When I started out at 19-years-old I tried to dress older and felt a bit of a fraud in that I was so young to have employees and be out getting business.
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!
Tenille Dixon: Girl Friday Services, Inc.
I initially started my business as a means to make money while going back to school for a second degree, but my love to help others and the ability to watch something grow that I was directly responsible for became my focus.
Susan Vernicek: S&J Identity Inc
I used to manipulate faces in photoshop, but it wasn’t until I had to manipulate my face when it struck my anger with how society and media portray the “perfect” woman.
Roxanne Martinez: Roxstar Marketing
“As I recovered from treatment, I decided I wanted to utilize my skills and talent to pursue my dream of being an entrepreneur.”
Luz Garcia-Pennock: Lovely Gal Posh
With faith, savings and courage I decided that as my name is Luz (light in Spanish) I was to live my life following my light and passions to support people to follow theirs.
Erin Baebler: Magnolia Workshop
Once I started my training, it became clear to me that helping other new mothers navigate their changed world was the way to go. I’ve been coaching for 10 years and absolutely love helping moms navigate life with children.
Elizabeth Legere: Alexandria Pet Care, Inc.
Anyone who takes risks, pursues their passions (for business or not), takes time to honestly evaulate what makes them happy and eager to greet each day: those are my role models.
Yvette Garfield: Handstand Kids Goods & Services
Yvette’s experience in children’s rights led her to create the Handstand Kids cookbook series with the intention to introduce children to the world through their own kitchen.
Sharon Starika: Sharon Starika
I was introduced to the Feldenkrais Method 29 years ago after a debilitating accident with a semi-truck. From my remarkable recovery, I found my passion for movement and realized that I wanted to teach others.
Karen Lea Belton: Beautiful Wreaths and Craft Creations
My biggest success is my unwillingness to give up on myself. Each year I embarc on making a way for my business to succeed.
Jody Coughlin: Chic CEO, LLC
I started a small business with no idea what I was doing. Now, I am completely fulfilled in that we get to help women accell every day and champion female entrepreneurship!
Stephanie Burns: Chic CEO, LLC
I was in grad school, getting my MBA while working full time when I realized that if someone had asked me, I couldn’t tell them what the first steps would be to start a business.
Alice Wang & Pegah Ebrahimi: Spark Box Toys
Our “aha” moment came at FAO Schwartz: to create a “Netflix for toys,” and build a global community of shared toys.
Jan Hansen: Jewels by Jan
Friends and family were so impressed and felt that my idea would become popular because beach weddings were just starting to become one of the most unique ways to get married.
Renee Zau: DonationMatch
There are so many companies that would give more if the process were easier, and there are a million events each year in the U.S. looking for them.