The Challenges Female Entrepreneurs Meet Pursuing Passion

Female Entrepreneurs: The Challenges Women Meet Pursuing Their Passion

Posted 2 years ago by Max Komonov

Female entrepreneurs have been pushing their businesses further for桂several decades. Many of桂the桂historic obstacles which have stood in桂the桂way of桂female entrepreneurs still remain today. At桂the桂same time, today�셲 female entrepreneurs have access to桂resources 껸꾈삣桂opportunities that did not exist two decades ago.

So桂while aspiring female entrepreneurs may still face many challenges, they also have plenty of桂role models 껸꾈삣桂resources to桂help them stay on桂track. If桂you�셱e a桂female entrepreneur looking to桂pursue your passion, you may be桂wondering where to桂begin. Everything from funding to桂branding to桂navigating the桂day-to-day struggles of桂entrepreneurship can seem daunting at桂first.

Here is桂a桂look at桂some of桂the桂unique challenges faced by桂female entrepreneurs, as桂well as桂resources to桂help overcome them.

Common Struggles of桂Female Entrepreneurs

Overcoming unfair social expectations

While many strides have been made to桂reduce unfair social expectations, gendered biases still persist in桂many places. Many professional events 껸꾈삣桂industries can still feel unfriendly toward women, even if桂efforts are being made to桂correct that. For instance, many people in桂business might have a桂bias, either conscious or桂unconscious, against women as桂entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship may be桂seen as桂a桂traditionally male pursuit. This can cause women to桂feel isolated or桂alone at桂professional events or桂when trying to桂establish connections. Female entrepreneurs might also feel they need to桂work harder to桂be桂taken seriously as桂a桂result of桂gender bias.

Many men might simply not be桂used to桂women occupying high-ranking positions in桂business. Even unintentional slights can be桂demoralizing or桂make it桂more difficult for桂female entrepreneurs to桂get ahead.

Regardless of桂what form it桂takes, gender bias 껸꾈삣桂social expectations can often create an桂unfavorable environment for桂female entrepreneurs. Young female entrepreneurs, in桂particular, might struggle with this, as桂their perceived lack of桂experience can also present unfair obstacles.

Accessing funding

Funding can be桂critical at桂any桂stage in桂developing a桂business. Launching a桂startup often requires a桂big injection of桂funds from investors. Expanding a桂business after achieving initial success can also require investor-backed funding. Every business is桂different in桂how it桂attains 껸꾈삣桂spends its funding. But numbers 껸꾈삣桂history suggest that women-owned businesses tend to桂struggle more when it桂comes to桂receiving outside funding.

In桂2022, just went to桂startups with all-female founders. This figure is桂actually a桂decline from 2021桂껸꾈삣桂is桂also smaller than the桂figure for桂female-owned companies with at桂least one male founder. Some of桂these small figures can be桂explained by桂the桂fact that it�셲 simply less common to桂have an桂all-female team. However, even when accounting for桂this fact, it�셲 still clear that female-owned companies receive less access to桂funding on桂average than male-owned companies.

Fortunately, there are many groups 껸꾈삣桂institutions which are seeking to桂address this issue head-on. Over the桂last few years, many groups have launched initiatives aimed at桂creating more funding for桂female entrepreneurs through grants 껸꾈삣桂venture capital investments. However, these funds 껸꾈삣桂resources are still limited, meaning not all female entrepreneurs can access the桂funding they need.

The fear of桂failure

Fear of桂failure can be桂a桂natural roadblock to桂anybody in桂any桂endeavor. But for桂female entrepreneurs, this fear can be桂especially common. Given all of桂the桂other challenges faced by桂female entrepreneurs, setbacks should be桂expected. Being too afraid of桂those setbacks 껸꾈삣桂minor failures can prevent entrepreneurs from reaching their ultimate goals.

But failure should not be桂a桂thing to桂fear for桂female entrepreneurs. Everybody will make mistakes or桂encounter challenging situations when launching a桂business. In桂order to桂achieve success, it�셲 essential to桂learn from those difficulties. Instead of桂fearing failure, it桂should be桂embraced as桂a桂learning opportunity in桂pursuit of桂your goals.

Work-life balance

Finding the桂perfect balance between work 껸꾈삣桂your personal time is桂a桂challenge for桂everyone. For female entrepreneurs, especially those who are mothers, this is桂a桂major challenge. Being an桂entrepreneur often requires a桂substantial time commitment, much greater than a桂typical job. Running your own business requires constant care 껸꾈삣桂attention. On桂the桂one hand, finding the桂time for桂those things seems easier to桂do桂when you are passionate about your business. But this can become a桂problem if桂you start sacrificing your other personal or桂family responsibilities for桂your business.

One of桂the桂most frequently shared pieces of桂advice for桂young female entrepreneurs is桂to桂set firm boundaries. These boundaries should clearly define how much time (and energy) you will allow yourself to桂put into your business. Doing so桂helps to桂ensure that you save plenty of桂time for桂yourself, as桂well as桂your family responsibilities.

Ultimately, being a桂happier 껸꾈삣桂healthier person can help you run your business more successfully anyway. The stress of桂an桂imbalanced life can compromise your attention span or桂decision-making. Striking the桂proper balance between your many roles 껸꾈삣桂responsibilities is桂the桂simplest way to桂avoid this problem.

Lack of桂a桂support system

As桂we桂have already covered, social pressures can make female entrepreneurs in桂some business settings. Closely related to桂this is桂the桂problem that there tend to桂be桂fewer women than men in桂many professional settings. This can make it桂more difficult for桂female entrepreneurs to桂establish strong support systems.

Having a桂good support system is桂often vital to桂an桂entrepreneur. When confronted with new challenges, it桂often pays to桂have somebody you can turn to桂for桂sound advice. Other times, it�셲 simply nice to桂have an桂emotional support system or桂somebody to桂share in桂your success. Entrepreneurship can sometimes feel lonely for桂women, making it桂difficult to桂build those healthy professional relationships.

Thankfully, there are a桂growing number of桂organizations that provide support 껸꾈삣桂networking opportunities for桂female entrepreneurs. Attending conferences 껸꾈삣桂events targeted at桂women in桂business can be桂a桂great opportunity for桂female entrepreneurs to桂build their own support system. Not to桂mention, these events can also be桂tremendous learning opportunities for桂any桂ambitious entrepreneur.

Burnout

Burnout is桂a桂reality that many entrepreneurs underestimate when launching a桂business. No桂matter how passionate you are about what you do, you will experience burnout eventually if桂you work too hard. Female entrepreneurs may be桂especially susceptible to桂burnout due to桂the桂added pressures they face as桂women in桂business. The combination of桂hard work, unfavorable social biases, lack of桂support, 껸꾈삣桂personal pressures can quickly add up.

Having a桂healthy work-life balance is桂one essential component of桂preventing burnout. But other healthy habits can also play a桂vital role. Breaking up桂your days to桂avoid too much stress at桂any桂one time can drastically reduce both short-term 껸꾈삣桂long-term stress. It桂can also be桂beneficial to桂find healthy 껸꾈삣桂relaxing activities, like yoga or桂exercise, to桂help reduce stress.

Life as桂a桂female entrepreneur has many potential stressors. Finding success often requires finding the桂most effective strategies for桂navigating all that stress.

Resources for桂Female Entrepreneurs

Today, women in桂business have access to桂more resources specifically designed to桂accommodate their unique struggles. There are several prominent groups that offer support, resources, 껸꾈삣桂grants for桂female entrepreneurs.

Here is桂a桂brief look at桂just some of桂the桂many resources available for桂female entrepreneurs.

Grants for桂female entrepreneurs

桂�� Awards $10,000桂grants each month to桂selected female entrepreneurs. At桂the桂end of桂each year, the桂Amber Grant also awards a桂$25,000桂grant to桂one of桂that year�셲 monthly grant recipients.
桂�� Formerly the桂혫Dream Big Awards혬, ATSB Awards are hosted by桂the桂U.S. Chamber of桂Commerce. These awards do桂not uniquely target women-owned businesses. However, female entrepreneurs can enter for桂a桂chance to桂win the桂grand prize of桂a桂$25,000桂grant.
桂�� Awards grants of桂$5000桂껸꾈삣桂$10,000桂to桂black female entrepreneurs 껸꾈삣桂business owners. Grant recipients also receive training 껸꾈삣桂guidance for桂fundraising, management, 껸꾈삣桂other relevant topics.

Other resources for桂female entrepreneurs

Support for桂women-owned businesses is桂not limited to桂just funding for桂female entrepreneurs. Many groups 껸꾈삣桂successful entrepreneurs have created resources to桂help new 껸꾈삣桂young female entrepreneurs navigate the桂many challenges they face. These range from networking events to桂training or桂informational materials to桂podcasts 껸꾈삣桂books. There are too many resources for桂female entrepreneurs to桂list here. But here are a桂few of桂the桂groups 껸꾈삣桂resources out there that can help female entrepreneurs succeed.

桂�� As桂the桂name suggests, IFundWomen is桂a桂group that provides funding for桂female entrepreneurs in桂a桂number of桂ways. The group�셲 universal grant program gives members access to桂a桂wide range of桂grant opportunities. But IFundWomen does more than that, also providing coaching 껸꾈삣桂networking opportunities for桂its members.
桂�� NAWBO is桂a桂female entrepreneur association that advocates 껸꾈삣桂provides resources for桂female entrepreneurs nationwide. The organization�셲 wide-ranging mission covers everything from seminars 껸꾈삣桂webinars to桂social 껸꾈삣桂political advocacy.
桂�� Part of桂the桂U.S. Small Business Administration, the桂OWBO�셲 mission is桂to桂혫enable 껸꾈삣桂empower women entrepreneurs through advocacy, outreach, education, 껸꾈삣桂support.혬 Female entrepreneurs seeking any桂type of桂guidance can turn to桂the桂OWBO for桂support.

Additionally, there may be桂many regional or桂community-based groups for桂women business owners. Be桂sure to桂check with your local chambers of桂commerce or桂search your area for桂more resources.

Other resources that female entrepreneurs may find useful include books 껸꾈삣桂podcasts by桂other female entrepreneurs. Some notable female entrepreneur podcasts include:

Work Party with Jaclyn Johnson

Moreover, some of桂the桂best books for桂female entrepreneurs include:

Everything is桂Figureoutable by桂Marie Forleo
Lean In: Women, Work, 껸꾈삣桂the桂Will to桂Lead by桂Sheryl Sandberg
Out of桂the桂Closet: A桂Business Book for桂Women by桂Marnie LeFevre
Talking from 9桂to桂5:桂Women 껸꾈삣桂Men at桂Work by桂Deborah Tannen

Famous Female Entrepreneurs

Having role models to桂aspire to桂can help anyone stay on桂track when pursuing their goals. Thankfully, the桂modern world is桂full of桂many great examples of桂successful 껸꾈삣桂famous female entrepreneurs. Here are some examples of桂successful women in桂business 껸꾈삣桂female entrepreneurs�� quotes about their struggles 껸꾈삣桂successes.

Oprah Winfrey

is桂one of桂the桂most successful entrepreneurs in桂the桂entertainment 껸꾈삣桂media world. And as桂a桂black female entrepreneur, her success is桂an桂inspiration to桂many. Today she is桂a桂household name, having spent over three decades as桂a桂broadcasting icon. Oprah has gone on桂to桂create her own media empire 껸꾈삣桂now has a桂net worth of桂over $2桂billion.

The big secret in桂life is桂that there is桂no桂big secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if桂you�셱e willing to桂work.Oprah Winfrey

Arianna Huffington

founded The Huffington Post in桂2005桂before selling it桂to桂AOL in桂2011桂for桂$315桂million. In桂the桂years since, Huffington has authored many books 껸꾈삣桂launched Thrive Global, a桂science-based health 껸꾈삣桂well-being company. She has been widely recognized by桂many publications, including Time magazine 껸꾈삣桂Forbes, as桂one of桂the桂most influential women 껸꾈삣桂entrepreneurs in桂the桂world.

Fearlessness is桂not the桂absence of桂fear. It�셲 the桂mastery of桂fear. It�셲 about getting up桂one more time than we桂fall down.Arianna Huffington

Sheryl Sandberg

is桂the桂COO of桂Meta Platforms, Inc. (Facebook). She also authored the桂book Lean In 껸꾈삣桂founded LeanIn.org, a桂nonprofit dedicated to桂supporting female entrepreneurs around the桂world. In桂addition to桂being an桂executive at桂one of桂the桂world�셲 largest companies, Sandberg is桂an桂advocate for桂female empowerment 껸꾈삣桂women in桂business.

The more women help one another, the桂more we桂help ourselves. Acting like a桂coalition truly does produce results.Sheryl Sandberg

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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