Bryant - Phenomenal Female Entrepreneurs

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Bryant, Jill, author
Phenomenal female entrepreneurs / Jill Bryant.

(Womens hall of fame series)
Issued in print and electronic formats.
ISBN 978-1-927583-12-8 (pbk.) ISBN 978-1-927583-13-5 (epub)

1. BusinesswomenBiographyJuvenile literature. 2. Women executivesBiographyJuvenile literature. 3.EntrepreneurshipJuvenile literature. I. Title. II. Series: Womens hall of fame series

HD6054.3.B79 2013 j338.09252 C2013-903875-2
C2013-903876-0

Copyright 2013 by Jill Bryant

Editor: Kathryn White
Designer: Melissa Kaita
Cover photos and icons iStockphoto

Second Story Press gratefully acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts for our publishing program. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund.

Published by
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street, Suite 401
Toronto, ON
M5V 2M5
www.secondstorypress.ca

For Zo, Mari, and Rhea believe in your crazy ideas

Contents

E ntrepreneurs are vital to society. They create companies, foster relationships, develop skills, and lead teams. The companies and projects they start enrich peoples lives and provide much-needed jobs. Their profits help improve the wealth, or economy, of a region. Companies built by entrepreneurs produce all kinds of products and services that people need or think they need. Some entrepreneurs also strive to make the world a better place. They give back to the community in deeply meaningful ways.

As leaders in business, entrepreneurs can influence people and bring about positive change. For example, some of the entrepreneurs profiled in this book have spoken out for civil rights. Others have defied stereotypes, sparked social change, and improved peoples health and sense of well-being and the list goes on. To be sure, many entrepreneurs are motivated to do much more than make money.

Born in the late 1800s, self-made millionaire Madam C.J. Walker and retail president Dorothy Shaver were trailblazers in their contributions to women in business. Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, and high-finance expert Naina Lal Kidwai were also ahead of their time, showing they could build profitable businesses based on honesty, trust, fairness, responsibility, and respect. The next wave of women entrepreneurs, now in their 30s and 40s, has gained strength in numbers (hurray!) numbers that are climbing higher and faster than ever before. Sheryl Sandberg, Sue Chen, Susan Mashibe, Nicole Robertson, Kelsey Ramsden, and Jodi Glover are excellent examples, and there are many others. In spite of the fact that momentum is finally growing, and more women are attaining top-tier roles, there is still a gap. The fact is, women do make excellent entrepreneurs and business leaders. Its time to fix the imbalance. Be bold, be confident, work hard, and make your special vision come to life.

Head-Scratcher Stats

In Canada, the number of self-employed women is on the rise, and remarkably, four out of five new businesses are led by women. But while women have owned nearly half of all the small- and mid-sized businesses for the past five years, only 17 percent hold high-level corporate positions. In the United States, women own less that 30 percent of all businesses and make up just 15 percent of the top-tier jobs. On the other hand, women are very well-educated, earning about 60 percent of the bachelors and masters degrees. In the world at large, this same, strange pattern of inequality persists. Whats going on? The trend is puzzling, for sure.

Most entrepreneurs are ideas people. They excel at brainstorming and are keen to pursue their sometimes wild, often crazy, ideas. They arent afraid to try something new and take a risk. Entrepreneurs learn from their mistakes and keep moving forward. They are passionate about their careers and work hard to see their dreams take flight. They are well-organized and they are good planners, but they arent afraid of scrapping yesterdays plan and pursuing a new vision, if necessary. They are adept at sidestepping to move with changes in the marketplace. In addition, entrepreneurs tend to view problems as positives, tackling them expertly and creatively. They rarely let problems drag them down. Instead, they take pleasure in finding effective solutions that make their businesses stand apart from the competition and grow.

Social Entrepreneur

This is a highly motivated business owner who wants to improve an aspect of society or the environment. These individuals are committed to making the world a better place through their business. Save the planet!

The ten women youll read about in this book possess remarkable traits that have helped them succeed and gain recognition for their achievements in business. These female entrepreneurs also share some key experiences:

At least two entrepreneurs Kelsey Ramsden and Jodi Glover were enterprising as kids.

As high school students, Dorothy Shaver, Naina Lal Kidwai, Nicole Robertson, Kelsey Ramsden, and Jodi Glover loved team sports.

In their graduating classes, Naina Lal Kidwai, Sue Chen, and Sheryl Sandberg were top students and involved in student politics.

Three of the women Sheryl Sandberg, Sue Chen, and Kelsey Ramsden swear theres no such thing as work-life balance. Instead, its a matter of focusing on the tasks that are most urgent at any given moment.

8 Winning Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs

• Independent: I like my own ideas
• Ambitious: I will make my dream come true
• Determined: I think I can, I know I can
• Hard-Working: I like to work hard
• Passionate: I love what I do!
• Self-Confident: I can do it!
• Strong Leader: I can build a motivated team
• Adaptable: I can try again

Seven out of the ten female entrepreneurs are mothers. Kelsey Ramsden and Jodi Glover both in their 30s took only two or three days off work when their babies were born.

Naina Lal Kidwai, Sheryl Sandberg, and Kelsey Ramsden faced situations on the job in which they were the only women and had to sort out fundamental basics, like where the womens washroom was. Sometimes their male colleagues didnt know.

Many people thought Susan Mashibe, Sue Chen, and Jodi Glover would close up shop after a short time in business. Instead, they went on to succeed.

Learn from these phenomenal entrepreneurs and then develop your own vision. Whatever you strive for, stay true to your passion. And, last but not least: have fun with whatever you choose to pursue.

The Business of Respect

Madam C.J.Walker

A hush falls over the crowd. The fundraising campaign officially begins today Monday, October 23, 1910. Yesterday, two white businessmen made generous gifts. Now, the African American community wants to prove they can help, too. The funds will be used to build a new YMCA, where young African American men can sleep comfortably and enjoy hot meals. But in this time of racial inequality, most black workers earn meager incomes. Still, the energetic crowd of African Americans gathered today feels duty-bound to play their part. They will give what they can.