Let’s talk about women. Indeed, women have strutted a long way. There are plenty woman-driven moments worth celebrat-
ing this year. From opportunities to highlight initiatives to advance in Olympic sports, corporate boardroom, red carpet Oscars, and Congress, women are leaving a stalwart trace of power, closing the year 2018 strong. In Congress, women comprise an impressive record-setting number of 108 held seats in, about 20.2 percent of the 535 members. With 49.6 percent of total world’s population of women, we continue to be the guiding force committed to shining a light on empowering female role models in an effort to inspire more women leaders. So what sparked the powerful force this year? What has changed? We hear the same issues and challenges women have been facing all the time, namely closing the gap, leadership roles, income inequality, and many other social issues just to name a few to fill up our coffee break discussions. More women are embracing new changes and social trends. Women feel more confident and comfortable and are willing to speak up and speak out, letting their voices be heard on issues that matter most to them. More issues than others continue to be notoriously politicized. Hang tight, we will get back to these.
Enough said about what we can do. No doubt we know we can do amazing things. We saw these incredible epic moments and movements when we do band together – including organized major walks in local towns and across the nation – women don’t hold back on some of our greatest opinions. We practice self-awareness, seeking inward to our innate power. With purpose and passion, we know we can achieve great things together. Not to mention we are, after all, the sex that is responsible for bringing the next generation of the human species on this planet. I think women are foolish to pretend they are equal to men; they are far superior and always have been.
Women Continue to Contribute to the Economy The Struggles Are Real
More than 11.6 million firms are owned by women, employing nearly 9 million people, and generating $1.7 trillion in sales as of 2017. The number of women-owned firms in the United States is expected to grow. Women started an average of 1,821 new businesses per day in the U.S. between 2017 and 2018. Although we can gracefully celebrate our many achievements, we are still facing with more challenges ahead. There are more hills to climb. The driving force to the women’s economic success is wom-
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| NAWRB MAGAZINE