If It's Not Working, Leave It Behind in 2025

These 5 resolutions for your business can and should go beyond your bottom line. Thinking outside the box about what you can do to strengthen your business is important, and now’s the time to form plans that you can put into action in the new year.

One thing is always clear before you enter a new year, if something is not working in your life, whether personally or professionally, leave it behind in 2025.

JOY to Your World from Escape From Corporate America!

©2024 Laurel J, Delaney.  All rights reserved.

Know Where to Seek Small Business Loans, Grants and Other Opportunities

Whether you’re starting a new small business or looking to grow an existing one, finding funding can be a challenge for businesses of all sizes. If you’re looking for a small business loan, grant or other opportunities, check out these resources.

If you’re not sure of the difference between a loan and a grant, check out the explainer here. You can also learn more about all funding options in our small business financing guide here.

Shop From Woman-Owned Violet Flame Chocolate This Holiday Season

©2024 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

This holiday season, consider buying your holiday gifts from other women business owners.  Read the inspiring interview with Katrina Markoff, Founder of Violet Flame Chocolate.  Check out her company here.

A Growth Mindset Leads to Leadership for Women

How do fixed versus growth mindsets affect women’s ability to see themselves as leaders in the workplace?  That's the question asked of  Julia Lee Cunningham and Sue Ashford from the Ross School of Business and here's Ashford's answer.

As discussed in Ashford’s recent book, The Power of Flexing, leadership comes with many challenges. The skills involved are new for emerging leaders, and the challenges only get more complex as leaders rise in the organizational ranks. Having a growth mindset in which setbacks are considered learning experiences rather than indictments of skill helps leaders to stay “in the game,” continually trying to be more of a leader and to both face and cope with those challenges. A growth mindset helps leaders (and all people) feel empowered when experiencing challenges and setbacks.  

By broadening how leadership is defined and valued, organizations could create more inclusive pathways to leadership roles.

How Women-led Rural Enterprises Grow in India

To identify mechanisms that would help India-based women-led enterprises grow to their full potential, the World Bank carried out a study in six Indian states. 

The study showed that more than 85 percent of women-owned, rural, non-farm enterprises are concentrated in five sub-sectors: retail trade, manufacturing of apparel, food products, food and beverage services and the handloom sector.

Learn more about targeted policies for broader support to India for promoting rural women’s entrepreneurship.

Tune In to the How She Went Global® podcast

©2024 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

At the How She Went Global® podcast, successful women entrepreneurs and business owners share stories about going global, and offer new ways to take on the world, stay inspired and have fun! They join host Laurel Delaney every month.

Tune in to the latest episode with inventor, patent holder, author, keynoter and globalist Julie Austin when she discusses, "Revolutionizing Hydration:  The Story Behind the Patented Hands-Free Water Bottle." Subscribe while you are at it so you never miss an episode.

Powered by Premier Sponsor VISA and Supporting Sponsor Associated Bank.  Produced by Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®. 

Committed to Empowering Diverse and Black Women-Owned Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Committed to empowering diverse and Black women-owned businesses and entrepreneurs, Wells Fargo took center stage at the Woman Evolve Conference 2024 to highlight the importance of unlocking growth for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Women are ready to learn, connect, and grow. It was a testament to Wells Fargo’s commitment to ensuring that diverse businesses have access to capital, financial education, mentorship, and community. 

The economic potential of women entrepreneurs is vast. The latest statistics show that women-owned businesses contribute significantly to the U.S. economy, generating $2.7 trillion in revenue and employing 12.2 million workers. 

As women-owned businesses continue to grow, it’s essential to recognize the progress made, particularly among Black women, during challenging times.

Celebrating Contributions of Women Entrepreneurs to the U.S. Economy

After October's Women’s Small Business Month—we pause to celebrate the contributions of women entrepreneurs to the U.S. economy. From gender biases to limited access to capital, the challenges women business owners face are many.

Structural changes are needed to address many of these barriers, but on a personal level, remembering your why, investing in continuous learning, protecting your brand, extending grace, and reframing fear may provide fuel to push forward.  

Here are 5 tips for aspiring women entrepreneurs.  Let's level the playing field.

Sara Blakely Has Always Been Her Own Bellwether

Spanx Founder Sara Blakely has always been her own bellwether. Blakely launched Sneex, a “luxury hybrid stiletto” which retails between $395 and $595.  

“I own stilettos and I own sneakers already, but I don’t own the combination of the two. As a consumer I wanted the combination of the two,” Blakely says. For her, the shoe is the intermediary between dressy and casual. (She cites Sneex as ideal for the classic jeans-and-a-nice-top outfit formula.) 

She goes on to say, “I designed them to be able to wear every day, but 100% women will embrace them and wear them formally. Women are already wearing regular sneakers in formalwear, so I think that that is going to happen for sure."

Full details here.

Illinois Women Business Owners Who Take on the World

(L-R)  Tami Lange and Amy Mills

(L-R)  Yvette Laugier, Valarie King-Bailey, Amy Mill & Diamond Young

©Global Small Business Forum 2024, Chicago, 10/18/24

I [Laurel Delaney] just finished hosting the 9th Annual Global Small Business Forum in Chicago which is all about showcasing fantastic business owners who rock the world with their international expansion efforts.  At the forum, each panelist shared their story – challenges and successes – for what it takes to go beyond borders with a business.

Discover these 4 women business owners.  Shop their products and use their services.  

1. Tami Lange, Founder, Save the Girls
2. Amy Mills, President, 17th Street Barbecue
3. Yvette Laugier, Founder, YL Advisory
4. Valarie King-Bailey, CEO, OnShore Technology Group

Above are just a few of the photos from the event capturing some of the women entrepreneurs who have escaped from corporate America and run their own successful businesses. 👏

The event was sponsored by Associated Bank (Diamond Young is Assistant VP, FX at AB) and hosted by Foley & Lardner.

Observations From India: Functions of a Woman Entrepreneur

BIG news :-)!  Women entrepreneurs are not different from the concept of entrepreneur, all the concept characteristics and functions are applicable to women entrepreneurs. 

The role of women in family and society is changing very fast – thank goodness. The days when women were typically expected to look after household activities have changed in various social aspects like equal treatment to women, no discrimination between males and females allowing for equal opportunities to work in any field.  Slowly these changes have empowered woman to become more competitive and also encouraged her to start a business.

The article was written in 2017.  It also includes some traits of women entrepreneurs (additional articles).  Different perspective due to India origin.  Very academic.  

Faith-Filled Women Business Owners

According to the Minority Christian Women Entrepreneurs Network (MCWEN), women of color account for 47 percent of all women-owned businesses — around 5.8 million in total — employing over 2.2 million people and generating $386.6 billion in revenue.

More and more, entrepreneurs are stepping into the business world, driven not just by a passion for their products and services but also by a deep sense of faith. These “faith-filled” business owners see their work as a means to serve their communities, live out their beliefs and build a legacy for their families.

Learn about a few here.

Women Entrepreneurs Hit a Funding Wall

When Oriana Papin-Zoghbi was looking for venture capital funding to develop a new type of test for ovarian cancer, she found her pitch did best with women investors. “They were able to resonate with the problem we are trying to solve,” she said.

Avestria Ventures, a fund focused on women-founded start-ups, led an early investment of $5 million in Ms. Papin-Zoghbi’s company, AOA Dx. And two years later, Good Growth Capital, a firm founded by women, led an additional $17 million investment.

Raising the next round of funds is expected to be difficult.  It's not the first time that women entrepreneurs hit a funding wall.

Read the entire article at The New York Times (might require subscription).

Grants for American Women Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses

GrantWatch is celebrating American women entrepreneurs! 

Women in leadership bring unique strengths to the table like fostering collaboration and driving innovation. Decades of research show that when women lead, businesses are profitable and teams are collaborative. 

They inspire greater fairness and dedication and create environments where everyone can thrive. Despite the obstacles they face, women continue to break barriers and rise in leadership roles across politics, education, and corporate sectors.

Here is a listing of currently available GrantWatch Women and Small Business grants.

Women Redefine the Entrepreneurial Sphere

Over the past few decades, we have witnessed a remarkable surge in the presence and influence of women entrepreneurs. Women have been redefining the entrepreneurial sphere, breaking through barriers, shattering stereotypes and making significant strides in various industries and sectors worldwide.

With the changing times and increasing awareness, the 21st century has become an era of empowerment for women, fostering an environment that encourages and supports their entrepreneurial aspirations. 

Discover how women-led businesses have emerged as a powerful force, contributing significantly to economic growth and societal progress.

UC Berkeley Is a Powerhouse for Entrepreneurs Interested In Building Things, Especially For Women

Won't this surprise you!  UC Berkeley graduates have founded more venture-backed companies than undergraduate alumni from any other university in the world, according to the 2024 PitchBook university rankings. 

Venture capital is paying attention to Berkeley-generated companies. And they claim they are just getting started.

Big note:  Berkeley was ranked first for female graduates who started businesses, first for female-founded companies and first for the amount of capital raised by women. 

“That UC Berkeley is No. 1 globally across five major categories, including three for female founders, shows how Berkeley continues to light the way, and we do so inclusively,” [Laura] Hassner [executive director of UC Berkeley Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Berkeley Changemaker] said.

Black Women Entrepreneurs Make Significant Contributions to the Economy

According to the Wells Fargo 2024 Impact of Women-Owned Businesses Report, between 2019 and 2023, Black/African American women-owned businesses saw average revenues increase 32.7%, compared to 12.1% for all women-owned businesses. 

In spite of this impressive growth, systemic disparities in funding and mentorship opportunities persist. Fortunately, new programs are addressing these gaps.

Read on to learn how black women entrepreneurs make significant contributions to the economy.

For Women In Business, Simply Being Well-Connected Is Not Enough

Engaging in the same networking activities as men, such as golfing or having a beer together, the logic seems to go, will increase women’s exposure to work opportunities.  A new study by Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management professors Brian Uzzi and Yang Yang suggests this advice isn’t quite right. While it’s true that highly connected women tend to land better jobs and build their businesses faster, the most successful women also have something they cannot get through “beers with the boys”: close ties with female peers.

Here's the key:

“Men really need a network that’s going to maximize their access and exposure to market information,” says [co-author and Professor] Brian Uzzi. Women, however, “need the same thing men need and one thing more.”

Specifically, women need “private information,” which may include insider tips about a company’s leadership culture and politics, or hints about how to make an impression in a male-dominated industry, for example.

Read on to understand that for a woman to land a top job, she needs different types of networks than men.  Simply being well-connected is not enough.

Create Healthy Habits: Take a Bath. Light a Candle. Power Down Your Day.

Highly successful leaders create healthy habits throughout the day, but what creates success are the habits they’ve developed in their nighttime routines. 

Are you intentional with your nighttime habits?  These folks are.  They set themselves up for success each night by creating routines that help them wake up energized, ready to accomplish their goals and clear on how they’ll spend each day.

Take it from SPANX founder Sara Blakely who spends the evening with her children and then puts them to bed. Every night, she takes a bath and lights a candle as a way to power down from a hectic day—she sees value in turning off work mode.

Are you good at turning off work mode?