How to Feel Empowered as a Female Entrepreneur
20 Female Entrepreneurs Share Sentiments On How To Feel Empowered In Business and Life
The quote “empowered women empower women” is by no means new or unique in the world of female entrepreneurship. Nonetheless, it’s always been a saying that has resonated with me on a deep and personal level.
When I first heard it, my millennial brain immediately categorized the concept as the “anti” hit blockbuster Mean Girls movement (you can’t sit with us!) AKA if Regina George had simply felt empowered herself, she likely would have been a whole lot kinder and supportive to her tribe.
Fast forward to this year when I launched my company, THEPRBAR inc., with a mission to empower female entrepreneurs to build their own empires. Fast, fast, forward to October as I collaborated with 8 other female founders and coaches on an upcoming launch called The Empower Project. Are you beginning to sense a theme?
This girl over here likes the word “empower”, to put it lightly.
When The Empower Project launched on November 1, I received a DM on Instagram that inspired me to create the following roundup. In this DM, I was asked, “so, what do you do to feel empowered?”
I answered: I educate myself — I find that knowledge is power.
“Said DM-er” seemed content with this response.
I, however, was not. It got my wheels turning, and I decided to open up this topic to the #girlboss masses.
Here are what 20 female entrepreneurs had to say when asked a variety of questions surrounding my favorite theme of empowerment.
Kylie Hodges | Founder and CEO | Wingwoman Collective | @KylieHodges
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Everytime I work with a client, I’m buzzin’! When I see the smile across a client’s face and a look in their eye when they find the right words — and the confidence! — to articulate their networking talking points gives me the same high I imagine athletes get when they win a game. It feels SO incredible to help people understand the tiny shifts they need to make with the way they talk to people to get massive results in growing their business. The sky truly is the limit in entrepreneurship and knowing that I can help people make more money just by tweaking how they show up in networking situations is so thrilling to me!
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Whatever you’re looking for… whether that’s new clients or customers, remember — it’s a numbers game. Don’t be discouraged by a singular “no”. Strive to get 100 no’s and know that the perfect yes is getting closer to you with every rejection you receive!
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
Email! As silly as that sounds, sending individual, personal emails to every single person I connect with as a follow up — and then again when there is something I want to personally invite them to — has been the best tool for me. It doesn’t take more than a sentence or 2 to make an email personal and is much more efficient than trying to get someone on the phone. By individually reaching out to people and inviting them to an event I am hosting or attending that I legitimately believe they would find value in has positioned me as someone who: 1. Is an expert curator with a pulse on the entrepreneurship community 2. actually cares about the person I’m connecting with! It doesn’t take much to be impactful early on. In fact, a thoughtful email can really do wonders to grow your business.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
I can’t get enough of Backbone Business. They’re creating a space to help entrepreneurs step into the role of business owner and ALSO have a life, a calm work day, and be ruthless with what you spend your time on. That is the kind of entrepreneurship I want to see more of: Less hustle culture, more calm culture, please.
Meghana Moya | Founder | Spice Madam | @spicemadam
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Helping my team to succeed and find joy, both in their personal lives and in their work. Our business works closely with refugees and we love being able to help them succeed.
I also feel empowered when our customers share stories of how our product is helping improve their lives, through broadening their global perspective and through enabling them to experience international flavors at home with their loves ones.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
You are here for a reason and the world needs you! Don’t be afraid to ask mentors for help and to delegate — you don’t need to be the one doing everything in your business.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
Canva is a wonderful, free online tool to produce design content — both printed and digital.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
One of my favorite female-owned businesses is Zindagi — a one-of-a-kind jewelry business that works with artisans in India to empower them. The founder, Maria J Padgett, is from Honduras and taught herself how to speak Hindi so she could work directly with her creative staff in India — talk about inspiration!
Kea Meyers Duggan | Founder and CEO | Kea Meyers Duggan | @keameyersduggan
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Knowing that I have the ability to structure my days how I see fit, or to say “yes” or “no” to better position me to achieve the business or personal goals I’ve set for myself.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
I have so many pieces of advice to share, but the biggest one is to avoid comparing yourself to others on social media! Comparing your insides and your chapter one to someone else’s highlight reel and their chapter 20 will — not can, but will — have a negative impact on your self-confidence, your feelings of enoughness, and your feelings of competence.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
The simplicity around this might be surprising, but it made a huge difference for me and for helping me maintain some sanity for me around my business and it was a free training my coach provided for clients and non-clients alike on using Trello for business organization and project management. It has been a game changer for me!
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
There are SO many female-owned businesses, but right now, I am so loving The Hoops Talk. It’s a female-led sports talk podcast that broadcasts live each week. It’s hosted by two phenomenally sharp women and they talk basketball, pop-culture, and social issues but it’s all covered from a women’s point of view.
Safiya Bouhouch | Founder | I Am Well Community | @Iamwellbysafiya
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
I feel most empowered as a business owner when I’m able to take my creative vision and bring it to life, whether that’s through branding, photoshoots, events, programs, or retreats. It feels exciting to know that I have creative control over what I’m creating in building a community for likeminded women. Knowing that the work I do has an impact on the well-being of others is both empowering and rewarding, and it keeps me going on the days where things get tough. As a solopreneur being in charge of all aspects of my business was a big learning curve but I know feel empowered that I understand how to run a business.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
One of the things I wish I could share with more female entrepreneurs is to make your well-being a top priority, don’t wait until you’re sick or burned out to take care of yourself! I’ve seen so many female entrepreneurs prioritize business or others’ needs above our own, and that can quickly lead to us feeling exhausted and unmotivated. Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s important to be able to fill up our own cups so that we can show up fully for others.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
One free tool that’s helped keep me organized and coordinated while running my business and producing content has been Notion! I’m new to the idea of content batching and having an editorial calendar, but Notion made it so easy for me to stay organized with projects and to-do lists without having an overly complicated system. Once I started planning out my content ahead of time, I found I was able to spend more time engaging in person with my community.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
Holisticism is an amazing female found company by Michelle! It’s an amazing wellness platform to make wellness accessible and help people to find holistic wellness practitioners. They host accessible online workshops which makes it so easy to learn more about anything from astrology to herbalism! I’ve learned so many things about integrating intuition and astrology into building my business and I’ve met amazing people on the platform. The newsletter is down-to-earth and filled with amazing gems and other online resources, so I highly recommend joining the Holisticism community!
Genevieve Hannelius | Founder | G Polish | @gpolishofficial
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
I feel empowered by the support of people around me, like my family and friends. I also feel empowered when I set goals, big or small, and achieve them. It’s empowering to have a supportive community of people around you who cheer you on and inspire you to keep creating.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other
female entrepreneurs?
You’re never too young to start a business. If you have an idea that you can’t get out of your head, write it down and create it on paper. There are so many unique ways to start businesses and so many platforms to help develop your ideas into a reality.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve
success?
A source of empowerment for me is getting inspired by other female entrepreneurs. I love listening to the Second Life podcast and hearing other women’s successes and failures and how they achieved their own goals. It can be really helpful to recognize all of the different paths that people take to create their businesses- there’s no right or wrong way.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
I’m a huge fan of Color Camp, founded by Lauren Caruso. Lauren is such an inspiring female entrepreneur and her great idea has achieved incredible success. Color Camp offers manicures and amazing nail art in 2 locations in LA and it is setting the new standard for clean beauty in nail salons. The salon focuses on better-for-you products and puts the clients nail heath and the artists health before anything else. Color Camp has already developed a cult following and I can’t wait to continue to see it grow!
Jess Joswick | Founder and CEO | Backbone Business | @Backbonebusiness
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Figuring out a work flow and a method of building my business that keeps me calm and focused and gives me the life I want.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
As small business owners or solopreneurs, there’s always so much to do. With lots of other expenses, it can be easy for us to ignore the support and development we need to be better business owners. No matter how talented you are, the truth is you can only get so far going by yourself. The biggest change in my life happened when I got a way to keep learning and growing as an entrepreneur. Don’t skip it for yourself!
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
When I just started freelancing, the ilovecreatives freelancer calculator helped me decide on pricing: https://ilovecreatives.com/market/do-the-math-freelancer-hourly-rate
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
SO many!
· @rosenskincare: all natural products for people with problem skin (it me)
· @vettacapsule: stylish, versatile clothing with a transparent supply chain
· @wearequilt: a community and way for women to gather
· @backstagecap: a revolutionary venture capital firm
· @lattugaorganics: coffee scrubs from Puerto Rico that saved my skin
· @shopgoodneighbor: a store that has revamped my wardrobe
Ricki Hansen | CEO, Founder, Inventor | Necklet LLC
@ShopNecklet
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Knowing that women all over the world are using the product I invented to express their creativity and know it’s made their lives just a little easier! We have even had women reach out to us who have arthritis, some even with handicaps that have made putting necklaces on hard. Hearing from them first hand how Necklet has made a difference is awesome and that is really powerful.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Don’t give up before you even start because you think it will be hard. It will be hard, but I promise you the end result is worth it. If starting a business and being your own boss was easy, everyone would do it. Have a vision, ask questions, research, educate yourself, and then take the leap of faith! Stay positive and try to look at every situation that arises, good or bad, as a learning experience. An inch of movement is better than a mile of intentions!
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
Family & Friends — I believe that we can learn something from everyone. I will always take advice and listen to anyone who is willing to talk and share with me or who is willing to listen.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
I am a huge fan of Jessica Alba, founder of The Honest Company. When she couldn’t find one brand to trust for all her everyday needs, she had to create it. She also has made social initiatives and community partnerships to ensure that more people have access to safe, effective options when they need it the most. Every day she changes so many lives for the better. If that isn’t inspiring I don’t know what is.
Elena Krasnoperova | Founder and CEO | FamTerra Inc. | Facebook
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
I feel empowered when I have the freedom to make my own business decisions. It doesn’t mean that I make the decisions unilaterally, or that I don’t get others’ inputs. I actively collect other people’s inputs and advice, but I consider those inputs non-binding. They are data points for me to use as I see fit. I still have the freedom — and the responsibility — to make the ultimate decisions about the course of my business.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Don’t let anybody define you, or tell you what you can and can not do. Believe in yourself — even if the world doesn’t believe in you. Being an entrepreneur is hard. Being a female entrepreneur is even harder, as we face many more challenges and barriers than our male counterparts. Hiring, getting funding, getting speaking engagements as an industry leader — all of them are harder for female entrepreneurs. But when we succeed, the victory is so much sweeter!
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
I have a whole list of free tools and resources. But among my favorites are the free resources provided for entrepreneurs by angel investor Jason Calacanis at https://launch.co/. They include an email newsletter, a conference, a 2-day event called “Founder University”, a podcast, and a lot more.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
Pandia Health— I’m a customer and a big fan. They provide birth control on demand, empowering women to take control of their reproductive health. It’s the only birth control delivery service that is founded by a woman M.D.
Jenny Drew | Co-Founder and CEO | all the babies | @allthebabiesco
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
I feel most empowered when I have a vision and am able to bring it to life — whether that be through dynamic storytelling, the products we create, or cultivating community in an impactful way.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Trust your gut and do everything in rest. When you approach your business calmly and with confidence, you make smarter and more effective decisions.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
Humans. I have found the best answers from getting connected and asking questions.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
I have been inspired by Emily Weiss since she started Into the Gloss, and of course, Glossier. Her approach to beauty in real life helps build confidence and connection in a powerful way.
Elizabeth Mercer | CEO & Founder | Sleekform |@sleekform
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
As a business owner, I feel empowered on the days when new challenges come my way and I execute them without fail. Everyday in a business owner’s life there is something new you have never seen before and you need to solve. When I navigate through them, learning, and helping in the process it fuels me to keep going and I feel incredibly empowered.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Stop thinking you have to have all the “right qualities.” When I made this mental shift I started to go for more things, began achieving goals I didn’t think I was “qualified” for, which then just snowballs into confidence. You begin to have less fear, start going after things you would have been afraid of in the past and one day you will realize just how far you have come.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
YOUTUBE. We are living in an age of information. Gone are the days of not knowing what or how. The information and tutorials are out there, you just have to sift through to find the good ones.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
Oh my goodness, this list is so long for me! I look up to so many. However, my top is Sara Blakely with Spanx. The hustle she has, the desire, the drive, the innovation, the way she never takes no for an answer and how she continues to give back and inspire women to chase their dreams is everything I dream of doing. She is a light!
Brittan Leiser | Founder and CEO | SavviHer | @Financially.SavviHer
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
When I am able to use my talents to help another woman or to leave something better than I found it (paying it forward, so to speak), I feel empowered. I also feel empowered anytime that someone places their trust in me to complete a service or help them with one of our products.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Keep going. No one will ever believe in your project, job, passion, career as much as you do. If you truly believe in the spirit of your endeavors, give it everything you have. Learn, be creative, get resourceful, and ask for help! You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish if you just keep going.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
These days, there are a plethora of amazing resources out there that are available to help entrepreneurs succeed. My favorite free resource is Canva. This editing program makes creating beautiful graphics and promotional materials so simple and truly takes the guesswork out of delivering a piece you’ll be proud of. I love it!
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
I love supporting Meagan Williamson who is a Pinterest consultant. She truly embodies the entrepreneurial spirit and manages to help other businesses succeed by increasing their presence on and usage of Pinterest to drive traffic to their business endeavors. She is a wonderful, helpful, collaborative woman who is always trying to encourage others to do what they can to succeed.
Adriana Irby | Founder & Creator | Brazilian Queen Hair | @brazilianqueenhair
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
As a businesswoman I few empowered because I have the opportunity to create my future, support other women, and learn from my mistakes. We must develop a sense of wisdom to make good decisions and choices. Good judgment will only develop if you truly learn from your mistakes.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Set goals and targets even if it seems unobtainable in the very beginning. Make a plan. Make good connections, and connect them to the right people. Have a spirit presence and never feel intimidated during rough times. It’s easy to crumble during tough times. It’s okay to seek for support or guidance.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
I attended web seminars and workshops for small businesses before assembling my business. I connected with very nice people that offered free mentorship and orientation. Also, I connected with other businesswomen, we support one another and go for a girls night out too!
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
It’s hard to pick one! I love Mary Dillon, CEO of Ulta Beauty. Not only she take Ulta to the next level but also she’s highly connected to her community. Also, I am a fan of Rihanna. Rihanna reinvented herself by establishing Fenty Beuty. As a woman of color, I relate to her.
Jane Baker | High End Sales Coach & Business Owner | Facebook
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
I think the thing that makes me feel most empowered as a business owner is watching my ideas coming to life and being successful whether that’s for myself or for my clients. Watching something that I’ve created, thought about, dreamed about, planned out come to life and then actually work is an amazing feeling.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other
female entrepreneurs?
Just do it, even if it seems absolutely crazy or even if you don’t have all the answers or the how right now just jump, just do it. Send the message, send the pitch, ask for the sale, write the content, just do it and never look back!
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve
success?
Facebook has been a huge part of my growth and success across all of my businesses, it’s the first platform I ever used and it was the first stepping stone in helping me build my first successful business and now with my coaching business it enables me to directly contact and engage with my audience which is amazing.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
Abigail Horne from Authors & Co, because she is a total powerhouse and amazing at what she does. The passion Abigail has for her work and her writers is amazing.
Love White | Founder & Creator | Love & Snow | @therealloveandsnow
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
As a business owner, seeing my ideas, visions, and efforts to help others come to life and manifest, feels empowering. The strength and perseverance to continue on, no matter the circumstances, to achieve my dream always leaves me feeling immensely empowered.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other
female entrepreneurs?
The one piece of advice I would offer other female entrepreneurs would be to trust your gut/intuition. That initial feeling in both challenging and positive situations is often the exact answer we need to hear.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve
success?
Over the years I have read many small business, start up, and entrepreneurial stories in the Entrepreneur Magazine online. The pieces have been helpful in seeing the similarities of many of us on the journey to creating our own business; as well as learning from mistakes others have made.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
A favorite female-owned business is Raw Cane Super Juice, where the focus is on raw, slow, cold pressed cane juice. Co-owner Rey, her business partner, and her team are not just riding a fad, or being trendy; they have been around for over a decade and really focus on creating items and beverages for your overall well-being. They don’t just provide you a product but also the education, care, and can be supportive on your journey to improved mental, physical, and emotional well being. Plus, the beverages are delicious! It is so much easier to stay on a journey when it doesn’t feel like such a chore. This is where I feel like the care an expertise come into play, items aren’t just put together to be healthy and you just have to power through a displeasing taste or texture; Raw Cane Super Juice is conscientious and cares enough to create a healthy and enjoyable experience.
Katherine Coyne | Founder & Head Baker | 12 Oaks Desserts | @12oaksdesserts
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Being able to have choices that create an impact makes me feel empowered. The opportunity to create something that is your own and that you are passionate about also empowers me. The challenges that come with having our own business are much harder, but the highs are that much more rewarding.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
My advice is to trust in yourself and in your talents. If you are good at something, do not be afraid to highlight that trait, because it can have a greater impact than you think. Also try to keep a great support system around you. Sometimes running your own business can feel overwhelming, but if you are surrounded by people who support your aspirations you will be driven to stay level headed and encouraged to continue doing great work.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
Before I decided to go full time, I read a lot of online blogs and personal stories about what people would find challenging. It is all so true! You will experience all the hardships, struggles and emotions (no matter what you tell yourself in the beginning), but if you love what you’re doing, it’s worth it. Also, trust your instincts! You know what’s best for your business more than anyone else.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
One of my favorite female owned businesses is Pink Peony Kids, an online children’s clothing store. It is run by two sisters who who grew up in Downtown LA’s garment district and developed a love of crafting and creating designs that remind them of their childhood. I am a fan of their work, because their designs are very fun and their clothes are made with soft cotton and they fully adhere to children’s safety standards.
Rita Kakati-Shah | Founder and CEO | Uma | @beboldbeuma
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
My business is very mission-driven and started with the idea that all women should have equal opportunities and be treated fairly. Fast-forward 3 years and we have grown into a thriving business that helps companies attract, retain and develop women and minorities in the workforce through diversity and inclusion strategies. It’s hard to realize the gravity of what has been accomplished in such a seemingly short span of time. We are not only moving the needle in corporate culture, but we are changing lives for the better. We are building confidence and empowering our members in the process.Uma has successfully worked with many returning candidates and companies, structured return to work and buddy programs, as well as mentored and coached women looking to enter senior leadership.So when I do take a step back and pause, I have to say that I do feel truly empowered.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other
female entrepreneurs?
Firstly congratulations on taking the plunge! You are one of few who actually took the step to pursue your passion. And that is important to remember — you are pursuing something you are passionate about. With that in mind, there are certain skills that entrepreneurs in particular soon become pros at handling. For example, hearing the word “no”, non-responsiveness and just plain rejection. When embarking on this journey, you will soon develop a thick skin, resilience and patience!
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve
success?
There are only so many waking hours of the day. Top that off with frequent international travel, running my own company across multiple regions, and bringing up two young children. So a life-saver for me is anything that helps provide structure and in turn more clarity around my days. Simple as it sounds, I rely on my iPhone calendar! I actually have a personal and work calendar, which are sync’d and helps to compartmentalize personal and professional life, track when there is a deadline approaching, and perhaps most importantly, let me know when family time is approaching. This I hold sacred, and strongly believe in the “quality over quantity” motto.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
I love Junny By Junny! Junny is not only a successful designer, but a talented seamstress and tailor too. She came from a media and PR background, knew her passion was in starting her own clothing line, so made the switch. Junny is incredibly hardworking and knows what it means to hustle! I am so proud to call Junny my friend.
Gail Becker| CEO and Founder | CAULIPOWER | @caulipower
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Starting CAULIPOWER was a complete left turn in my career path. I left a comfortable job in corporate America to enter into an industry I had absolutely no experience in. I think as an entrepreneur, the most important thing you can do is acknowledge what you don’t know and own what you do. I have been able to use my experiences and my expertise to help inform many aspects of my business, but I also feel fortunate enough to have found people who are industry experts in their own rights and have filled in the gaps around me. We all bring our own strengths to the table and can learn from each other — which will ultimately build us up as individuals and as a business.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
If you wait for the perfect moment in time to make that leap, it will never happen. There is no ideal time or moment. You have to take a risk and just go for it and don’t let anyone tell you can’t. At the heart of any business is execution — anyone can have a great idea, but if you don’t execute upon it, it will never become a reality. The perfect time is now.
What is one free tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
LinkedIn has been a great tool to connect with others both within and outside the industry and stay up to date. It’s so important to expand your network and make connections. Building relationships with others can be one of the best ways to learn and grow both your business and your knowledge. You never know where a connection could lead you!
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
Yummy Spoonfuls, a frozen organic baby & toddler food company. Its Founder, Agatha Achindu, is so passionate about the importance of children’s health and nutrition, and I love that she really personifies her company’s mission. As a mom, it’s great to see other mother’s proving to the world that you don’t have to choose between work or life. You can have both and teach your kids some incredible lessons along the way. Her website can be found here!
Emilia Taneva | CEO | Bubbly Moments | @bubbly.moments
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Making money always helps! When business is good, you feel good. You feel empowered. But, true empowerment has to be deeper than that, because running your own business is hard. Most days, you’re going to have difficulties and setbacks to deal with. Feeling empowered becomes more about knowing you can handle the challenges that life throws at you and carry your business through them. Another thing that will bring you a true sense of empowerment is when you can genuinely stand behind whatever you’re selling, whether it’s a product or a service. When you’re on a mission to make the world a better place, you feel empowered.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Educate yourself, because that’s what sets entrepreneurs apart from employees. There’s nothing wrong with working for a paycheck, but if you want to run your own business or develop something cutting edge, you’ve got to know about business and finance and marketing and all sorts of stuff employees don’t need to care about. More important than knowing is knowing what you don’t know…so you can learn it, or get help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and don’t be afraid to delegate tasks, especially when you’re growing a business. Successful business owners don’t try to do everything themselves. Lastly, I would say that you’ve got to be persistent. Pretty much everyone who works for someone else is working for someone who didn’t give up when everyone else quit.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
The local library. The internet is full of advice, and some of it is good, but some of it is bad. Published material has gone through a vetting process, so you know it’s got quality content written by people who know what they’re talking about. There are plenty of entrepreneurs who have written helpful books to get started. These books shouldn’t intimidate you — they’re usually very easy to read. You don’t have to pay for coaching or a weekend seminar to get started. You can just go down to the library and check out books by those who have already gone through this process. Don’t just limit yourself to books on this topic written by women, although in recent years there has been a lot of them. Learn from everyone and see what they have to say; you never know what’s going to help you. Keep in mind that knowledge is power. For example, 85% of self-made millionaires read around two books per month.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
I actually have two businesses in mind. One I like is The Honest Company, which was founded by Jessica Alba. She’s shattered the paradigm that female celebrity is just about looks or acting ability, by starting her own company of environmentally friendly household products. The mission of her company is even more admirable because it’s not at all about just turning a profit; it’s about empowering other people to make consumer choices that minimize damage to the planet. Another company I like is Goop, which was founded by Gwenyth Paltrow. It’s a sort of lifestyle company with a mission to empower women to make better choices in areas like food, wellness, travel, fashion, and relationships. It can be hard to wade through all the information on the internet to get advice, but Goop is a convenient community for women to find advice on different topics. This goes back to what I said about empowerment and business — you feel more empowered when you offer something of value.
Josephine Musco | Founder |Olyxir LLC | @olyxir
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
Being ethical in my practices and true to my word. Standing my ground when it comes to my values is so empowering not only as a business owner, but as a person. The simple thought of making a positive change in the world and contributing for the betterment of humanity is empowering.
The beauty of what I do is: I’m not competing with anyone, I’m just taking something and making it better. No tea bags, no single use plastic bottles. Taking the a market that’s saturated with post-consumer waste to zero post-consumer waste — that’s powerful!
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other
female entrepreneurs?
Believe in yourself and don’t give up. Most people who fail have in fact quit too soon. The path to starting your own business isn’t always easy, but when you feel strongly about your mission, it’s always worth it! Put enough passion, work, and perseverance behind your dream and it will become a success.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve
success?
Sleepless nights and the internet. I use google a lot to conduct research and stay on top of my game. For example, I knew that olive leaf was used for health throughout my childhood and family. Then I researched and found that it has been used in ancient medicine since the time of the pharaohs! It fascinated me and pushed me to validate my family’s tradition.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
I’m a big fan of Goop! Gwyneth is one of the very few Hollywood celebs that kept it real. She built an empire with a smile while everyone else was betting on her failing. Aside from her brilliant business model that’s geared to empower women, she kept herself grounded and humble. I love that and hope to emulate some of those qualities in my business practices!
Sara Brito | Co-founder and President | Good Food 100 Media Network | @goodfood100list
What makes you feel empowered as a business owner?
I feel empowered as a business owner when I feel free to live and work whenever and wherever best serves my mind, body, and spirit; and ultimately therefore, the work. This includes the ability to honor my diurnal rhythm, trying to limit computer/desk work between the hours of sunrise and sunset, and in surroundings that nourish my senses. That said, in some ways I’m always thinking about work and open to ideas, but when you’re living your purpose, or vocation, the way I feel I am, that feels ok because there’s no separation between who I am as a person and what I do for a living. I guess you could say I feel empowered because I’m living a whole, not artificially bifurcated life.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer other female entrepreneurs?
Don’t be afraid to say no. Saying ‘no’ to one thing just means that you’re saying a bigger ‘yes’ to something more important. I think I learned this from Oprah. For example, I say no to 6am and red-eye flights because I choose to prioritize my personal well-being over travel speed and efficiency.
What is one FREE tool or resource that has helped you achieve success?
Starting the day with a short meditation and prayer. Also, listening to “On Being Project” podcast by Krista Tippett helps lift me up out of the weeds of whatever I’m working on, and often offers serendipitous insights and inspiration I may not even know that I need and can apply to my own life.
Please tell us about one of your favorite female-owned businesses.
Alice Waters, Founder and Owner of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA. She has been a champion of local, sustainable agriculture for over four decades, becoming the Mother of the modern ‘farm-to-table’ movement by unapologetically living and advocating for her beliefs and values, long before they were popular, let alone mainstream. And she did it HER way, with style and grace.
