International Women's Day 2021: Pass it Forward
As we push through some of the most unpredictable times, we are always reminded of the power we possess both individually and together. A power that shapes our world into a reflection of our need for genuine equality and opportunities that will allow us to grow upward and outwards. Today, we have some of the most hardworking and inspiring female entrepreneurs passing on their top advice to fellow female founders in celebration of International Women’s Day. Let’s #PassitForward.
Don’t confuse the busy – ness with the busi -ness!
When I was in my early thirties, I had it all. I had the perfect husband, the most beautiful little girl and cleverest boy. I had my own home, a successful business and raking in one award after the other. Yet I wanted more. I needed to feel wanted and to be admired. In my mind, this equated to how busy I was.
Until I had the break-down and I lost it all - the business, the status and nearly my family. It was just me and her – Lynn – and I had to learn to love her with all my might. I learned to let go of control and embraced imperfection. I learned to live in the moment and to enjoy doing nothing and that is when the magic happened. All I ever wanted started to fall into place and I created a new business where I worked half the time and earned double the income. I started respecting myself enough to say NO.
No to those who did not respect my time. No to those who were unwilling to pay for my expertise, and no to anything that was not in alignment with who I am. I learned that I didn’t need to be busy to have a business – I just needed me. I was and am still enough - and so are you.
Lynn Erasmus, Author of Break Those Damn Rules, Speaker & Coach
As an entrepreneur I discovered that because there are so many things you need to be doing, it’s easy to get caught up in a frenzy of activity and thinking that the more you do, the more progress you’ll make. I’ve found that you can do all you want at the ‘doing’ or activity level, but the real game-changer is the work you do at a “being” or identity level. This means taking the time to fully understand who you are, the work you are trying to do and the true purpose behind it.
I think many entrepreneurs avoid taking the time to answer these questions because it’s hard! It’s easier to focus on the tangible action steps you can tick off your to-do list at the end of the day, and so much more satisfying to post on IGTV, sign up to another course or attend a networking event – anything, so long as it’s practical! But successful businesses aren’t built on a frenzy of activity. They are built on the vision, values and purpose that make it easy to communicate your offering to those who need you, which motivate you to get out of bed on the days when you don’t feel like it, and which will help you to get back up again every time you fail.
Caroline Flanagan, Author of The First: People of Colour, Imposter Syndrome and the Struggle to Succeed in a White World
For me, being a female entrepreneur is about possibility, adventure and dreaming big, but not losing touch with the true power of being female. When I came to the UK in the 1970s from India, I had absolutely no idea of what would happen in my life, but here I am with a successful, thriving business and a big family that’s filled with love. I wasn’t taught that women could dream or be successful, but this hasn’t stopped it happening. My story shows that anything is possible.
From my journey, I now believe women can have a successful career and a beautiful family life, if they do all of those things with love. That’s what sets us apart, we women can work and we can support our families with heart. And I think women are successful precisely because they aren’t men!
When we set up Spice Kitchen, it was always about the love of spice and cooking. I’ve been described as the heart of the business and the head of our family, and my advice to any woman who wants to set up a business would be to find what you love and then let that guide you, because from that starting point, you can never go wrong.
Shashi Aggarwal, co-founder of Spice Kitchen
Have courage and stay true to your vision. It may be obvious how important it is, but when I first started out as an entrepreneur creating a business, GoSpace, with my husband, I would dress differently for meetings. For example, when raising investment, I would wear glasses and my hair in a ponytail - away from what is undoubtedly my style - just to “look the part” of a CTO. The disbelief I saw from potential investors that a young woman could be capable of being in charge of the tech in a B2B business within a predominantly male dominated field (facilities management) shocked me.
That was a pivotal moment and made me realise I don’t need to change who I am or what my business stands for to accommodate those who would close doors to women in tech. Instead I needed to work harder to make sure women in my position didn’t have this kind of environment surrounding them in the future. There will be those who believe in your vision for your business as passionately as you do - hold out and you will find them. Through staying true to Cypher’s mission, I am now blessed to be surrounded by an amazing team who support me and share in my vision and we are building this together as a 90% female team (with some great men there by our sides too!).
Elizabeth Tweedale, founder and CEO of Cypher
I started my business on £100 and I feel that, when growing your business, always remember you’re the boss of you. So you decide on how you’ll run your business. As a busy mother of 4, I would have to advise you to remember to spend moments alone and switch off. I also, if you want to grow further, be prepared to invest time and money in your personal and business development. Surround yourself with people that genuinely support you that you can learn from too. Make informed decisions. And finally, serve and don’t sell, if you can help people and offer value, then everything else will flow naturally. You’ve got this!
Vee Roberts, founder of Insight2Marketing
Nobody said founding a business was easy, and there are more challenges now than ever before. Add being a woman to the mix, and society’s preconceptions are just one more hurdle to overcome!
The biggest lesson I’ve learned in the six years since founding The Drink Cabinet is to always believe in yourself, and your motives. Why did you start your business? What values are central to your vision? That’s all you need to start out. The nuts and bolts stuff can, and will, come later.
Success isn’t about faking it until you make it – it’s about believing you will make it, and acquiring the tools to do so along the way. Grow your knowledge, understanding and network as you go. Don’t underestimate the value of connections, whether it’s a mentor, an introduction to the right people, or a favour called in further down the line.
I was encouraged I could do anything, and I like to think I’ve internalised that mindset with our female majority team.. Even now, clients come to us with big ideas and I confidently tell them “no problem”. When I say it, I don’t necessarily know how we’ll make it work – but we always do.
Lauren Stewart, founder & MD of The Drink Cabinet
It's been quite the journey to get to this stage with BARE, it was only recently in an interview with one of my co—founders that I reflected on this. I was reminded for the first time in a long time of how far we had come. With 99% of all startups failing within the first 12 months to have survived and now at the beginning of thriving we are most certainly in the 1%.
Most startup founders would agree that at times creating a company feels like a trial by fire. Every part of you will be tested, the strain boils over into personal relationships. Make sure you have a support network! Surround yourself with those who ground you, who inspire you. The clichés are annoyingly true! “that which doesn’t kill you will make you stronger” Learn from your falls, take constructive criticism gracefully. Rise up from each fall with fresh and open eyes.
Listen with an open mind and heart to your audience and never forget that you are creating this for them. Have a clear vision and do not deviate, it's interesting how much an idea can change from conception through to completion. The initial idea however should remain.
Gillian Myhill, co-founder of BARE Dating
The feeling of ‘I’ve made it’ will never come. Because it’s the journey what fuels me. And there’s no end to this journey I’m so passionate about – touching people’s lives with nutrition education. What I’ve dreamt of about 10 years ago when we started up The Health Sciences Academy is different from my current vision, which keeps evolving. And much of that evolution is fuelled by connecting with our nutrition students and by understanding what their ultimate dream is and how we can best support it through the education we provide. With the masses of health and nutrition misinformation leading to harmful food and eating behaviours, I will never stop working on expanding the reach of The Health Sciences Academy to ensure all working and aspiring nutrition professionals can access accurate information and feel supported to help their own clients and grow their own businesses.
In moments of doubt, I come back to my top three values. Any important decision we make surrounding the courses we develop or the tech we offer is underpinned by what we call the ‘three Ps’. Protect from harm. Practical science. Personalisation. Not only I’ve became clear on these values early on, but I even had them made into wall art behind my working desk – which anyone would see when they’re in a class or call with me. These values are part of our DNA at The Health Sciences Academy, and the team and I would never compromise them to ‘fit better’ or to grow faster. These values are what give our brand longevity and the reason why our students are so loyal and love learning with us.
They say you should ‘fail often and fast’. But it’s also important to know when to quit. While risk-taking, grit, and perseverance are important, I’ve learned that ‘stupid grit’ can set us off-course in a blink of an eye. I’ll admit that a bit of stubbornness to move towards a destination helps, but when I notice that I’m more invested in the fear of failing and driving myself nuts going against the forces of nature, then this is where I may be entering the territory of foolishness, and it’s time to give up, no matter how close to the goal we are, or how much time and resources were spent on this. Like those low-ROI mammoth projects I should have parked sooner, those bold ideas I should have passed on earlier, or those work tasks I should have delegated to someone better suited.
I’ve become the least important person in our company – the most important people are our amazing team and our students. They keep the heart of The Health Sciences Academy beating. Their enthusiasm, loyalty, and dedication are infectious and drive our growth. And thanks to our managing director, Maurice Castelijn, I’ve learned (and eventually accepted) that when you want to get things done, the ‘who’ is more important than the ‘how’. This means that when my perfectionism gets along the way and I find myself instructing others on every aspect of ‘how’ things should be done, then I know I’m delaying our progress and I’m robbing someone skilled from their opportunity to shine. And thanks to that mindset, I’m allowing others to step in, play on their strengths, and get amazing work done – much better and faster.
Alex Ruani, chief science educator at The Health Sciences Academy
Co-founding and launching Plant Based Health Online has been an amazing experience but at the same time taken me completely out of my comfort zone. My main lessons are to surround yourself with positive and like minded people. Those that share your vision and passion will always do their utmost to help you, so remember to just ask. Never doubt your own ability and don’t let fear stop you from achieving. Be adaptable, as the end result may not quite be what you envisaged when you started along the process. Your work will never feel complete, so remember to take time out for yourself and for the people that are important in your life.
Dr Shireen Kassam, co-founder Plant Based Health Online
Co-founding and launching Plant Based Health Online has been a really exciting but challenging journey so far. I have found that networking with other like minded women has been an extremely valuable way of finding support, encouragement and sharing expertise. As a healthcare professional I have not learnt much about business so it has been a steep learning curve. But by focussing on the bigger picture of what we are trying to achieve and not being afraid of pursuing something that feels new, it has been easier to navigate all the ups and downs of creating a new business.
Dr Laura Freeman, co-founder Plant Based Health Online
Building a business is the hardest but the most exhilarating and rewarding thing you will do. You have to learn to enjoy navigating ambiguity because there is little you control. The best advice I can give is to surround yourself with a truly diverse team – from a perspective of culture, generation, education, language, etc. – and to ensure true candour and respect between your people. From my experience this helps create better products, quicker decision making, and a more agile organisation.
Myra Khanna, founder of Sama
I believe the most important foundation for a new entrepreneur would be to have a well thought, processed and solid business plan. The more detailed, the better it is. Take time to consider every aspect of your business plan. Those parameters would be;
- Do you feel excited about the path you have chosen? Is it meaningful to you? Can you imagine yourself doing that business (I mean it, close your eyes and try to imagine in detail yourself in the future doing the business)? Notice how do you feel imagining that? Scan your body, how does it react? Does it feel right and good to you? If the answers are “Yes”, you can proceed to the following items. If the answers are “No”, try to find out what that is about? If you are excited about the startup but have worries, maybe they come from past individual or family traumas being triggered, or your personal issues of inadequacy or unworthiness. Then, you need to work on them with a professional first. Or, if that imagination feels uneasy, not right or tense to you, maybe you need to reconsider a different path.
- Are you skilled enough to do this work? If not enough, the first step would be to develop yourself into the field or collaborate with the professionals of the job and people who can consult you into that journey.
- Think about the detailed financials of the business plan. Do you have enough financial, mental and emotional resources to keep you going for at least one or two years because it might take time to settle down and develop your new business? You need to be patient and able to deal with the unpredictability of the first years. Try not to get into too much debt because then you will be stressed out. You can always develop your business step by step. Taking risk is important and necessary but still, the plans need to be well grounded.
- Consider thoroughly the qualities and your relationship with people you are going to work together or your partner(s). Be sure that you are all sharing the same vision. If you will not be alone into this business, talk in advance with them before even starting every detail of the rules, framework and compromises of the business plan and the relationship. Thus, you will eliminate possible struggles and conflicts that are waiting for you in the future. Conflict is unavoidable but if the communication, harmony and conflict resolution skills between the partners are good, every conflict would even strengthen the relationship.
Şirin Atçeken, MFT and EMDR specialist at WeCure
Being an activist isn’t a job - it’s a life choice. There’s no 9-5, no leaving the office, no time off, no work-life balance. It’s emotional labor. And often held to very high standards. I’ve spent close to 3 decades working on women’s rights - including 20+ years in about 20 different countries, places like Afghanistan, Mali, Haiti, Chad, and so on. I’ve tried to advocate for systems, services, support to respond to - and, ideally, to prevent - violence against women. But have I succeeded? Have I actually stopped violence against women from happening anywhere? Of course not. Even if I had a smaller space - let’s say my apartment building in NYC, and on my floor of about 15 aortments - I still would not be able to do it. I’m fighting the nearly-impossible. (Not entirely impossible, I remind myself, otherwise I could not keep on fighting!)
The work continues, despite setbacks and backlash and regress instead of progress. That’s the thing with being an activist - you simply can’t imagine NOT doing it. It’s what I believe in. It’s my duty. It’s what I love. It’s what I’m good at. And the bottom line is this: it’s because I believe that women deserve better. That’s why I do it.
I wake up every day for this, because I believe that one day one small thing is going to have an impact. And that small thing is going to make a small change. And that small change is going to change the world.
Dr. Lina Abirafeh, the Executive Director of the Arab Institute for Women
It starts with a big dream. You need to have a clear purpose and vision, and stay true to your values. Along the journey, many people will tell you ‘it won’t work’, but you have to listen to your intuition, challenge the status quo and never take no for an answer.
Tenacity and resilience are key. It’s also vital to be surrounded by passionate people who share your values, so you can inspire them to champion your company values. Successful businesses also need clear and specific plans that are well executed. When I set up the London Film Academy with my business partner, Daisy Gili, we had a very clear vision. It enabled us to build solid foundations, which underpinned all business decisions and operations – from structure and people to processes and funding – and ensured we hired the right people to execute it well.
Lastly, never stop learning and developing yourself. You will need to be agile and allow yourself to grow in order to keep adding value to the business. I’ve also made a concerted effort to establish and embed our company culture and day-to-day activities, for both staff and students, which enables me to make more effective decisions for the organisation.
Anna MacDonald, Co-Founder and Joint Principal at London Film Academy
The best advice I can give is to set boundaries to ensure you take care of yourself. When starting a business it’s easy to fall into the trap of working flat out, being available all the time, not prioritising yourself and having advice and information come at you from all angles. Obviously we all want our businesses to thrive but we’re best placed to do that when we’re thriving ourselves. What everyone needs is different so consider what will be best for you, however boundaries around where and when you work, how available you are, what self-care practises you need to implement and what advice you’ll be willing to take on can be really helpful. For example, meditation helps me a lot so I diarised that at the start of my work day. Since it became part of my job it was easier to fit it in and I was less likely to try and fail to squish it in elsewhere. I also got so tired of everyone around me chipping in with unsolicited advice, I decided to set an internal rule that if you’re not my ideal client or an expert in that field, I pay no attention. It gave me some headspace back and helped zone out some noise. Taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do for your business.
Lauren is well as a coach and EFT practitioner, and the founder of Unleashed Coaching
Running a business is not an easy journey, especially if you work full time, with limited funding and resources. Initially, it will feel like a big task to get things smooth sailing, but you can do it! Try to be flexible with your time, put in the work and lay the foundation first. Whilst I don't agree with the burn out culture, you have to be sacrifice time and find what works best for you. Building relationships is crucial, even at the very early stage, you'll be surprised how many of those relationships turn into B2B and B2C or go on to form great partnerships.
I can't stress this enough, if you are not the one making the product or providing the service, then research and learn about your trade or industry. It will help you along the way especially when dealing with suppliers and the logistics. Be inspired and not compare, it's so easy to get discouraged, but honestly, it really takes time. As I mentioned some people have to lay the foundations first in order to see growth and I'm a firm believer this comes with great benefits of longevity.
Lastly, don't forget to have fun in the process. Try not to get bogged down with grinding, stop for a minute to celebrate the smalls wins with friends and family and do something creative that showcases your achievements.
Roniqua Gerald, founder of Soufriere Living
I started my company, imagiLabs, because I wanted to solve tech’s gender imbalance by getting more girls interested in coding. From the very start, I’ve always kept this problem at the heart of everything we do and every decision we make. I find that by being problem-focussed, it’s much easier to stay inspired when faced with the challenges of being an entrepreneur, especially as a female founder in a male-dominated industry. Being aware of the issue that you’re passionate about solving, and asking yourself questions like ‘what can I achieve with the knowledge I’m accumulating?’ and ‘who can I help and what difference can I make?’, acts as a constant reminder of the bigger picture at hand, and keeps you motivated while growing your business.
Dora Palfi is CEO and co-founder of imagiLabs
Female entrepreneurs face a lot of hurdles. There’s a lack of access and exposure to female role models, particularly in STEM, and there’s also a clear disparity in funding for female founded businesses. Through my experience, I’ve learned that you can’t control everything and that the team you surround yourself with will be integral to your success. By finding fantastic people, who are experts in their own area, you give yourself the best chance to succeed. Most importantly – let go of your fear of failure and never give up on your goals. In 2010 I founded Goody Good Stuff – the world's first vegan confectionery product, several years before vegan products became a major consumer trend. I was met with a huge amount of criticism from certain retailers who told me 'no-one cared about vegan'. However, I persevered and managed to develop a network of 30,000 sales points in 33 countries worldwide. I then went on to form several other successful companies, including Nourished, of which I am the founder and CEO, which is now the UK’s highest rated vitamin. When it comes to business always trust your intuition and never doubt yourself. I have often been the only woman in the boardroom, or the lab, but I believe my skills and expertise have always allowed me to prove myself and excel. As females we have it within ourselves to change the status quo – we are strong. I believe it is our responsibility to shed any fear we may hold, go out there, and do it!
Melissa is an award-winning entrepreneur, registered nutritionist, and founder of Nourished
Know your ethos and stick to it, If you believe in what you do and surround yourself with people sharing your values, your business will grow in due time - and you will be proud of it. It really is your company's purpose that will make a difference in the long run. Also, learn to be patient, listen closely, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there.
It's ok to wear your heart on your sleeve, and it was a natural choice at The Spill. We wanted people, and specifically marginalised communities, to be at the core of everything we do; and to be 100% transparent about who we work with. You can have the best business model but if your values or the people at the top don’t do what they preach, you're setting yourself up for failure. In other words, make sure your company structure reflects strong ethics, growth will come in due time. But, if you need to start somewhere, start with core values and a true representation that will guide your business for years to come, the rest will follow.
Jennifer Hakim and Chourouk Gorrab. Founders of The Spill
Trust the process, along the way you will encounter obstacles but use this an opportunity to grow, within that challenge there are true nuggets that will lead to your success. Make sure you have a strong network in place for valuable insight and guidance, you will not have all the answers, learn from other inspiring entrepreneurs. Learn to congratulate yourself for small wins, we often forget to take note of the small accomplishments along the journey. Stay humble and always be respectful you are your best pr, you never know who you will meet on the way to the top there is nothing worse than someone remembering you for all the wrong reasons. Lastly, enjoy the journey remember why your started, we can be so busy grafting, scaling we often forget to bring back the excitement, just like the first time the idea came to mind, don't forget to love what you do and why.
Rene Byrd, R&B/Pop Singer Songwriter
Founding a company had always been a dream of mine. After the birth of my second child, I wondered how it would be possible to return to the corporate world whilst raising two children. I knew I had to make a decision. I started to think of business ideas, and eventually Wild & Stone was born because of a toothbrush I bought for my daughter. I opened a plastic box to get out a plastic toothbrush that would last a month before being thrown away and the cycle repeating.
I decided to design a sustainable, plastic-free toothbrush that I would be proud to have in my home. As a devotee to the Marie Kondo theory, I believe that ‘less is more’, and that the items you do own should be things that you truly like and ‘spark joy’. I’ve never looked back and love running my own company. My friend Sarah joined me and together we set out to help rid the world of unnecessary plastics, whilst inspiring other mothers to strive for better work-life balances.
As a female founder, I've learnt not to be afraid of being a rebel, of bucking the trend, speaking up and not feeling like you must follow a conventional path. If you have passion for what you do every day it will propel you faster and harder in your career.
Kathryn Jonas, founder of Wild & Stone
Find a Mentor if you are not in a position for ongoing mentoring book 1 hour of someone on your top 100 list of mentors or business inspirations. This gave me the opportunity to look outside my current circumstances, network, or remit for opportunities.
Commit to creating an action goals list and work on at 1 goal a day (if you can more) Do you not set your growth plan from a place of your current goals rather your future aspirations.
Katrina Young, founder of Katrina Young Consulting
Don't try to be everything. Find a niche to build a loyal consumer base/ community. (163 words excluding the heading)
When we started Eco-Spotlight, it was tempting to be everything and cater to everyone. But we knew, we wouldn't succeed till we had identified a market gap and developed a niche. It took some time and as soon as we found out what our offering was and what sets us apart - everything started falling in place. This aspect of groundwork is so important no matter what your business offers.
Once you get past this stage, it is going to be way easier to achieve your goals, build a loyal community and always be in line with your brand vision. Go back to the drawing board and ask yourself - what sets my business apart? What does my ideal consumer do? Where do they like to hang out? What do they like doing in their free time? Doing so allows you to have a razor-sharp vision and really invest your energies in the right place. Consumers and a loyal community - both are bound to follow.
Ayushi Shah, co-founder of Eco-Spotlight
You may face many NO’s just don’t accept them as the final answer!
From my personal experience of growing a business, the best advice I would pass forward to any other female entrepreneur is, You may face many NO’s just don’t accept them as the final answer.
As a woman in business, regardless of the industry you are going to face blocks and hurdles that you will have to figure how to navigate and overcome to make your business thrive and this can look like being denied for funding/investment or even being told your business idea isn’t viable. To that I say you have to believe in yourself when no one else does. Doors may close, people or organisations will reject your proposals but that doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t be successful. These are just delay’s not denial and almost always are redirecting you to something bigger and better.
Find yourself a tribe/community within your industry, or a network of other entrepreneurs that can support you when you’re going through those difficult periods. Having people around you who understand what you’re facing and can give you words of encouragement and advice to keep going, makes all the difference.
Now when anyone tells you no or downplays your ideas you can tell them thank you with confidence knowing that you are one step closer to that yes.
Naomi Brooks
Now more than ever women should be heard for what they’ve got to say and the talents they have inside them. They should use their superpower as a woman to help others and most importantly to help themselves. We get to choose who we want to be and what we want to be known for and having your own business gives you that chance to make it happen. Since starting my journey back in 2016 I’ve had more money and more enjoyment in everything I do than ever before. I feel like I am making a real difference to people’s lives and the celebrations and wins for not just myself but my clients are a feeling like nothing else I’ve ever felt before.
- Be a little more you and a lot less them! - Define who you are as a woman and bring that to the table with your brand. There is no mask to be worn here. You don’t need to become something you are not. The most successful business women I know are just owning who they are and rocking it. It’s about working out why you are special and different to everyone else that does what you do and showing that every single day.
- Be Collaborative - Find Your Cheerleaders – Everyone needs cheerleaders around them, supporting them. My first one was my amazing, and fabulously forthright Gran, Betty, who challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and into my potential. She encouraged me to do more and be more, from a total place of love, and this ‘done with love’ encouragement is very much my coaching style with clients. I always put collaboration over competition. Always. And as a champion of women I love the power we can harness when we all come together. We’re unstoppable, right? And if 2020 taught us anything it’s that we need each other - raving cheerleaders who push us, support us, inspire us and are ready to fix each other’s crowns.
- Niche down = sales up! A common misconception when first starting out is to try and appeal to everyone. If you create something that appeals to the masses then surely you will attract more people because you are more diverse, no? Nope! When you think about the type of customer who truly sets your soul on fire and talk to a smaller number of people you have more chance of converting them to paying customers. Don’t go too broad. Understand your customer inside and out and reap the rewards from doing so.
- Vision - Have a vision of where you want your business to be. A big mistake entrepreneurs make is that they launch into the world, logo and website in hand and think that they will by magic get to where they want to be. Be inundated with clients and it just doesn’t work that way. Having a vision of what success will look like for you when you get there and a strategy to get you there is the key to brand success. We can’t brand our business for where we are now. It’s about looking to our future and aiming for that.
Nicki James, personal brand strategist and champion for female entrepreneurs
More female-led success and achievement is creating ever-increasing numbers of role models who are helping to inspire both current and future generations. It’s simple - women who have broken through the glass ceiling are the examples that prove that anything is possible. Yet female business-owners and founders also have a crucial role to play. Being our own bosses means we can ensure gender equality matters. At my own company, Referral Factory, I made the decision that pay scales are the same for every employee, regardless of gender. Also, our tech development team is 50% female and more than 50% of our entire staff are women. Decisions such as these can bring about lasting change.
Kirsty Sharman, founder, Referral Factory
I think it's important for you business to combine two key things; your passion and being able to offer something unique. If you are solving a problem that no-one is and it's truly something you feel passionately about doing, you won't mind the late nights, missed social events and the unwavering persistence you will need to commit to it. Equally, finding your 'why' power is so valuable because when you stumble across hurdles or hardships along the way you'll be able to turn to this why power to motivate and propel you forward. My why power stems from my health journey - I had a hysterectomy aged 30 after doctors found cancer cells on my ovaries - I wanted to ensure my brand supported our customers, via our natural remedies and our ethos to give back, which underpins everything we do.
Rachel is the CEO & founder of wellness brand Our Remedy
From my experience of growing my business for the past four years as well as co-founding a second business last year, my top tip for other aspiring female entrepreneurs is to not to underestimate the power of networking and to do it as much as possible and keep in regular contact with people. The single best thing I did that helped me grow my business was getting out there (virtually or in person) and meeting people, sharing ideas, and mingling.
I have attended lots of zoom events, that I have found by searching on eventbrite or twitter, and more recently I have personally found Clubhouse is excellent for finding and meeting new like-minded or inspirational people, either in your industry or beyond! It gives you (free) access to people and to join in or listen to conversations on a much bigger scale than any other platform.
Along the way a person you have met either personally or professionally might have an impact on your business journey, whether it is recommending you for your services to someone else because through regular contact you have been in their minds, or hiring you themselves because they trust you and your skills and capabilities! This has been a key way I have secured my clients and have really found that endorsement or recommendations from people in common go a long long way!
Since becoming an entrepreneur, launching Halo Business Consulting just over a year ago, we found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic. I experienced the juggle of running a business, trying to be a good parent, home-schooler and a good wife/ daughter / friend and whilst this was overwhelming at times, the crisis actually helped galvanise resilience and resourcefulness.
I admit there were some days where I felt very thinly stretched and wondered if I was actually doing anything well. One of the big focuses that got me through was accepting that I don't have to make a choice between being a good mother and being a successful entrepreneur.
The advice I’d like to share is to wherever possible, carve out specific time for each of your key focuses. When you’re working in your business be truly focused on setting goals, delivering results and working as effectively as possible. Also, ensure you’re working ON your business (building it up) as well as IN it (servicing clients). Equally, when you step into your role as mother/daughter/friend, try to let go of any guilt to enjoy quality time together. Finally, take care of yourself – you can only do all of the above things well when you have made time to do things that bring you joy. For me it’s an early morning bootcamp or paddleboarding session followed by a strong coffee!
Ashleigh Donald, Halo Business Consulting
From your own personal experience of growing a business, what's the best advice that would like to pass forward to fellow female entrepreneurs?
As a founder it’s easy to stay head down, running the business. You might tap yourself on the back every now and then, but you’re immediately into the next challenge.
The world will only know what you’re capable of if you talk about it. You may know you still have a long way to go, but it’s important to acknowledge how far you’ve come. So don’t be too humble. Explain what you’re doing and celebrate success. People want to hear about vision and progress. It can inspire others, bring you fresh ideas and gain you more support. One thing’s for sure: if you don’t communicate, the world will ignore you!
Unfortunately, we live in a world where female entrepreneurs are still an exception. It gives us even more of a mandate to communicate our successes and show the world, and more importantly other women, that it should be the norm. We owe our girls a vision of what a world of equality looks like!
Amandine Le Pape, Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer of Element and Co-founder of Matrix.org
Continuous improvement is at the centre of Prowly’s journey from an idea to a start-up to a company with year over year ARR growth in the triple digits – we were recently acquired by marketing tech giant Semrush.
We obsessively search for and develop improvements to the product, but we also apply that spirit of continuous learning and adaptation to the business itself, which has both enabled and driven our rapid growth. The most challenging aspect of running a start-up is that it is a never-ending race against time, and a steadfast belief in myself, my team, and our product has propelled Prowly forward and through any challenges we faced along the way.
Prioritising continuous improvement is an inherently dynamic approach, and I balance this with one steadfast ideal: trust.
The best way to navigate a situation that requires constant learning and growth is confidence in your own actions and trust in the people around you, ideally by surrounding yourself with people with more expertise than you, which is how I view my relationship with my business partner Sebastian Przyborowski. Sebastian and I have always agreed to only partner with people who share our values of product first and continuous improvement, which fortunately turned out to be the case with Semrush. Building and investing in relationships with partners I trust has been the most important factor in my success.
Joanna Drabent, CEO and co-founder of Prowly
My best advice would be to have faith in yourself. As women, we often doubt ourselves and don’t give ourselves the credit that we deserve. The thing that has held me back the most in the past is the fear of whether I can achieve what I am setting out to achieve. Of course, you will have to work hard and apply yourself but it all starts with the belief that you are enough and you can achieve whatever you want in life. Don’t be afraid to make yourself uncomfortable as this is a fundamental part of the process. It’s only when we step outside of our comfort zones, that we become aware of what we are really capable of. Also, don’t feel that the conditions have to be perfect before you begin. The truth is that the conditions will never be right so the sooner you start, the better. Another piece of advice is don’t be afraid to ask for help. Nobody knows everything and in order for your business to thrive, you need to surround yourself with the right people. Don’t be intimidated by someone who has more knowledge in an area than you do. The better they are, the better for you as it means your business will reap the rewards of their expertise and knowledge. Finally, be sure to have fun along the way.
Lisa Maynard-Atem, Managing Director of The Black United Representation Network
The best advice I can offer to fellow female entrepreneurs is to be prepared to put in the hours. However, it's also just as important to be patient and kind to yourself.
For me, I love the quote "it takes 10 years to become an overnight success". I often think that there is a huge emphasis for your business to be this "overnight success", but this concept is just not realistic in my opinion. At the end of the day, running and starting a business is hard work. As well as this, building a foundation and getting traction takes time.
With this being said, the final word of advice I can offer to my fellow female founders is to simply enjoy the journey - you'll find that the whole process can be incredibly rewarding at times.
Laura Jackson, Co-Founder and "Kernel-in-Chief" of Popcorn Shed
From my experience in working with businesses in the wedding industry, I would say, build your business with people, profit and planet in mind. Whether you are starting out or reviewing an established business, consider how you can make your business sustainable. Develop a set of sustainable objectives that align with your mission and values, and create a realistic plan to achieve them. Integrate them into your marketing and be proud to have taken a positive step to making your business more sustainable.
Embrace sustainability - it doesn't need to be a scary or daunting prospect. Work out what sustainability means for your business, develop a set of sustainable objectives that align with your mission and values, and create a realistic plan to achieve them.
Michelle Myles, founder of the Sustainable Wedding Alliance
Some people love the idea of being an entrepreneur for whatever status / fame / wealth they think it will bring. These people will not make it through the startup journey because they will give up the second they realize how hard it actually is to get from point A to point B. If you love the process of trying to solve problems and learning from your mistakes, then you are going to be more resilient in the face of the many challenges that you will inevitably face as an entrepreneur and come back much faster and stronger if/when you fail.
Beth is Co-Founder of Charm Impact
