What Women Entrepreneurs Can Do to be More Successful

Kerry Hannon, contributor for Forbes, interviews Carla Harris (pictured), chair of the National Women’s Business Council (NWBC), a 30-year-old, nonpartisan federal group that serves as an independent source of advice and counsel to the President, Congress and the U.S. Small Business Administration on economic issues of importance to women business owners.

One key question:  What can women entrepreneurs do to be more successful?  Harris says:

Women entrepreneurs should leverage the resources already in place, as there are a plethora of supports across the country specific to women business owners. In a thriving ecosystem, there are in-person and virtual incubators and accelerators, SBA resource partners such as SCORE, Women Business Centers and Small Business Development Centers, as well as online educational resources that provide powerful knowledge throughout the business lifecycle.

And of course the Women Presidents' Organization powers prosperity for women business owners too.

Read the entire interview here.

Share of Women-Owned Businesses Has Climbed

Fresh government data show the share of women-owned firms has climbed, even though the growth rate of all new businesses remains stalled.

According to preliminary U.S. Census Bureau data released last week, the total number of U.S. firms edged up 2% to 27.6 million between 2007 and 2012, but the number of women-owned firms grew much faster, rising 27% during that time.

Read more:  Women Make Strides in Business

Screenshot of Carla Harris, chair of the National Women’s Business Council, courtesy:  WSJ