Through our work as market growers, we recognized that there was a lack of tools that worked well for women. As public health professionals, we also recognized that this could impact the health and safety of women…
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!
Ruth Degolia: Mercado Global
I believe that denying a woman the right to attend school anywhere in the world affects us all. Telling a young girl that she isn’t worth educating is an injustice against all women.
Anuradha Ganesh: Anu’s Bamboo Hut
At the age of 43 I decided that I did not want to continue working in the corporate world. I wanted to start my own business and to be my own boss.
Claire Bennett: Music Bugs
Success can be measured in many different ways but for me the personal fulfillment of creating something that has had a positive effect on other peoples lives is something that I am proud of.
Mary Mitchell: Made & Told
We sell handcrafted homeware made by artisans and craft cooperatives in Central Asia, alongside stories from the cultures and contexts in which they were made. We sell handcrafted homeware with a story.
Rashmi Gowda: Csquare Learnings Pvt Ltd
I was ridiculed by many around me when I have decided to venture into the infrastructure sector with no previous experience. Apparently, the infrastructure business is male dominated field and a woman has no place in it.
Rekha Gopal: Padmajyothi Industries
After serving many years in one of the public sector industries in India, I realized that there was a potential in me, like many other women, to make a mark.
Maya Rowencak: Maya’s Hope Foundation
In 2007, I lost my mom unexpectedly…I hated myself for being ungrateful and taking her for granted, because I later realized how much she loved me.
Dawn Berryman: Market Mommy
Market Mommy was established so that I could use my marketing expertise to help mom small business owners better market themselves.
Katie Hustead: Paper Moon Moves
I have always loved seniors and have volunteered with them for years, so I searched for a viable business that would allow me to help seniors.
Kanchana Banerjee: Writeword
Seeing so many professionally qualified women who give up on their jobs for domestic reasons; I thought why not teach them how to write and help them get started as freelance writers.
Kathy Hobbs: Virtuous Woman Lifestyle
I remembered how much my mom loved to smell “nice”, and so I crafted a fragrance that would exemplify her spirit, character, and courage.
Cristina Antochi: Team 2 Clean
I left home at the age of 19 in pursuit of a better life. Now in my 20s, I have my own successful business, with 23 teams of 2 working with me, having around 600 clients and going forward.
Donna Peel, Sheila Pont, & Heena Musabji: Pro Bono Network (Legal)
There is a critical need for legal services by the poor, a shortage of attorneys to serve them, yet there are interested, available, and experienced attorneys at home raising children…
Jackie Covas: Dance Dot
I was working as a professional dancer and finding a place to practice my tap dance routines while touring was nearly impossible. So, I created a portable tap dance board that I could easily take on the road with me.