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Megan Seagram - Build a Supportive Community
Monica Martinez - Rely on Mentors and Guides
Mili Mishra - Importance of a Support System
Swati Upadhyay - Value of Strong Relationships
Claire Dormand - Value of Supportive People
Nancy McGee - Partnerships and Lifelong Entrepreneurship
Sonia Eterno - Team Building and Adaptability
Sarah Mason - Find a Mentor & Celebrate Success
Elizabeth Dodson - Find Supportive Community
Monica Eaton - Long-Term Planning & Confidence
Build a Supportive Community
Find your community! The early years of entrepreneurship, especially as a young adult, are so hard, and if you don't have a community, it's so isolating. I am so grateful I was able to find several communities of women in my city that were interested in similar things, and all wanted to design a life they loved. I believe in collaboration over competition, and have seen first hand that if we all work together instead of working against each other, we will all go further, faster. I no longer see people as my competition, but as opportunities to learn new things. I am passionate about helping women succeed in growing their business, figuring out pricing that works for them, finding the right connections for things they need, and finding community that uplifts them in the hard times, and I'm so grateful to the women who did and do the same for me.
Megan Seagram, Founder, Seagram's Systems Audiovisual
Rely on Mentors and Guides
The entrepreneur's path can be lonely, but having mentors and experienced guides has been instrumental in guiding you in the right direction.
Monica Martinez, Founder, Neuromedia
Importance of a Support System
Entrepreneurship often comes with moments of solitude and pressure. Make sure you have a solid support system. Having reliable people around you can provide essential encouragement and assistance during difficult moments.
Mili Mishra, Founder, Bumshum
Value of Strong Relationships
Along the way while building your business you may find people (team members, vendors, collaborators etc) who understand exactly what you need, they match your synergies and align with your direction are able to deliver what you need for your business. If you can get along well, share a good laugh and have meaningful conversations with them, hold on to them for as long as you can because the value they add to your personal and professional growth is invaluable.
Swati Upadhyay, Founder, Conçu
Value of Supportive People
Plenty of people will want to give you advice and tell you what you ought to do in all areas of your business. However, the ones who stick around, get their hands dirty to support you and stay actively involved are the most precious people you will meet on your entrepreneurial journey.
Claire Dormand, Founder, LoveWell UK C.I.C.
Partnerships and Lifelong Entrepreneurship
My new business partner is 30 years younger than me. I would suggest that young women consider partnering with older women who will provide their experience and knowledge. I would also say that it is essential to reach out to your peers and to be members of networks where you can share, learn and grow. Furthermore, entrepreneurs are not only young women. I created my business when I was 52 and it is very successful. You can be a woman entrepreneur at any age!
Nancy McGee, Founder, Absolutely Southern France Travels
Team Building and Adaptability
For young women aspiring to become entrepreneurs or those who are already on that path, my advice would be:- Build a diverse team: Starting a business is not a solitary endeavor. It's crucial to assemble a team with diverse backgrounds and skill sets, including expertise in areas such as marketing, sales, analytics, and finance. Having a diverse team can bring different perspectives to the table and enhance problem-solving abilities.- Seek mentorship and guidance: Don't hesitate to reach out to mentors or advisors who can provide valuable insights and guidance based on their own experiences. Mentorship can offer invaluable support, helping you navigate challenges and make informed decisions as you build your entrepreneurial journey.- Embrace failure as part of the learning process: Failure is inevitable in entrepreneurship, but it's essential to view setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. Don't let fear of failure hold you back. Instead, use it as fuel to persevere and innovate.- Prioritize self-care and well-being: Entrepreneurship can be demanding and challenging, both mentally and emotionally. It's essential to prioritize self-care and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Taking care of your well-being ensures you're better equipped to tackle challenges and sustain long-term success.- Stay adaptable and open-minded: The business landscape is constantly evolving, so it's crucial to stay adaptable and open-minded. Be willing to pivot when necessary, embrace change, and continuously seek opportunities for growth and improvement.
Sonia Eterno, Founder, SHUBiDU AG
Find a Mentor & Celebrate Success
Find a mentor! Surround yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs who are a few steps ahead of you in business. If you are the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room. And celebrate every little success along the way! Building a business is hard and scary and will test you - a lot!
Sarah Mason, Founder, Cape Cod Nail Co.
Find Supportive Community
Find the community that will support and help you grow and have the confidence to move forward with your company.
Elizabeth Dodson, Founder, HomeZada
Long-Term Planning & Confidence
Share Your Ideas Boldly
We don’t know what you don’t share. If you’re in the boardroom and have a good idea, don’t keep it to yourself. Share it. Argue for it. Even if it’s completely opposed to someone else’s idea, speak your mind and let the results follow. You entered the boardroom because someone believed in you. Not revealing your most inspired thoughts is unfair to everyone else—and detrimental to your own self-interest.
Because of social constraints and our own insecurities, women are often more reserved in the workplace than our male counterparts. We sometimes stay quiet while others speak up, and our best ideas are not always shared. But in business, you’ve got to toot your own horn. Take a chance. You’ll never hit a home run if you don’t swing your bat.
The difference between entrepreneurial winners and losers is that winners step up to the plate more often. Everyone misses sometimes—even Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg. The most successful entrepreneurs have had their share of spectacular failures, but they always dusted themselves off and found new ideas to champion.
If you have a good swing, take it as often as you can. Swing for the fences.
Have a Career Plan, Not Just a Yearly Goal
Be strategic. The further you can see ahead, the better you can navigate obstacles. If your goal is to be the CEO of your own company, it won’t happen in one year, and not all paths lead to the executive office.
You need a long-term plan. This means you have two jobs: your current one and the role you’re aspiring to. While maintaining your current position, build a long-term plan that positions you for the career of your dreams: publish articles, network extensively, join social groups, attend seminars, take classes, stay current on industry news, and strengthen your resume.
Building your dream career is a full-time job—even when you already have one. With meticulous planning and ample foresight, you might surprise yourself by building something monumental, like launching your own company or stepping into the executive suite.
Be Confident and Avoid Office Politics
It takes strength to believe in yourself, and true character to inspire others. If you want to lead, you must demonstrate leadership skills—and a leader has followers. Avoid office politics and personal conflicts.
Playing “House of Cards” at the office is risky. While building a career is tough, and the fear of being overlooked or demoted is real, short-term wins from office politics are deceptive. People don’t forget. Even if you’ve successfully sidelined a rival, the costs of office politics—distrust, tarnished reputation—often outweigh any immediate gains.
In many environments, forming alliances with some and taking an adversarial stance against others may seem tempting. But alliances in the workplace rarely last long, and the harm to your reputation can linger. Future bosses may be reluctant to trust you; future colleagues might distance themselves; and future investors may shy away.
No business victory is permanent, and the damage from office politics is rarely worth it.
Build Relationships Across All Levels
As an entrepreneur, you’re in the relationship-building business. How you interact with others says a lot about your values. Make a powerful statement: Treat everyone—from executives to entry-level employees—with respect, kindness, and dignity. Always. Even when no one seems to be watching, because someone always is. (Besides, it’s the right thing to do.)
Trust Your Intuition for Personal Safety
Not everything is as it seems. While some illusions are harmless, others are not. If someone’s behavior makes you uncomfortable, don’t ignore the feeling. Trust your intuition—it’s your early warning system.
For instance, if an investor or coworker’s behavior feels inappropriate, your intuition might be picking up on something real. Don’t overreact, but be cautious. If meeting someone one-on-one feels wrong, suggest meeting at the office or at a time when others will be around.
Women face unique risks in the workplace. It’s essential to recognize these risks and navigate them safely, avoiding potentially dangerous situations.
You Can’t Have It All, but You Can Live the Dream
The notion of “having it all” is a myth. But you can still have an amazing life and achieve your dreams. An entrepreneurial career is demanding, requiring total dedication and unrelenting focus. Expect no less. If your goal was to win Wimbledon, you’d train relentlessly, study opponents, and perfect your technique. The world of STEM entrepreneurship is even more competitive—and often more rewarding.
Success demands sacrifices. If you’re a female STEM entrepreneur with ambitions to lead your own startup, you may face difficult choices. You can have a family, but long vacations and relaxed weeknights might be rare. Instead, you’ll often find yourself stretched thin, your body exhausted, and relationships tested.
The sacrifices are significant. Men and women face different trade-offs in balancing career and family, and this can sometimes be more challenging for women. But for those who love what they do, the greater sacrifice would be forsaking their dreams.
If you have a dream and the courage to pursue it, follow it. No, you can’t have it all, but for those who achieve their dreams, the rewards far outweigh the losses. Building a business, prevailing in the market, and creating a legacy of excellence is one of life’s greatest satisfactions. Not a day goes by without gratitude for the entrepreneurial journey.
If you want to change the world, there’s no path quite like being an entrepreneur. But don’t underestimate the magnitude of the sacrifice it requires.
Monica Eaton, Founder, Chargebacks911
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