Programs to teach and facilitate business ownership are springing up around the U.S. in a bid to expand economic opportunity for women leaving prison.
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We've interviewed hundreds of successful women entrepreneurs about their small business journeys and what they learned along the way. Read the stories of inspiring startup founders, mid-stage strivers and established business leaders. Learn from the experiences of women business owners of every age working in every industry, from around the world. Discover the many paths women are taking to build great companies, break through barriers and cultivate economic and social good. Get ready! These everyday role models may well inspire you to start your own business, or give you killer ideas for growing the one you have. You may even feel inspired to share your startup story with us.
A Mother-Daughter Team Brings Opportunity to Formerly Incarcerated Women
Teresa and Laurin Hodge’s nonprofit, Mission: Launch, is helping women return to the workforce after prison — as Teresa, herself, once struggled to do — and to launch their own businesses.
How ‘Orange is the New Black’ Inspired This Luxury T-Shirt Company
At Road Twenty-Two, founded by Iranian immigrant Fif Ghobadian in San Francisco, women who served time in prison get a second chance.
This Woman is Reaching for the Startup Stars
Harleen Kaur is a former NASA engineer and Rolls-Royce executive. But growing her mobile social-networking company, uCiC, has been her biggest challenge yet.
Meet the Women Who Teach Financial Skills to the Homeless
Anita Saville and Kathy Brough formed Budget Buddies to help homeless women lift themselves out of poverty.
To the TSE Community, from the Co-Founders
What a Donald Trump presidency will mean for us.
Speaking to Transgender Customers
A growing number of companies are working to effectively, respectfully engage transgender consumers through ad campaigns and inclusive company policies. Experts explain why — and what it takes to get it right.
Young Entrepreneurs in the Age of Obamacare
We asked young entrepreneurs at a Brooklyn coworking space what access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act has meant for them — and what they’ll do if a Republican-promised repeal means it’s taken away.
Circling Back: Deborah Olivo is a Survivor
The founder and owner of Vida Aire finds the inner strength to keep her business alive through the challenge of severe illness.
A Food Entrepreneur Gets Her Small Business Into Big Box Stores
Mary Molina, founder of Lola Granola, turned her snacks from a homemade delight to a product seen in thousands of stores throughout the United States. How can others succeed the same way?
Circling Back: Kimberly Crupi Dobbins Is Going Big
The founder of Chicago-based Simple Squares is looking to take her healthy snack bars beyond the specialty-food market and out to the masses.
Threading the Needle: Wigs for Cancer Patients
Jamie Wright is helping cancer patients struggling with hair loss by providing them with free wigs — and is honoring her late mother at the same time.
Circling Back: Lyn Lee Navigates a Business’ Ups and Downs
The owner of Awfully Chocolate has navigated a few bumps during her entrepreneurial journey, but her Singapore company is still going strong.
A Toast to the Future
The female entrepreneurs behind Republic Restoratives, a distillery in Washington, D.C., are hopeful that equity crowdfunding will help them expand their venture.
Circling Back: ‘Pivot’ is Felena Hanson’s Favorite Word
The San Diego entrepreneur says her company, Hera Hub, will touch 20,000 women entrepreneurs — just not the way she originally planned.