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· Rachel Kirby - Start Now, Progress Over Perfection
· Emily Wight - Launch and Learn
· Vanessa Ramirez - Overcome Fear and Act
· Jennifer Jeansonne - Act and Learn from Mentors
· Kate Weiser - Start and Learn from Failure
· Kathryn Hepher - "It's Never Too Late to Start"
· Tracy Gopal - Build Strong Partnerships
· Anna Khomenko - Embrace the Journey
· Katherine Weber - Embrace the Risk
· Linda Warner - Take a Chance on Yourself
Start Now, Progress Over Perfection
I would advise anyone thinking about starting a business to stop waiting, and just start. You will never be "ready" for this kind of adventure, and with each day that passes, you're just losing time. Progress is more important that perfection.
Rachel Kirby, Founder, Cocoon Skincare
Launch and Learn
Launch before you are ready! The best advice I received once and I've lived by it ever since, get out there and learn, GO! You never know what is standing in your way until you try and it's so easy to talk yourself out of doing something before you even started. When you launch and go for it you learn right away what works, what doesn't and how to pivot. Being realistic with how much you can accomplish in a day, a week a year. We often think we can complete a mile long list in a short amount of time, I still do this and find myself feeling disappointed when in fact my expectations are way off. Be real with the time you have and how to get the most out of it. Be shameless with asking for advice, meetings, time. You never know if you don't ask and often people are flattered and interested in helping someone who is keen and requesting expect advice. Networking and building relationships helps the whole engine chug along so get out there and meet people, host people, get coffees, pick up the phone. You'll be surprised at how receptive people can be to this! Have FUN! Life is too short to not take a chance! Go for your goals and learn at every stage, being mindful of looking behind to see where you've come from and recalibrating on where you are heading. Build a network to support you and your endeavours and there the skies the limit!
Emily Wight, Founder, Foli
Overcome Fear and Act
Just do it. Sometime we just have to get out of our own way. Our fears or not having all the answers in front of us or having it fully figured out shouldn't stop us from taking the entrepreneurial leap.
Vanessa Ramirez, Founder, Colibri Consulting Group (CCG)
Act and Learn from Mentors
Just go for it! Don't wait until everything is perfectly lined out to get started. Seek out mentors and people who you can learn from and don't be afraid to pivot when you learn something new!
Jennifer Jeansonne, Founder, JAJ Consults
Start and Learn from Failure
You don't have to have it all figured out before you begin. The key is to just start and learn as you go. You will make mistakes, but failure is the best teacher. Don't be scared of it. Go for the gutsy move. Even if you fail, at least you practiced going for the gutsy move.
Kate Weiser, Founder, Kate Weiser Chocolate
"It's Never Too Late to Start"
I'm nominating my Mother, Kathryn, who at the age of 60 left the Corporate World after 33 years to become the founder of Sansorium. She did something many don't do. She was about to retire for the second time and still didn't feel like putting her feet up. Her energy is boundless and there was no way traditional retirement was going to meet her needs or light up her brain in the same way that solving challenges would. I imagine her advice to younger women who want to be entrepreneurs would look like: not being afraid to take the path less traveled. Just because you trained in corporate, worked for someone else for however long, or have never tried selling something, you can always start your entrepreneurship career path. It truly is never too late.
Kathryn Hepher, Founder, Sansorium
Build Strong Partnerships
First, I think entrepreneurship is hard! If you have something you know you want to do now, then it is good to go for it. I suggest getting strong partners, mentors and advisors. Otherwise, I believe that working at companies for a period of time will give critical skills that can be necessary. I am currently using skills I learned after 20+ years in corporate America.
Tracy Gopal, Founder, Third Arrow Strategies and the Japan Board Diversity Network
Embrace the Journey
Jump in. The world of entrepreneurship is all about taking those first steps. Don’t let the fear of inexperience hold you back. Remember, every expert was once a beginner. Start small, learn from each action, and gradually build your expertise. So, to all the young women out there eyeing entrepreneurship, embrace the journey of discovery, experimentation, and growth. Your unique perspective is what will ultimately set you apart and lead you to success.
Anna Khomenko, Founder, Startup Dials
Embrace the Risk
I'm so inspired by young women choosing to take this path. It's incredibly difficult, but equally rewarding. Running a business engages so many different mental capacities -- creativity, emotional regulation, problem solving, interpersonal skills, troubleshooting, logic, investigation and more. It may not be for everyone, but if you have that itch, I say go for it! Decide your risk tolerance, what you can afford to lose in terms of time and money (if you're taking out a loan), and then give it everything you've got. Yes it's a risk, but the old cliche is that the greatest risks offer the greatest rewards. And to me, the freedom, thrill and sense of accomplishment you get from running your own business is an invaluable reward.
Katherine Weber, Founder, Demetre Design
Take a Chance on Yourself
If you have a passion and are ready to work hard, add a little sacrifice for a few years then you will be successful, but it takes commitment, belief in yourself and working hard.
Linda Warner, Founder, Pinnacle Weddings in Charleston
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