One Month Is Not Enough Time to Celebrate All Women Who Have Changed the World

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Progressing through history, from Cleopatra and Mary Magdalene to Madonna and Diana, Princess of Wales, each of these exceptional women's stories is told against the backdrop of the events of their time. For each, we learn of their achievements, backgrounds, characters and little-known details that make them ever more remarkable.

Progressive Black Women Entrepreneurs Are Breaking Barriers

According to J.P. Morgan, Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, and there's no end in sight.  They are making a significant impact and shaping the world as we move through it.

For every Black woman who starts a business, a barrier is broken. An impressive 50,000-plus Black women are innovating in the United States — but not without the uphill battle of fighting bank funding denials, limited access to capital and systemic racism and sexism.

Despite the challenges, Black women are bringing their products and services to the market.

Here are four Black woman-owned businesses breaking barriers and sharing insights on business.

May the Angels Protect You

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

“May your neighbors respect you, troubles neglect you, the angels protect you, and heaven accept you.” – Irish Blessing (photos of Chicago and the dyeing of the Chicago River green, 3/16/24) 

The Day After International Women's Day 2024

©2024 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"I am continually inspired by the intelligence and relentlessness of today’s young women warriors. They are keeping us all on the leading edge of modern feminism." – Marlo Thomas, Actor and Activist

Celebrating Courageous Women

Throughout history, the vision and achievements of courageous women have strengthened the United States and opened the doors of opportunity wider for all of us. 

Though their stories too often go untold, all of us stand on the shoulders of these sung and unsung trailblazers — from the women who took a stand as suffragists, abolitionists, and labor leaders to pioneering scientists and engineers, groundbreaking artists, proud public servants, and brave members of our Armed Forces.

Let's put our hands together and applaud all that you, my dear women readers, have accomplished.

Small Business Ideas for Women Entrepreneurs

Considering personal passions and market demand is crucial when determining what is the best business for a woman to start, allowing for a venture that aligns with both expertise and interest. 

That said, women entrepreneurs are rewriting the narrative of small business by bringing their creativity, passion, and unique perspectives to the table. From e-commerce ventures to niche service providers, women thrive in industries ranging from fashion and beauty to technology and sustainability.

Here is a list of small business ideas for women that answer the question of how to make money from home as a woman entrepreneur.  Many require little to no start-up costs.

K-Tec Systems Founder Cathy Koch Goes to Washington

We are big fans of Cathy Koch (pictured) and were thrilled to hear she went from her business K-Tec Systems in Ferndale to the nation’s capital to advise the United States Senate and the federal government about the obstacles facing women entrepreneurs.

Read her full story and discover the challenges she faced while growing her business and how she overcame them.

Unprecedented Opportunities Await the Bold in the Year of the Wood Dragon

Happy Lunar New Year of the Dragon, or to be more precise, the Year of the Wood Dragon.  

Wood represents vitality and creativity, while the dragon is related to success, intelligence and honor in Chinese culture.

This combination makes people born in the Year of the Wood Dragon full of energy and drive. They dream of changing the world and are good at coming up with innovative ideas and implementing them. They are perfectionists and will not give up on their goals easily.

The Year of the Wood Dragon is believed to be able to foster growth, progress and abundance, and this year will be good to build a solid foundation for something new with long-term potential. The last Year of the Wood Dragon was 60 years ago, in 1964, the year the Beatles took the world by storm!

Are you a dragon?  If so or even if you aren't, this will be a year for unprecedented opportunities for those who are bold, driven, creative, and full of energy.  Play off the strong vibes.  Go after what you want.

Take It Global and Unleash Your Full Business Potential

©2024 Laurel Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"If you have the courage and mindset to go global, and you are ready, I ask you to throw out your local playbook and expand your business outside your local market.  The world is wide open.  Make it your market, look outward, and you will unleash your full potential." – Laurel J. Delaney, founder and president of Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.

Expand the Visibility of Female Founders

How much does culture and society play a role in keeping female entrepreneurs behind and what can we do to change this?

According to Entreprenista Founders Stephanie Cartin and Courtney Spritzer, in order to change this, we need to expand the visibility of successful women founders – which is the driving force behind our Entreprenista 100 awards. Telling these stories and highlighting these women will inspire the next generation.

We also need to rethink how we portray entrepreneurs and leaders – emphasizing qualities like creativity, empathy and collaboration rather than outdated masculine stereotypes. Founders in our community are making billions of dollars in revenue collectively, and they’re wearing pink while they do it. 

Learn more from Cartin and Spritzer – their biggest piece of advice to women considering entrepreneurship and what the perfect plan might reveal. 

Redefining Recognition and Celebrating Female Founders For Their True Worth

Changing the way we talk about female founders is a small but significant step towards creating a more inclusive and respectful business environment. 

By focusing on their accomplishments and expertise, we can help ensure that their professional achievements are recognized and appreciated, rather than overshadowed by irrelevant comments about their appearance. 

Let’s redefine recognition and celebrate female founders for their true worth – their talent, determination, and the remarkable contributions they make to our world.

Making the Leap to Entrepreneurship

After working in bookkeeping and office management for a variety of businesses and nonprofits over the years, Kristin Cole of kCole Bookkeeping and Small Business Consulting finally made the leap into entrepreneurship by opening her own small business.

Cole knows from experience that giving up a regular paycheck and benefits to become self-employed is just one of the leaps of faith that entrepreneurs must take when they step out on their own. “If you don’t have a background in this sort of thing, it can feel really overwhelming – not knowing what you don’t know,” she said.

She offers a handful of suggestions for aspiring female entrepreneurs, one being, "Pull in extra help.  Life – especially as an entrepreneur – can be overwhelming. Businesspeople recognize when they need assistance, whether it’s by hiring a professional to help with the books or by making use of free resources like the Small Business Development Center or free webinars."

Learn more how Kristin Cole of kCole Bookkeeping and Small Business Consulting helps entrepreneurs with the unknowns they face.

Women's Entrepreneurial Landscape Is Changing While They Fight for their Dreams

While women have historically faced additional challenges, some female founders say the landscape is changing for the better.  

According to a report from Gusto, more women are starting their own businesses, accounting for nearly half of new entrepreneurs in recent years.

In 2020, women made up 47% of new business owners, a significant jump from 29% in 2019, the report showed. That figure has held near that level — at 49% in 2021 and 47% in 2022 — signaling a stable trend rather than a one-off surge, the report said.

Learn how women are fighting for their dreams and making them reality here.

Happy 2024 From Escape From Corporate America

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Happy 2024 from Escape From Corporate America!  Discover six reasons why 2024 is the best time to start a business.  Go for it!  

Love, Light and Laughter

©2023 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"Merry Christmas!  Wishing you love, light, and laughter for good memories this holiday season." – Laurel J. Delaney

How to Succeed as a Woman Founder

How to succeed as a woman founder?  The founders of SoulCycle, Poppi, Halfdays, and more offer their best 5 pieces of advice for female entrepreneurs – from what to read — and what not to read — and how to use social media.

Topics discussed ranged from what to do if a male VC laughs you out of the room (in this case, go your own way and get a loan to start your business) to how to fix your company's Target display.

They've got you covered.

The Woman Who Keeps On Giving

MacKenzie Scott, a woman who keeps on giving, is well known for her philanthropic behaviors and surprise donations to organizations. 

Scott helped build tech giant Amazon with her then-husband Jeff Bezos. The couple divorced in 2019. She currently has a net worth of $33.7 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Scott recently announced $2.15 billion in donations over the past year on her website, Yield Giving. She said in the post that the nonprofit donated to 360 organizations, “every one of whom could use more allies.”

The causes are always wide-ranging.  One organization who is hopeful in receiving a gift from Ms. Scott is Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®, an under-the-radar nonprofit who has been around since 2015 and educates women on how to grow their business through global expansion.  To date, they have served more than 40,000 women.

Reshaping Early-Stage Venture Capital (VC) to Better Serve Women Entrepreneurs

Melinda Gates is trying to change the face of power in venture capital (VC) to better serve women entrepreneurs.

Given that VCs cater to a select few, fail on about 80%, and need home runs to pay for the failures, the question looms: can Gates make a dent and leave a legacy?

Discover the five challenges and potential solutions.

Make Time For Yourself This Holiday Season

Take (or make) time for yourself.  Planning or relaxing must be part of your daily list of to-dos, and what better time to start than the holidays?

Here are five things every entrepreneur should do this holiday season. Practice these habits, and you'll notice a change in 2024.

5 Secrets to Building a Billion Dollar Brand

Remember Kathy Ireland?  She skyrocketed to fame as a model at the age of 16, is now the CEO of Kathy Ireland Worldwide — a global empire worth over $2 billion.  She is now one of the biggest names in business. 

Here are her top 5 tips for building a billion dollar brand.