Spontaneous Fits of Joy

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Entrepreneurship: Start With Who You Are and What You Stand For

Founder and Owner Shelley Jack of Sheba Marketing had advised scores of clients on how to market and to strategize for growth but she wasn't prioritizing those lessons to her own business.

She says, "Building that [a] plan and intention into your business is a necessity. You have to start with your identity, who you are and what you stand for, and then make and follow that plan. I [Shelley] enjoy working with businesses and organizations that focus on both business and social impact — those moving and shaping their business to grow and improve the community.”

Learn how Shelley's business has evolved over time.

Challenges Women Entrepreneurs Face and Some of the Most Successful Women to Follow

Business News Daily (BND) asked female CEOs about the key challenges women entrepreneurs face and how to overcome them. Here are seven:

1. Defying social expectations
2. Accessing funding
3. Struggling to be taken seriously 
4. Owning your accomplishments 
5. Building a support network 
6. Balancing business and family life 
7. Coping with fear of failure

Then, in the same article, BND tackles five (5) of the most successful women entrepreneurs based on their accomplishments and net worth. The following ladies made the cut for some of the most successful women entrepreneurs to date. Love them or hate them, they made names for themselves in strong careers.  Oh, and I am adding one more, so make it six (6) – and be sure to Follow the last one, M.H.

1. Oprah
2. Gisele Bundchen
3. Sheryl Sandberg
4. Lady Gaga
5. J.K. Rowling
6. Michelle Hayward   

Read the entire article here.

Successful Black Female Entrepreneurs Are Climbing Even Higher Mountains

Black women leaders in the United States are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs. 

Historically, Black females have earned less than men and white women with the same education and experience. 

As the country continues to fight for equality in funding, the workplace, and in every aspect of life, many impressive Black women are creating a runway for generations to come and climbing even higher mountains.

Find out who some of these successful black women entrepreneurs are here. 

America's Richest Self-Made Women 2023

Female entrepreneurs.  Women business leaders.  Those who have made it and those who aspire to make it.  These women are driving change, transforming business and making a significant impact on the world. 

Collectively, the 100 women on the list have a record high net worth of $124 billion, up 12% from last year. List members have built careers in a range of industries, including healthcare, entertainment, financial services and technology. 

AI is already having an impact, helping drive up the fortunes of semiconductor firm AMD’s CEO Lisa Su, who is preparing for battle in the coming AI revolution against Nvidia, and Insitro CEO Daphne Koller, a computer scientist whose South San Francisco firm is using machine learning to develop drugs more quickly.

Read on to find out who the top 100 women are.  Full list here.

Women Are Profit Drivers

As we are entering an era where there are as many different faces of entrepreneurship as there are companies, it's important that we recognize that there is not one singular leadership style or manifestation of "strength" that predicts or defines success.

Meghan Gaffney, founder and CEO of Veda, offers lessons and tips that may help non-traditional entrepreneurs.  Her three (3) major points are:

1. Use the data — it's on your side –> "Remind yourself (and anybody else who will listen) that women are proven profit drivers and we have the data to back that up."
2. Flip the script: Reframe your strengths.
3. Seek out diverse viewpoints and invite them to the table.

Read he entire article to learn how you can leverage your value.

Fierce Leadership

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"One who is fierce leads….and leads well." – Heather Oden, Fierce

Never Satisfied Working For Someone Else

Chandell Stone, founder of Chany Ventures, came to Mexico's capital from New York City, and had a plan to center her business on women, especially women from marginalized groups who have less access to opportunities to start a business.

Stone has one of those personalities that is never satisfied working for someone else. Already experienced in securing venture capital, it seemed natural to start a business to help others do the same — hence Chany Ventures.  

The most important service that Chany Ventures provides is to support the kind of women who themselves would doubt their own ability to start a business. Often she finds it best not even to push the goal of attracting venture capital, rather use the term “medium-sized business.” At least until such women get more confident, she says. 

Learn more about Stone's goal of growing Chany Ventures throughout Mexico – Mexico City (as shown), Guadalajara, Monterrey and online. 

Your Best Years Are Always Ahead of You

Forbes and Know Your Value’s third annual “50 Over 50” U.S. list, was released on Aug. 1, 2023 and the big takeaway is:  Women over the age of 50 are rejecting the conventional wisdom that their best years are behind them. In fact, they are just getting started.

The year’s group of women came from dozens of industries, including bio tech, aerospace, venture capital, manufacturing, arts, entertainment and more.

The honorees have achieved their greatest accomplishments and are making their biggest impact after the age of 50.

Huma Abedin, vice chair of Forbes and Know Your Value’s 30/50 Summit says the list shows that "pivoting professionally at any age is not just a possibility, but we should make it a priority to consider…There’s a whole list of women over 50 showing us the way.”

Check out the list here.

SHE Adores Being An Entrepreneur

Christy Bieber has been running her own small business for over a decade now. She has grown her company over time, and there are many things SHE adores about being an entrepreneur. 

But there are also some downsides to being solely in control of her earnings and daily business operations.

Read on to learn more (ignore the last alert part – seems like a subtle pitch).

Who Is the Good Entrepreneur?

There is a bias against which women cannot compete in a marketplace. You can’t change anything if you are systematically ignored. When I [Marian Spier, serial entrepreneur, founder of TEDxAmsterdamWomen, CEO of FEM-START, and social impact & cultural strategist] started, my motto was: beat the system. Soon I discovered that is an impossible task. Now my motto is: create the system. 

The bias Marian refers to includes investors associating a “good entrepreneur” with masculine characteristics. “People would rather invest in a young man who bluffs and says: in two years I’ll turn two million in sales, rather than in a woman who turns one million in two years and can live up to that and substantiate her figures well.”

Sound all too familiar?  Read on to learn how Marian wants to make it easier for women worldwide to access networks.

Spend Time and Energy Supporting Other Female Business Owners

I could not agree more.

The idea may seem counterintuitive when one is working so hard to build their own business. How would spending time and energy supporting other female business owners help me? I am over here struggling to stay above water or maybe I have just hit my stride in business, I can’t afford any distractions.

This woman business owner walks you through how investing in fellow females directly impacted the success of her own business at every stage.

Come up for air.  Shift the focus (from all about you) to women around you.  Who needs your help?  Reach out to assist.   We all win. 

Buy From a Black Woman Entrepreneur

H&M is committed to using its platform to promote economic inclusion and spark growth for Black women entrepreneurs, because when their businesses flourish, entire communities thrive," Donna Dozier Gordon, head of inclusion and diversity for H&M Region Americas said in a statement. 

She goes on to say:  “Nikki Porcher has been instrumental in elevating these incredible businesses, ensuring they are poised for long-term success, and we are proud to stand with her and Buy From a Black Woman to make lasting change.”

Learn more about an event they are hosting today, July 8, 2023 in Charlotte, NC.  The multi-city, pop-up shopping event highlights local Black women businesses, rallies communities to shop local vendors and serves as a networking opportunity for business owners.

Take Advantage of Every Funding Opportunity, Including SBA Loans

Although female entrepreneurs and women-owned businesses have been on the rise in the country, the disparities — especially for minority women — within the American workforce are still stark compared to male and male and female-owned businesses. Here are some statistics on women-owned businesses: 

• 22 percent of employer firms were owned by women.
• 48 percent of nonemployer firms — meaning the business had no employees — are owned by women.
• Women-owned businesses are more likely to rely on funds from personal sources, such as family and friends and savings.
• 32 percent of women-owned businesses were zero to two years old versus 16 percent of male-owned businesses. 
• Women-owned businesses make up 42 percent of all businesses in the U.S.
• Globally, women account for roughly one in three of all high-growth entrepreneurs.

In 2022, 63 percent of women entrepreneurs surveyed said they expect revenue to increase in the upcoming year and 47 percent plan to expand their business. 

Learn more about how the SBA helps women overcome financial barriers and fulfill their dreams, making it a good place to begin your search for funding.

Invest In Women Entrepreneurs Is a Smart Business Decision

Ecem Altıok is Investment Director at Yıldız Ventures, Gözde Tech Ventures, and Yıldız Holding, where she oversees Venture Capital (VC) and Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) investment and portfolio management activities, was recently asked:  Why do you think it is important to invest in women entrepreneurs?

Investing in women entrepreneurs is not only a matter of gender equality but also a smart business decision. Women entrepreneurs bring unique perspectives, creativity, and problem-solving skills to the table. They often identify market gaps and consumer needs that may have been overlooked, leading to innovative business ideas and solutions. It also has a multiplier effect, as women tend to invest back into their communities, creating job opportunities and driving social impact. By supporting women-led businesses, we contribute to building a more equitable and sustainable future.

Overall, investing in women entrepreneurs is not only the right thing to do but also a strategic investment that can yield substantial returns and foster economic empowerment for women.

Read the entire interview here.

How to Overcome Obstacles as Women Entrepreneurs

Overcoming obstacles is key to being a successful female entrepreneur.  Unequal access to capital is a significant obstacle for female entrepreneurs, but it is just one of many unique challenges faced.

Here are four tips – a deeper dive – to help you navigate challenges, foster resilience and thrive in business.

1. Build a support network
2. Own accomplishments
3. Create work/life balance
4. Overcome self-doubt

To read the entire article, which includes funding options, federal contracts, business loans, and alternative financing, visit here.

Grameen America Helps Low-Income Women Business Owners With Loan Capital and Credit-Building

Grameen America is the fastest growing nonprofit microfinance organization in the United States. Atlanta is the 25th U.S. city where the fund has set up operations. The new Grameen America Atlanta office is being funded through partnerships with The Studio@Blue Meridian, Truist Foundation, Investor and philanthropist Robert F. Smith and Regions Bank which donated $1million. 

What does Grameen America do?

Grameen America provides low-income women business owners with loan capital, financial education, asset- and credit-building, and peer support. Since 2008, Grameen America has reached more than 170,000 women living in underserved communities across the United States and recently achieved a record milestone of investing over $3 billion in capital to emerging entrepreneurs. The organization’s repayment rate is over 99% and its members have achieved an average credit score of 653 through participation in the program.

Atlanta is known for its strong women entrepreneur base, so it was a natural that the organization would eventually set up shop here. The fund started making inroads into the metro area in June 2022.

Learn more about the plans for Grameen America and women entrepreneurs. 

Books. Biometrics. Beauty Products. Women Continue To Break Records in Entrepreneurship

These 100 female entrepreneurs, executives and entertainers made their fortunes in every conceivable way.  But hard work was the real underlying strength that got them to where they are today. 

Bolstered in part by a rebound in the stock market, they are cumulatively worth a record $124 billion, up nearly 12% from a year ago. Building supply distributor Diane Hendricks remains No. 1 for the sixth year in a row, with a $15 billion net worth. Showrunner Shonda Rhimes and Insitro CEO Daphne Koller, whose firm is using AI to develop drugs more quickly, are among the eight newcomers.

Check out these self-made women who are taking the world by storm. 

Know Someone Where Time Doesn't Exist When You Are Together?

Excuse me, have we met before?  This encountering could occur with a person on a bus, at the gym, or picking up a coffee at Starbucks when time stops or seems endless when you meet. That specialness is a sign that perhaps you are picking up from a past life.

At some point, we’ve all met someone that impacts us on a far deeper level than we ever could have imagined. Understanding how to tell if you know someone from a past life could explain why you feel so drawn to a specific person. It will even shine a light on the relationship dynamics you share with them now.

Read on for 11 Signs You Know Someone From a Past Life (& That You’re Picking Up Where You Left Off).

If you believe in reincarnation, you know the soul continues beyond death.

If You Want to Get Something Done, Use Your Ecosystem

Interest rates are rising, banks are failing, there’s high inflation, and a dynamic of low unemployment and layoffs. The economy is different than a couple of years ago, and venture capital firms are slowing their funding. 

Companies solely founded by women receive less than 3% of all venture capital investments, and women account for less than 15% of checkwriters, according to PitchBook. 

Yet there is still a glimmer of hope.  The key is having a business that can scale and is durable, one that could survive a recession if it happens.  And, it helps to access and use your ecosystem.  Some examples are the Women Presidents Organization, Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global® and Women Elevating Women.

Learn more about how you can get one step closer to your entrepreneurial goals.  Spoiler alert:  It's not easy.