Debugging the Gender Gap

GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving is trying to distance the company from sexist ads.  In order to do so, Irving is acting as an executive producer of “CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap,” a feature-length documentary looking at the reasons why more women and minorities aren’t going into tech.  The film, which is directed and produced by Robin Hauser Reynolds, is slated to premier at New York’s Tribeca Film Festival on April 19.

Will this work?  What would society gain from having more women and minorities code?  Learn more here.

Screenshot courtesy:  Code documentary

Have a Business You Are Passionate About

One of the keys to achieving success with a business is to have a business you are passionate about.  Other drivers for success include but are not limited to:  Know your business (serve as an expert in your field), don't let uninformed people talk you out of launching a creative idea that you have prepared for in earnest, and don't second guess yourself and wait until everything is perfect before you launch -- just do it!

Learn more:  Female entrepreneurs should follow their passions

Photo credit:  Lynn

March is Women's History Month

Celebrating the contributions of women to the business world and beyond.

While you celebrate, take a tour of Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation's great research -- from gender stereotypes of entrepreneurship to why the lack of women leaders is a problem for businesses -- and discover:

New networks and better access to capital can help women entrepreneurs overcome the barriers they have encountered along their entrepreneurial path.

Read:  Women in Entrepreneurship | Kauffman.org

Explore:  Women's History Month 2015

Screenshot courtesy of:  Women's History Month 2015

8 Success Drivers To Thrive in Export Markets

What do you need to succeed in the export game?  As the Nextrade Group, LLC states:  "Empirically, two companies of the same size, sector, and age can have dramatically different odds of success in the global marketplace."

Below you will find the Nextrade Group's summary analysis highlighting three key assets and five critical capabilities that set successful SME exporters apart.  Discover if you fall into any of these categories.

Download:  8 success drivers companies need to thrive in export markets

Screenshot:  Nextrade Group, LLC

American Express Global Payments Becomes Corporate Sponsor for 2015 WPO Fifty Fastest Growing Women-Led/Owned Companies

According to the news release (2/25/15):

The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) has today announced American Express Global Corporate Payments as the exclusive corporate sponsor of WPO's eighth annual Fifty Fastest Growing Women-Led/Owned Companies™ ranking. Based on a strong legacy of supporting and advocating for women business owners, American Express will tap into the insight, experience and expertise of the Fifty Fastest Growing Women-Led/Owned Companies globally. To create content focused on business expansion, American Express and the WPO will be collaborating on a new guide for growth: The Fast Growth Handbook, which will detail strategies for success of 50 Fastest honorees to help propel women business owners through their growth journey. - Source:  American Express Global Payments To Be Corporate Sponsor for 2015 WPO Fifty Fastest Growing Women-Led/Owned Companies

We are honored and excited that American Express Global Corporate Payments has chosen to become an exclusive sponsor on this important initiative.

Screenshot courtesy:  American Express Global Payments

International Women's Day: Let's Celebrate Our Achievements

International Women's Day Theme for 2015!

International Women's Day, March 8th, represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women all around the world while calling for greater equality.

The theme this year is Make It Happen (#MakeItHappen) -- encouraging effective action for advancing and recognizing women.

Go here to learn more and get involved.

Screenshot courtesy:  International Women's Day theme for 2015

Be Clear About What You Have To Do

While running your business, do you ever feel as if some days you accomplish nothing?  You're not alone.  Many business owners struggle to manage their time effectively.  The article below outlines five ways to take back your time - one example being "prioritize like it's the day before a vacation."

5 Ways To Finally Stop Wasting Your Time

Photo Credit: slack12 

How to Conquer Your Biggest Roadblocks

Whether it’s breaking the glass ceiling, building a multimillion dollar business or battling stereotypes, no one’s denying women have come a long way. But we still have a long way to go.  Below eight successful women entrepreneurs share how they take down the roadblocks that get in their way.

8 Women Entrepreneurs Share How They Conquered Their Biggest Roadblocks

Photo Credit: Vaughan

Get Outside Your Comfort Zone: Join WPO

Sharon Birkman Fink, President and CEO of Birkman International, discusses the Women Presidents' Organization.

A Dose of Inspiration on Women Entrepreneurs Who Make a Difference in Our World

St. Louis-based Prosper helps women entrepreneurs start their businesses there.

Hundreds of women from around the world applied for a $50,000 investment from Prosper, but Tuesday [1/20/15], six women-owned businesses were awarded the money to help them expand.

The six women who received the money run companies from tracking your dog to helping kids and adults with seizures.  These awardees are all potential WPO members.

Read:  Investment helps women entrepreneurs prosper

Photo Credit: Destinys Agent

Marsha Firestone Talks About the Art of the Pivot

Women Presidents' Organization Founder and President Dr. Marsha Firestone provides advice on how you can be a successful, multi-million dollar earning entrepreneur. Here are her five tips with one being:

Know when to let go: The “art of the pivot” is important for all entrepreneurs. Knowing when to acknowledge a failed idea is key to staying afloat. Keep in mind that it’s OK to admit failure and move forward. It will make your business stronger in the end.

5 Tips on How to Be a Successful Entrepreneur

Photo Credit: brookealbrechtstudio

Women Business Leaders Share Wisdom

Women business owners who are members of the Las Vegas chapter of Women Presidents’ Organization love to share the reasons why they are members of WPO (refer below).  But first, the President and Founder of WPO says:

“Just because you’re running a business that’s generating at least $1 million, you still need education,” said [Marsha] Firestone, who continues as president of the national group, which has 120 chapters on six continents. “There’s just as much need for business education in a business that has grown to a multimillion-dollar level as there is in a business that’s in the startup phase.”

The Chapter Chair for the Las Vegas chapter, Shelia McKay, says members meet for three hours once a month for 12 months and learn from one another’s experiences in a peer learning environment.

“Each meeting, we present an issue having to do with what’s going on in the member’s individual businesses,” she said. “The agenda for the year is decided by the members to meet their needs at the time and stay current.”

Read more:  Group lets women business leaders share wisdom 

Photo Credit: FOXTROT|ROMEO 

New Year, New Support For Small Businesses

Small business owners may get more support from Washington in 2015 in the following areas:

• Tax assistance
• Lending help
• Healthcare rollback

Read the entire article:  New year may bring more help for small businesses.

Photo Credit: jenschmen

Joy to Your World in 2015

©2014 Laurel J, Delaney.  All rights reserved

Make every day the best

day of your life in 2015.  

Video of Interest: Joselyn DiPetta, Present Possibility and Her TEDx Talk

Joselyn DiPetta, as featured in the video, specializes in the development and delivery of curricula and trainings that shape attitudes, effect behavior change, and cause transformative impacts within organizations and communities all over the world.  Joselyn conducted a great workshop for WPO Chicago III chapter this year. We are very proud of her, and the work she is doing to make the world a level playing field for both men and women. Watch the video to discover more and share with the world.

To learn more about Joselyn's work and to contact her, visit:  Present Possibility (http://www.presentpossibility.com)

Article of Interest: Be Ready to Hire More Staff

As 2015 comes rolling in, do you have enough staff to prepare for future growth?  There is a general consensus that 2015 will be a good year for business.  Now is as good a time as any to assess what's happening at your business and determine whether you need to hire a few good people to get client projects done.

Business leaders need to weigh the decision of hiring very carefully, though. Right now, it may be better for your business to bring new workers in on an evaluation hire, allowing you to see if they are fit for the team before hiring them permanently.

If the timing is right, go for it.  Hire fresh new talent.  You want to be poised for success in 2015!

Read more:  Be ready to hire more staff

Photo Credit: le temple du chemisier

Article of Interest: Do Women-Run Businesses Make More Money?

A global survey from French bank BNP Paribas and consultancy firm Scorpio Partnership found that women might not own as many businesses as men do. But it seems that their businesses tend to be more successful.  Further, U.S. Businesses run by men are 3.5 times more likely to cross the $1 million threshold then businesses run by women, a 2014 study (PDF) by Ernst & Young concluded.

Read the entire article:  Women-Run Businesses Make More Money -- Or Do They?

Screenshot courtesy:  The Scale-up Agenda - Ernst & Young

News of Interest: Women-Led Companies Confident and Thriving

According to a new study by our very own non-profit, peer advisory group, the Women Presidents’ Organization (WPO), companies led by women are highly confident in the economy, and the positions of their businesses.  The results show that they’re performing well, even outpacing the U.S. national average.  The 2014 Business Outlook Survey was sponsored by KeyBank’s Key4Women program.

Read the entire article:  Women-Led Companies Confident & Thriving, But Need Access to Capital

Photo Credit: ttnk 

Article of Interest: What Are the Reasons For Gender Disparity?

Is there a gap between what men make versus what women make when running a business?  According to a 2014 report by Ernst & Young, there sure is.

Male-run businesses are 3.5 times more likely to surpass $1 million in sales than their female-run counterparts and only 2% of women-owned companies ever break the million-dollar mark, according to a 2014 report by Ernst & Young. "Women start businesses at nearly twice the rate of men, but far fewer of them actually scale," says Kerrie MacPherson, a partner principal at Ernst & Young.

What are the reasons for gender disparity?

Read:  Why More Women-Run Businesses Aren't Making Millions

Screenshot courtesy:  EY

Video of Interest: What is the Women Presidents' Organization?

In this video, learn about the Women Presidents' Organization, the WPO Annual Conference and top women-owned businesses in the world.