Post on 24-Jan-2015
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On Building a Women’s Enterprise Movement:
The Importance of Waves and Tides
Julie R. WeeksPresident & CEO
Womenable
The Three Waves of Women’s Enterprise Development in the US
1. INFORMATION: Dawning Awareness
2. FORMATION: Finding Our Voice
3. TRANSFORMATION: Shaping Our Future Ourselves
Wave II: The Formation of a Women’s Business “Movement”
▲1974: Equal Credit Opportunity Act
▲1975: NAWBO founded
▲1978: President’s Interagency Task Force on Women’s Entrepreneurship
▲1986: White House Conference on Small Business
WBO Act of 1988: The “Big Bang” of Women’s Entrepreneurship
H.R 5050
Building Momentum Takes TimeConsider the Example of US WBCs
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Data courtesy of US SBA
Year
Data, Data, Data
▲Highlight gaps
▲Chart progress
▲Bust myths
▲Tell stories
Messages Matter: The Value of Soundbites
“Women-owned firms are just as financially sound and creditworthy as the average US firm.” ~ NFWBO, Breaking the Boundaries report, 1995
The Importance of “Champions”
▲Early support: a leap of faith
▲Often ephemeral
▲Pack mentality
▲Symbiosis
Succession & Spin-offs
Building the Ecosystem:Many Hands Make Light Work
Public sector policies and programmes
Foundation: Fact-based information to provide knowledge, support action, cement partnerships
Private sector partners: corporations, educators,
civil society
Women business owners & their associations
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead