where the product comes from or where a largest percentage of it is made.  That is designated on product labelling (as shown).

It is a known fact that most of Ivanka Trump's product line is made overseas.  So why the hush hush about it?  Because the White House is keen on highlighting American-made products.  They'll just have to remember not to include Ivanka's.  No problem.

Note:  Not a very good photo -- I captured it while at a second-hand shop :-).

Join Us 10/20 in Chicago for Our 3rd Annual Global Small Business Forum

Good afternoon Corporate America Escapers!  I wanted to let you know about a Forum my company is hosting on Friday, October 20, 2017 at 16 E. Pearson Street in Chicago from 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Central time.  It's our 3rd Annual Global Small Business Forum, sponsored by MB Financial, GlobeTrade.com and Center for International Business Loyola University Chicago. The forum helps entrepreneurs like you and small business owners take their companies global.  This year's theme is e-commerce and what a lineup of speakers we have.

Two in particular you won't want to miss:

1. Andrea Sreshta, co-founder of LuminAID.  LuminAID was featured on ABC’s Shark Tank in 2015, received offers from all 5 Sharks, and made a deal with Mark Cuban, the company’s first investor.
2. Jennifer Bayon, Vice President of International Sales for Paris Presents.  Jennifer leads the brands’ business development in over 60 countries, outside the United States.

Here's the full lineup of outstanding speakers.  And we have an amazing group of local partners on this!

I hope to see you there to meet up in person!  To learn more and to register, visit:  http://www.globalsmallbusinessforum.com.

Women Entrepreneurs Who Work Tirelessly to Help Other Women Entrepreneurs

The Greater Stockton (California) Chamber of Commerce has selected Gillian Murphy (pictured), a champion of local entrepreneurs, as its 2017 ATHENA Award recipient.  Ms. Murphy is a long-time advocate of small business and a mentor to female entrepreneurs throughout the area.

About ATHENA International:

ATHENA International is a non-profit organization that seeks to support, develop and honor women leaders through programs that we administer in partnership with ‘host organizations’ from local communities. These programs inspire women to reach their full potential and strive to create balance in leadership worldwide.

To attend the luncheon at the Stockton Golf and Country Club (11/16/17) or find out more about the ATHENA Awards, visit stocktonchamber.org/athena-awards/ or call (209) 547-2770.

Congrats to Ms. Murphy!

Go Offline, Make Friends, and Find Mentors

A new website -- aiming to give women a safe platform to help them meet like-minded women face-to-face -- was created by a husband-and-wife team from Toronto and is helping women find their own "elletourage."

What is "Elletourage?"  You must visit their website.

"What we [the husband and wife team] hope is you'll meet online and then you'll take that conversation offline and become friends wherever you are," co-founder Sam Chung told CBC Toronto.

Learn more here.

Be Honest About What You Want in Life

Before starting her own company DB+co, Debra Bednar-Clark was the global head of strategy and growth at Facebook, and spent time as Microsoft's director of US market strategy and engagement.

She told Business Insider that figuring out whether you're ready to leave a job starts with being honest about what you want.

Here's what else she said:

"I think one of the things that it can be really easy for us to do is build a career we think we should do instead of one that is really aligned with who we are in that moment."

Read more ... + explore Debra's great little blog here.

Screenshot courtesy of DB+Co