Women Entrepreneurs
The woman entrepreneur posts have slowed down a bit. I used to do them every Monday but I have found that they are the hardest posts that I write. Hard in regards to time and thought. I have been at it now for 5 years.
I don’t see myself continuing to do this every Monday but hopefully a few Mondays a month. Just when I think it is time to move on from this I get inspired. Every single time I speak to one of the amazing Women Entrepreneurs I am constantly blown away by their stories, their lives, their energy and their drive.
What is clear to me is that 2014 has been a big year for women. There is still a long road ahead but I hear from and talk to more and more women entrepreneurs now than 5 years ago. They are each building their own companies in a variety of verticals. I do believe that as more women start companies, more women create cultures that are supportive of women and families and more women build large companies we will begin to see a shift in regards to equal opportunities. Equal opportunity is a broad term and when I say it I think about funding, hiring and respect for what they bring to the table. I certainly hope that in 2015 we will see a shift.
January 2015 will be the 5th year of the Women’s Entrepreneur Festival. I know that there has been a long tail to that event. It is not only about women entrepreneurs but it is also about connecting to other women who are experiencing the same thing. That women who are forging their own opportunities can connect with others who are in the same state of mind. That is powerful.
Over the past 8 +years I have supported 45 women by making investments in their companies, their dreams. I am pretty proud of that.
It is something that I will continue to do in 2015. I will continue the posts too. Not as frequently but it just seems that although the posts take time they have also become easier because more women entrepreneurs have realized that not only is it a viable career path it is one they crave.
Comments (Archived):
As a woman entrepreneur who started down the entrepreneurial path after having 3 children (and expecting to be on the stay-at-home mom path for much longer!) I especially love reading about other women blazing new trails. They definitely inspire me. Thanks for supporting other women and sharing great stories.
Check out Lioness, the leading digital magazine for female entrepreneurs. http://www.LionessMagazine.com
thanks
Encouraging Lianna to apply and attend this as there seems to be a community here that is valuable to connect with. Especially like that there appears to be a network of investors present.
she should absolutely apply
Glad you are doing what you are doing. But, at what point does our society stop pointing out, “women” “gay” “black” etc and just embrace what any one person or team is doing? Women do have it tougher, but if they (or any other special interest group) constantly carries a chip on their shoulder-then they will look for dark where there is light.I never looked at gender or anything else before writing a check to a company. Only looked at the idea and tried to decide if I was confident the team could execute or not. I don’t feel like I am rare in startup circles. But, maybe I am.
when a white guy succeeds, he’s not “a credit to white guys” — it’s his successwhen a white guy fails, he’s not “setting back white guys” — it’s his failurewhen women and all flavors of people have equal access to knowledge and opportunity, the adjective in front of the accomplishment can go away, because their role will have become ordinary and the norm — we’re not there yeta friend and i have a joke: only when unremarkable and unexceptional women and minorities are in positions of power and responsibility everywhere and routinely make huge and expensive mistakes will we have achieved equality.
I like that joke. it is so true
I don’t see it that way. Sorry, just don’t see it. All about the person. Walk into a room with a chip on your shoulder and you will continue to carry the chip. I was at a fin tech thing and an African-American women lead with the first comment, “Why aren’t there more people in this room like me?”. My immediate thought is that I would never want to work with a person with that attitude. My second thought is everyone was like her, we were interested in fintech. It’s all how you slice the orange.
#becauseawesome