My product inspiration occurred in 2004, in the female restroom in my workplace. One day a sign was taped to the mirror, “Ladies: Do not flush tampons down the toilet-we cannot afford the plumbing bills!”
1,000 Stories
More than 1,000 women entrepreneurs from around the world have told us about their personal business journeys. Here are their stories, in their own words. Tell us yours!
Graciela Tiscareño-Sato: Gracefully Global Group, LLC
I decided to market myself as a professional speaker with a book because that’s how you can do this creative work and make interesting revenue numbers.
Rachel L. Thompson: R&M Social Media
I started R&M Social Media because I felt like I was letting my talents go to waste. I got tired of wishing and wanted to start doing!
Sophia Hyder: Evolvemint
I yearned to find happiness through meaningful work, and knew that combining my two favorite passions, international development and fashion, would let me do just that.
Danielle Gletow: One Simple Wish
After a year of fostering and after the placement of our now adopted daughter, we vowed to create a way for more people to support children at such a confusing and vulnerable time in their lives.
Helga Schulte-Schroeer: FIBERARTISTRY
I learned the whole breadth of fibre arts from my grandmother because life on a farm in the 50’s was all about self-sufficiency.
Paola Moretto: CloudyDays
A friend of mine said: “As you talk to investors, don’t say you have kids.” I reflected on that and thought “No thank you. Being a mother is nothing to hide.”
Candace Klein: SoMoLend
My greatest success to date is the fact that I’ve been able to keep two companies alive – and not only that, but companies which actually focus on increasing capital for women and small business owners.
Seema S. Sahin: Modern Mary
For most Muslim women it can be challenging finding styles that express their cultural heritage, American identity, and at the same time being true to their faith.
Jen McCarn: Caring Senior Service
The Navy gave me the confidence that I have used throughout my career to take charge of my own life and not be afraid of change.
Bernadette Doran: Equilibrium Energy + Education
Because this is a vision and a mission, not just a business, it took tremendous personal sacrifice, including virtually every penny I owned, a huge amount of credit card debt, and many, many personal lifestyle adjustments.
Thresette Briggs: Performance 3 LLC
I started my business to ensure I could live my true purpose. I would not have been able to do that working for someone else.
Alison Kilgore: T.E.A.M Medical Billing Solutions LLC
Success does not happen over night you have to work at it each and everyday and you have to believe that you are a success.
Kristen Willis: Kris’s Vintage Clothing
Once I was out of the military I wanted an income of my own that didn’t take me away from my children and after much trail and error I finally opened a shop on Etsy.com.
Jordana Jaffe: Embarkability
I am inspired by people who have paved the way for their success and have been determined to achieve their goals no matter what.