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Visionary Leadership – Women Founders’ Advice - Part 17

Writer: Women Story
Women Story
1 day ago
7 min read

In the Visionary Leadership Series, we feature the insights of 10 women founders who share their lessons on trusting their vision, taking action before feeling ready, embracing change, and leading with purpose. Their experiences highlight that visionary leadership is not about having every answer from the beginning, but about having the courage to take the first step, learn through the journey, adapt to challenges, and create meaningful impact with confidence and authenticity.


Featured Women Founders

  • Angela Ivanova  My advice would be: don’t wait to feel ready — start before you feel

    confident.

  • Lori Werner  If I could share a few lessons with other entrepreneurs, it would start with this: have the courage to fully own your vision.

  • Phyllis Manguluti  Start before you feel ready.

  • Crystal Volpe  One of the most important lessons I have learned is that change is inevitable.

  • Savita Garg  To every aspiring or early-stage woman founder — believe in your vision, even when others don’t fully see it yet.

  • Jessica Adanich  Start before you feel ready.

  • Shweta Deshmukh  Start before you feel ready.

  • Cyndie Marchand  Building a business as a woman founder comes with unique challenges, but also incredible opportunities.

  • Kasturi Jha  Believe that leadership has many forms.

  • Tricia Ong  Start before you feel ready.


Angela Ivanova – My advice would be: don’t wait to feel ready — start before you feel confident.

Founder – LAM'ON

Advice

My advice would be: don’t wait to feel ready — start before you feel confident. Confidence is built through action, not the other way around. Too often, women feel they need to have every answer before taking the first step, when in reality entrepreneurship is about learning as you go.


Surround yourself with people who complement your strengths, ask for help without hesitation, and don’t be afraid to take up space — especially in industries where women are still underrepresented. Your perspective is valuable, and your leadership style doesn’t need to mirror anyone else’s to be effective.


Most importantly, stay connected to your purpose. When your mission is bigger than your fear, it becomes much easier to push through uncertainty and keep moving forward.


Lori Werner – If I could share a few lessons with other entrepreneurs, it would start with this: have the courage to fully own your vision.

Founder – Medical Marketing Whiz

Advice

If I could share a few lessons with other entrepreneurs, it would start with this: have the courage to fully own your vision. There are moments in business where you have to make difficult decisions in order to protect the direction you believe in. Clarity and conviction are more important than comfort.


I also learned that you cannot compete by trying to be bigger than everyone else. You compete by being sharper. Specialization, depth of knowledge, and true expertise will always differentiate you more than size alone. When you know exactly who you are and what you do exceptionally well, the right clients find you.


Finally, build your team with intention. In complex industries especially, skill and standards matter more than speed. Hire carefully, invest in education, and protect the culture you are creating. Sustainable growth is built on strong foundations, not quick wins.


Entrepreneurship will test you, but those tests refine your leadership if you let them.


Phyllis Manguluti – Start before you feel ready.

Founder – Optimus Office Solutions Ltd

Advice

Start before you feel ready. Clarity and confidence come through action. Build competence, not just confidence. Master your craft so you can sit at any table with authority.


Be bold in asking for opportunities. Do not disqualify yourself before others do. When you are trusted with an opportunity, deliver beyond expectation. Excellence builds credibility faster than words.


Be financially disciplined, resilient through rejection, and anchored in purpose. Above all, do not shrink your ambition to fit into any space. Own your vision. Lead with integrity. And remember, the breakthrough often comes after persistence.


Crystal Volpe – One of the most important lessons I have learned is that change is inevitable.

Founder – C & V Income Tax Services

Website: cvtax.ca

Advice

One of the most important lessons I have learned is that change is inevitable. Markets shift, industries evolve, technology advances, and life itself will challenge your plans. Success does not come from resisting change, but from developing the flexibility, courage, and willingness to evolve with it. The ability to adapt — while staying grounded in your values and vision, is one of the greatest strengths an entrepreneur can possess.


I would also encourage women founders to believe in their voice and trust their instincts. You do not need permission to lead, to build, or to dream bigger. Confidence grows through action, not perfection. Start before you feel ready, and learn as you go.


Surround yourself with people who support growth, not limitation. Build relationships, seek mentorship, and never be afraid to ask for help, collaboration is not weakness, it is wisdom. At the same time, develop resilience. Entrepreneurship will test you, stretch you, and sometimes humble you, but those moments are where your greatest growth occurs.


Finally, lead with purpose. Success is not only measured by profit, but by impact,  the lives you touch, the opportunities you create, and the legacy you build. Stay true to who you are, remain open to learning, and never underestimate what you are capable of achieving.


Savita Garg – To every aspiring or early-stage woman founder — believe in your vision, even when others don’t fully see it yet.

Founder – Eclassopedia

Advice

To every aspiring or early-stage woman founder — believe in your vision, even when others don’t fully see it yet. Confidence in your purpose is your strongest foundation.


Start before you feel completely ready. Growth comes through action, not perfection. Embrace challenges as learning opportunities, build a strong support network, and never underestimate the power of consistency and resilience.


Most importantly, don’t limit yourself. Your ideas, leadership, and voice matter. Lead with courage, stay adaptable, and remember that persistence often makes the difference between giving up and building something truly impactful.


Jessica Adanich – Start before you feel ready.

Founder – Sharkapalooza, Inc.

Advice

Start before you feel ready.

Many women wait until everything is perfect — the business plan, the funding, the confidence. But movements begin with courage, not perfection.


Build something that is deeply aligned with your values. When your mission is authentic, it will carry you through the inevitable challenges. Surround yourself with mentors and collaborators who elevate your thinking, and don’t be afraid to lead boldly in rooms where you may be underestimated.


Most importantly, think long-term. Sustainable impact takes time. Consistency, integrity, and clear vision will take you further than short-term recognition.

Your voice, perspective, and leadership are needed — especially in industries and causes that are ready for fresh approaches.


Shweta Deshmukh – Start before you feel ready.

Founder – Dezinebox

Advice

Start before you feel ready. Build expertise, remain curious, and don’t let fear of failure limit your vision.

My advice to women founders:

  • Invest in learning and leadership skills

  • Embrace technology and scalability early

  • Build strong ecosystems, not just businesses

  • Value your work and negotiate confidently


Most importantly, resilience and consistency matter more than speed. Your perspective as a woman entrepreneur is a strength—use it to build meaningful, sustainable impact.


Cyndie Marchand – Building a business as a woman founder comes with unique challenges, but also incredible opportunities.

Founder – Escales Signature

Advice

Building a business as a woman founder comes with unique challenges, but also incredible opportunities. Here are some key pieces of advice drawn from successful women entrepreneurs:


1. Own Your Vision & Voice

Don’t wait for permission—trust your instincts and pursue your ideas with confidence.

Speak up in rooms where you may be the minority; your perspective is valuable.


2. Build a Strong Network

Surround yourself with mentors, peers, and allies who can support and guide you.

Networking isn’t just about opportunity—it’s about resilience and shared learning.


3. Embrace Resilience

Women entrepreneurs often face funding gaps and skepticism. Persistence is essential.

Reframe obstacles as learning experiences that strengthen your leadership.


4. Balance Ambition with Well-Being

Entrepreneurship can be mentally and emotionally demanding. Protect your health and energy.

Set boundaries and prioritize self-care to avoid burnout.


5. Seek Capital Creatively

Women-led businesses are statistically less likely to receive venture funding. Explore alternative financing like angel investors, crowdfunding, or strategic partnerships.


6. Celebrate Diversity & Authenticity

Women entrepreneurs are increasingly diverse, with many businesses led by women of color. Lean into your unique background—it can be a powerful differentiator.


Kasturi Jha – Believe that leadership has many forms.

Founder – Dar Alafkar Marketing L.L.C

Advice

Believe that leadership has many forms. Whether you are building a company, a community, or a home—each role carries power, impact, and dignity. I chose entrepreneurship, but I deeply believe that homemakers and house makers are equally important, shaping futures in ways no balance sheet can measure.


Do not wait for perfect timing—especially after motherhood. Growth doesn’t stop; it transforms. Choose purpose over comparison, progress over perfection, and build at your own pace. Surround yourself with people who respect your boundaries, value your voice, and grow with you.


Most importantly, lead in a way that feels true to you. When women support themselves instead of questioning their worth, they create change—not just for business, but for the next generation.


Tricia Ong – Start before you feel ready.

Founder – Mintrix Virtual Assistants

Advice

Start before you feel ready. Confidence is built through action, not perfection. Stay clear on your purpose, because it will guide you through challenges and tough decisions.


Surround yourself with people who support and challenge you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Most importantly, remember that true leadership isn’t about doing everything alone, it’s about empowering others and growing together.


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