When you think entrepreneurship do you think male or female? Do you think specifically about an idea...a product? Who was the first female entrepreneur in the US? Who was the first in the world?
To get technical, the word entrepreneurship means, “the activity of setting up a business or businesses, taking financial risks in the hope of profit.” The two words that stand out to me in this definition are “risk” and “hope.” When we start something new, either a business venture or a hobby we take a chance. Will it work out in the end? This is where the hope comes in. Entrepreneurship requires that we have faith in our practices so that they will be successful. I strive everyday to show other women that they have the power within themselves to display successful entrepreneurship.
With this goal of entrepreneurship in mind, we must also recognize the importance of being vulnerable. In this week's Tidbit Tuesday I talked about how vulnerability can benefit entrepreneurship. It can increase collaboration, productivity, and even unite us as a team. Like I say, you need to go to grow and you need to grow to go!
Throughout this post keep in mind the vulnerability that females have to go through when stepping into their entrepreneurship goals. My goal is to support other female entrepreneurs who decided to take the risk, the leap of faith that launches them into their passion and drives them to triumph.
I’m all about learning new things, whether that be through meeting new people, brushing up on history, or even learning a new shortcut on my iPhone-HA. Today, I want to talk to you about some of the powerful entrepreneurs who I’ve learned about. For example, did you know that George Washington is regarded as the United States first entrepreneur? Today, however, I want to shine a light on some female entrepreneurs. Seriously, these women are AMAZING, and I think that all of us can be inspired by their stories.
Madam C.J. Walker (born Sarah Breedlove)
What did she do?
Madam C.J. Walker, also known as Sarah Breedlove, was the black first female millionaire in America at the age of 38! In the early 20th century, she created a line of homemade hair care products for black women. Walker started her entrepreneurship journey because she saw a need in herself, and she knew that other women struggled with the same things that she did. I think we all know how difficult it can be to manage and style our hair. Now, imagine trying to do your hair without products that are specialized to your specific hair type. After experiencing significant hair loss, Walker thought that enough was enough! Her problem solving attitude helped to drive her to create the “Walker System” of haircare. She changed the way that black women care for their hair.
Sarah Blakely
What did she do?
Shapewear; we all use it, but do we all know the story behind the Spanx? Sarah Blakely, the founder of Spanx, became the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world in 2012 at the age of 41! Her company was kickstarted through her door-to-door sales job, where she found herself cutting her panty hoes to create smooth lines under her white uniform pants. While she still had her day job, Blakely spent the nights working on and developing her product. She put in hours researching the best fabrics for her product, as well as trademarks for her brand. Soon enough she turned her at home DIY into a global business that everyone from celebrities to grandmas use. Her sales would soar after Oprah mentioned Spanx on her TV show. Now, you can find her product at every department store.
Ana Flores
What did she do?
#WeAllGrow is a network run by and comprised of Latina’s created by Ana Flores. This is the largest online group for Latina influencers. After working in TV for years, Flores' life changed after the birth of her daughter. When the recession hit hard, Flores became a stay at home mother, and took the time to start her own blog called “Spanglishbaby,” which gave tips to other mothers looking to raise their child bilingual. Flores was inspired to create a space where people like herself could learn how to make money and grow their platform as an influencer. #WeAllGrow encourages women to be unapologetically Latina and to embrace everything about themselves. The platform that Flores created provides resources for women to start their own influencer gigs such as Ebooks, job listings, and workshops. Flores aims to help females unlock their full potential and to provide them with the tools to do so by creating an environment centered on community not competition.
Caitlin Crosby
What did she do?
Have you ever seen those cute little key necklaces that everyone seems to be wearing? Well, you can thank Caitlin Crosby for that! Crosby started the popular, Los Angeles based company called the Giving Keys. Not only does the brand stand for speaking love and positivity to all humans, but she also took it a step further by employing people who are transitioning out of homelessness. They make these beautiful necklaces out of repurposed keys.
Let's get inspired by these women and follow the need that you see in the world. After all, according to Thrive Global, in 2019 women made up for 40% of rising entrepreneurs. We should be supporting female owned business, and leading the next generation of women to greatness. All this requires from us is a little bit of vulnerability and a whole lot of hope!
Quick Links to their platforms!
XOXO,
