Cassandre EHRLE Daddy Doesnt
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Photo: Kirstie Marie
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A Community Born from Experience
When I started my first business, I did what so many entrepreneurs do: I jumped in with determination, resourcefulness, and a firm belief that I could build something meaningful. I grew the business from the ground up—learning as I went, stumbling plenty of times, innovating constantly, and pushing forward even on the days that felt impossibly heavy.
There was pride in every milestone, and a freedom that felt like permission to dream even bigger. But it was also incredibly challenging. And at times, lonely in ways I didn’t expect.
Of course, my experience was far from unique.
Across the United States, women own more than 14 million businesses—nearly 40% of all companies nationwide. Together, we contribute more than $3 trillion to the national economy each year. And yet, despite this enormous impact, the climb remains steep: only 12% of women-owned businesses generate more than $100,000 annually; just 6.2% surpass $250,000; and fewer than 2% ever reach $1,000,000 in annual revenue.
These numbers reveal a truth many women already understand: entrepreneurship offers tremendous
possibilities, but the path is demanding, isolating, and emotionally complex. There is an unspoken expectation to remain strong, composed, and capable, even when the reality is that entrepreneurship is messy and hard.
Having studied business and earned a master’s in marketing, I can say with certainty that no classroom truly prepares you for the experience of building a business while balancing real life, real responsibility, and real uncertainty. And vulnerability? In an environment that celebrates grit, independence, and resilience, vulnerability often feels like weakness— even though it is anything but.
You carry so much as a woman entrepreneur. And far too often, you carry it alone.
Over the years, I met women who were wildly talented, fiercely ambitious, and incredibly hardworking—but they lacked support. They lacked mentorship. They lacked peers who understood their world. They weren’t short on vision or expertise—they were short on connection. This was even more evident among women in the western, equine and agriculture industries, many of whom live in rural communities where access to support and connection is limited from the start.
As I listened to their stories, I began to see my own more clearly. The same lack of support I had felt early on wasn’t a personal failing; it was a common challenge for many entrepreneurs.
While mental health issues such as anxiety, high stress and burnout are commonly associated with entrepreneurship, loneliness and isolation are often overlooked. In a global survey of both men and women business owners, 87.7% reported experiencing at least one mental health concern, with more than half struggling with anxiety and almost a third dealing with burnout. Nearly 27% admitted to feeling persistently disconnected, lacking the support network or peer group they needed—figures that climb even higher in other research, some studies reporting disconnection levels as high as 70%. Entrepreneurs are not only managing businesses, they are carrying a unique emotional load, often without the community or support systems that make the journey more sustainable.
Eventually, it became clear. What I had needed in the early days of starting my business—and still need— mirrored what countless other women needed.
We needed community.
Where Lifestyle and Entrepreneurship Meet
As I searched for a community, I joined several networking groups—many of them specifically for women entrepreneurs. I met some incredible, accomplished, successful women, but something was always missing.
Most of the women in these groups didn’t understand my business or my lifestyle.
If you don’t live or work in the western, equine, or agriculture industries, it can be difficult to grasp t he unique rhythm of this world. Our businesses aren’t only
built in boardrooms—they’re built in barns, arenas, pastures, and pickup trucks. The way we make decisions, structure our days, and push our ventures forward is shaped by animals, land, seasons, and tradition.
In the groups I joined, conversations often felt disconnected. We spoke the same entrepreneurial language, but we came from completely different worlds. I wanted a community where women could relate not only to the challenges of building and running a business, but also to the industry I worked in and the lifestyle behind it.
Over the years, I saw firsthand how transformative the right relationships can be. One honest conversation can prevent costly mistakes. One guiding mentor can redirect the trajectory of a business. One welltimed connection can open doors that may have otherwise taken years to unlock on your own. Yet so many women—including myself—were missing out on these opportunities simply because we didn’t have the right network.
When I began talking to other women whose lives and businesses were also rooted in the western, equine and agriculture industries, I discovered I wasn’t alone. Many felt the same disconnect. We needed something different—something more personal, more relevant, and more aligned with who we are and the values we live by.
A space where we could share not only strategies, but stories. Where vulnerability wasn’t judged, but respected. Where collaboration replaced competition, and support replaced comparison.
That realization became the spark—and ultimately the foundation—of WEST Collective.
WEST Collective—Women Entrepreneurs Standing Together (WEST)
WEST Collective is a community for women entrepreneurs and business owners rooted in the western, equine and agriculture industries.
It is more than a networking group. It’s a space intentionally created for women who value connection that is authentic, relevant and grounded in real life. A place where women are not just seen, but understood, where they can speak openly about challenges, celebrate wins without hesitation, and learn from one another in ways that feel supportive, genuine and energizing.
WEST Collective offers more than inspiration. Members will gain industry insights, practical business advice, mindset support, and, most importantly, a circle of peers who understand the realities of entrepreneurship and the western lifestyle.
In this community, vulnerability is not only welcomed, it will be encouraged. Stories will be shared, wisdom will be exchanged, and together, members will cultivate a community that empowers every woman to stand taller, dream bolder, and pursue her path with unwavering determination.
This community is a vision I held long before I felt confident enough to bring it to life. It’s the community I longed for while I was building my own business— connection with women who understood my work, my challenges, and my passions. A place where ambition and authenticity could coexist.
Today, that vision stands as an invitation: an opportunity for women entrepreneurs in our industries to finally have a space where they can belong, feel understood, and find the support they need while they build the businesses and futures they’ve been pouring their hearts into.
WEST Collective will officially launch in early 2026. For the newest updates and announcements, visit www.westcollective.com and join our mailing list.
Photography by Melissa Baus & Kirstie Marie Photography
Claire Binkowski is the founder of Premier Sires, one of the largest and most successful futurity programs in the show horse industry. Although born in the city, she grew up in the equine industry where she developed a deep respect for western traditions and the values that define them.
Known for her ability to blend tradition with forward-thinking solutions, Claire has introduced innovative ideas that have been adopted by some of the world’s largest equine associations. Drawing on her experience building and leading a business to a level reached by fewer than two percent of female entrepreneurs, she is now focused on connecting and elevating other women who are building and leading businesses across the western, equine and agriculture industries.
