{"id":9477,"date":"2017-06-19T09:09:42","date_gmt":"2017-06-19T07:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.invoiceberry.com\/?p=9477"},"modified":"2020-10-14T19:31:51","modified_gmt":"2020-10-14T17:31:51","slug":"business-woman-challenges-examples-opportunities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.invoiceberry.com\/blog\/business-woman-challenges-examples-opportunities\/","title":{"rendered":"Business Woman Challenges, Examples and Opportunities in 2017 & Beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"

Women entrepreneurship is said to be entering its Golden Age<\/a>, which means now is the perfect time to be a business woman.<\/p>\n

In fact, according to the 2016 Kauffman Index of Startup Activity<\/a>, 40 percent of new entrepreneurs in the US are in fact women.<\/p>\n

Global surveys show a similar trend. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey for 2011<\/a> and 2016<\/a> show an increase by 13% of women entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n

That is much higher than male entrepreneurship, which only rose by 5%.<\/p>\n

The trend is showing no signs of stopping, as more and more women work to turn themselves from an employee or mom into a business woman.<\/p>\n

However, while the progress is great, there is still a lot of work to do.<\/p>\n

The 2016 State of Women-Owned Businesses<\/a> showed that less than 28% of women-run businesses made more than $1 million in revenue. It also showed that only 18.6% of companies with at least 500 employees were run by women.<\/p>\n

The barriers largely revolve around equal opportunities for women in funding, as well as good networking and support structures.<\/p>\n

In today’s post, we’ll look at the biggest challenges and opportunities faced by business women in 2017 and beyond.<\/p>\n

We’ll also look at some great business woman examples to emulate, and finally some fantastic resources to help get you started.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Table of Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n

I. Business Woman Challenges<\/a><\/p>\n

II. Successful Women in Business<\/a><\/p>\n

III. Business Woman Funding & Networking Opportunities<\/a><\/p>\n

IV. Business Woman Resources<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n

I. Business Woman Challenges<\/h2>\n

It is true that every single entrepreneur faces various challenges in his or her journey to success. However, for women the challenges can be quite unique.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at the six most difficult challenges faced by the average business woman.<\/p>\n

1. Crushing expectations<\/h3>\n

Although we are living in modern times, and therefore the most progressive time in our human history, the fact is that women still make up a small percentage of CEOs and small business owners.<\/p>\n

In the US, about 29% of business owners are women<\/a>, while in the UK that number is at 17%<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So it may come as no surprise when women go to seminars and conferences and find the population being largely male. In fact, in many instances there can be even only 10% women in the audience.<\/p>\n

This is normally true for women entrepreneurs outside of traditional female businesses\u2014fashion, cosmetics, etc.<\/p>\n

In these situations, the women entrepreneurs find that they have to talk business with male executives. While different for different women, this can be quite difficult sometimes.<\/p>\n

Many women feel the need to adapt to their environment and create a persona related to the stereotypical business male. That persona is normally aggressive, highly competitive and sometimes quite harsh.<\/p>\n

However, if that is not your natural style, it is important to stick to your own style and find your own voice. After all, what people really respect is ideas, not presentation.<\/p>\n

\"It
It can be very difficult for business women to overcome the expectations set for them<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nonetheless, there is still the burden of having to \u201crise above expectations\u201d in the largely male-dominated business space. You may either come off as too docile or too aggressive. However, in reality and in business terms, none of that matters.<\/p>\n

You have a business to run, which requires making a profit. If you use your natural style and it gets results, then that is essentially the most important thing right now.<\/p>\n

Getting through deciding what the expectations are and how to overcome them can be quite a challenge, and is often the #1 challenge for the new business woman.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Real Business Woman Challenges<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Because I am in the fitness industry and female I am often not taken seriously as a professional. I think the number one most important thing that you can do as a woman fighting to pave your own path is to continually stay authentic.<\/p>\n

You started your business for a reason. You started your business because you were confident in your abilities as a woman in your industry and you believed originally that there was a need for your expertise.<\/p>\n

Stay true to that. Be authentic. Be you.<\/p>\n

-Emily Harsh, ACSM CPT,\u00a0Founder & Owner of\u00a0Heart Move Collective<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

2. Securing funding<\/h3>\n

Many small business owners need to find sources for additional funding in their new ventures.\u00a0 This means finding and exciting investors in such a way that they are willing to fund your idea.<\/p>\n

This is a difficult undertaking for any business owner, and for women it can be quite a challenge. In fact, according to Babson College\u2019s 2014 report, less than 3% of venture capital (VC) funded companies were led by women CEOs.<\/p>\n

VCs tend to invest in their own groups or in their own niches\u2014meaning that they will choose to invest something or someone they are familiar with more often than not.<\/p>\n

If the majority of venture capitalists are male (89%)<\/a>, it could hint at the fact they may be more willing to support other male business owners.<\/p>\n

The story for angel investors is better, although not yet at an equal level. In 2014<\/a>, 36% of women-owned businesses sought funding, and 28% of businesses that received funding were run by women.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Real Business Woman Challenges<\/strong><\/h4>\n

As a woman entrepreneur with a focus on helping non-profits and schools, it has been difficult to get investors.<\/p>\n

We have turned this around by pursuing customer acquisition organically and relying on direct revenues instead of investment for growth.<\/p>\n

-Nirupama Mallavarupu, Founder of MobileArq<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

The options for equity or angel funding are more limited for women than men, although this is fortunately changing.<\/p>\n

In fact, there are many new funding options specifically for women that can present lots of great opportunities for the new small business woman.<\/p>\n

We discuss that further down in the Business Woman Opportunities section.<\/p>\n

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<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t \t\t<\/div>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t12 Amazing Online Resources to Boost Your Small Business Finances<\/span><\/a>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEvery small business needs a finance boost. These are the 12 most amazing online resources you can use today to boost your small business finances.<\/span>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tREAD MORE<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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3. Leading men<\/h3>\n

Another difficult challenge for any business woman, especially a business owner, is earning respect and leading male employees.<\/p>\n

Many business women may be younger than their male team members, or there may be other friction that makes it difficult to give them direction.<\/p>\n

In fact, the cause of the friction towards female bosses is a long and murky discussion in and of itself. Nonetheless, the important thing is that for many business women it can be a challenge.<\/p>\n

Your male employees may think<\/p>\n