Article of Interest: Start Noticing Successful Women Entrepreneurs

Successful entrepreneur Dr. Marsha Firestone

I am a big fan of Candida Brush, chair of entrepreneurship and research director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson College.  In the article below she homes in on the single most important thing she notices when she teaches:  the majority of her students are much less aware of successful women entrepreneurs.

She starts the classroom dialog like this:

How would you answer the question: “Name a successful entrepreneur?” Did you say Bill Gates? Mark Zuckerberg? Steve Jobs?  Richard Branson?  Or maybe you said Larry Page or Howard Schultz if you like coffee?

According to Professor Brush, she says it takes about eight names before a woman is named.

What needs to be done to correct the situation?

In order to change perceptions about who is a successful entrepreneur, we have to work a little harder to intentionally include the names of successful women. 

Read the entire article:  Candida Brush: Include More Women as Textbook Examples of Success

Photo Credit: Women Impacting Public Policy - Marsha Firestone, Ph.D., President and Founder of the Women Presidents' Organization

Article of Interest: Inspiring More Young Women in STEM

How do we help more women break through the glass ceiling that holds them back?  Encourage them to start businesses and get young women interested at the outset in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Stephanie Vozza, for Fast Company, talks about how young girls need inspiration to become equal players among the next generation of innovators and technology leaders.

Read:  Introducing The Next Generation of Female Tech Role Models

Photo Credit: gcoldironjr2003

News of Interest: Where WPO Chicago Member Shea Soucie Dines to Make a Statement

WPO Chicago member Shea Soucie (pictured) is co-owner of two Chicago-based companies:  Soucie Horner Ltd., an interior design studio and SHIIR, a fine artisanal rug company.  She says:

“Everything I do is very visual, so where I choose to eat says something about me from a visual standpoint. We are about quality, not volume.”

Click here for where she dines to make a statement.

Report of Interest: Forget the Glass Ceiling: Build Your Business Without One

In Geri Stengel's "Forget the Glass Ceiling: Grow Your Business Without One (PDF file)," 10 women provide practical advice on how to start and grow companies, really BIG companies - all are or have the potential to be $100 million plus companies.

Screenshot above from "Forget the Glass Ceiling:  Grow Your Business Without One"