FEMALE FOUNDERS
owned businesses. Investment houses should be thinking more about diversity and creating a benchmark to set new standards in theircommunity. Improve transparency Bias can creep in when there is a lack of transparency and clarity around how investment decisions are made.An improvement here would bring the real issues to the fore so that they can be addressed. Build support Greater support and funding for female founders at all ages and stages of business would be a great step. Particularly, I think more could be done to connect high growth, established female founders with younger businesses and start-ups, to share real stories of entrepreneurship and offer positive encouragement. Challenge bias Some of thebarriers to scaleup for female owned and led businesses are due to unconsciousbias within the business support community. For example women-led businesses are lesslikely to be in supported sectors –and more likely to be in services, the care sector, learning and development. We need to acknowledge this and take steps to change it.
What can female entrepreneurs do? Find role models Seek out women who have successfully grown their
business and learn from them –their successes, mistakesand advice. That could be meeting up with an entrepreneur, or reading about a global business leader whose business you admire. Network Join like-minded support groups. Put you and your businessforward for awards and programmes like the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women programme. It makes such a difference to be able to connect with like-minded women and it also helps to raise your profile. Think big Have confidence and big dreams for your business. Scaling up, building new markets and growing fast is hard work, but if you believe in your business and are
ambitious for its future, share your plans and go for it. Invest in yourself Make time to build your own skills so that you can lead your team to bigger success. The skills that took you from fledgling entrepreneur to MD may not be the same ones you’ll need to lead a fastgrowing scaleup company, so personal growth is important. Mentor others Make sure you take the time to give back to the next generation of female leaders. I always try tomake time for anyone who asks me for business advice, since it has been invaluable to me on my own business journey.
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