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Visionary Leadership – Women Founders’ Advice - Part 24
In the Business Strategy and Execution Series, we feature the insights of 10 women founders who share lessons on starting before you feel fully ready, building credibility through results, and staying adaptable as your business grows. Their advice also highlights financial discipline, understanding customers, building strong systems and networks, learning through action and feedback, and creating sustainable businesses with purpose and authenticity.
Featured Women Founders
Jess Koscher Stop waiting for permission.
Prity Roy My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is to start before you feel completely ready.
Sarah Miller My biggest advice to women entrepreneurs is to trust your vision early, even before everyone else understands it.
Lindel Barnard Start before you feel fully ready.
Dr Nadine CATHERINE Believe in your vision, even when others do not fully understand it yet.
Megan Davies My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is to start before you feel completely ready.
Robbin Jorgensen Stop waiting for permission to lead boldly.
Suzy Betz Lead with purpose and never underestimate the value of relationships.
Rekha Start before you feel fully ready.
Isabel Mandofa My advice to women who aspire to become entrepreneurs is to believe in their vision, remain resilient, and never be afraid to start small.
Jess Koscher – Stop waiting for permission.
Company– Write Connections | strategy + design, LLC.
Website: makethewriteconnections.com
Advice
Stop waiting for permission.
Too many women spend years trying to prove they are “ready” before they fully step into leadership, raise their rates, speak up, launch the business, or take the opportunity sitting in front of them. Meanwhile, less qualified people move forward simply because they decided they belonged in the room.
My advice is to trust the value of your experience, even if your path has not looked traditional. Leadership is not about fitting a mold. Some of the strongest skills I brought into entrepreneurship came from navigating hard situations, building relationships, solving problems, and learning how to adapt when things did not go according to plan.
I would also encourage women founders to focus on building genuine relationships instead of chasing constant visibility. Most of the biggest opportunities in my career came through trust, reputation, and long-term connections—not cold pitches or perfect marketing.
Finally, understand that growth often requires letting go of survival thinking. In the early stages, you say yes to everything because you are trying to build momentum and stability. But long-term success comes from becoming more intentional about where you spend your time, who you work with, and the kind of impact you want to make.
Build something that reflects who you are—not just what you think the market expects you to be.
Prity Roy – My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is to start before you feel completely ready.
Company– Nervana
Website: https://wearenervana.com/
Advice
My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is to start before you feel completely ready. Many women spend too much time waiting for perfection, validation, or the “right moment,” but growth truly happens through experience, consistency, and taking action despite uncertainty.
Believe in your vision even when others do not fully understand it in the beginning. Some of the most impactful ideas are the ones that challenge traditional thinking. As women founders, we often face self-doubt, societal pressure, and limited access to opportunities, but resilience and adaptability become our greatest strengths.
I also believe it is important to build with purpose, not just trends. Focus on creating solutions that genuinely solve problems and create meaningful impact. Long-term success comes from authenticity, trust, and the ability to connect with people on a deeper level.
Networking and collaboration are equally important. Surround yourself with mentors, communities, and people who inspire growth rather than competition. Every experience, whether success or failure, teaches valuable lessons that contribute to leadership and personal development.
Most importantly, protect your mental and emotional well-being throughout the journey. Entrepreneurship can be demanding, and burnout is real. Taking care of yourself is not a weakness. It is necessary for sustainable leadership, creativity, and long-term success.
As women entrepreneurs, we are not only building businesses. We are creating opportunities, representation, innovation, and inspiration for future generations of women to dream bigger and lead fearlessly.
Sarah Miller – My biggest advice to women entrepreneurs is to trust your vision early, even before everyone else understands it.
Company– EthoSun
Website: www.ethosun.com
Advice
My biggest advice to women entrepreneurs is to trust your vision early, even before everyone else understands it. Many of the most successful companies are built by founders who were willing to move forward before they had complete certainty, perfect timing, or full validation from others.
Do not underestimate the importance of resilience. Entrepreneurship is not linear. There will be setbacks, difficult conversations, financial pressure, operational challenges, and moments where things do not go according to plan. What matters most is your ability to adapt, stay focused, and continue moving forward with clarity and conviction.
I would also encourage women founders to build strong relationships and networks early. Surround yourself with people who genuinely support your growth, challenge you constructively, and bring expertise you may not yet have. Mentorship, partnerships, and strategic relationships can accelerate opportunities in ways that hard work alone sometimes cannot.
Another important lesson is to know your value and protect it. Women often undervalue their expertise, time, and leadership. Be confident in your pricing, your vision, your ideas, and your seat at the table. Learn the business side of your industry just as deeply as the creative or product side. Understanding operations, finance, contracts, and strategy gives you power and long term stability as a founder.
Most importantly, build something authentic and purpose driven. Consumers and investors are increasingly drawn to brands and companies with genuine stories, strong values, and meaningful missions. When your business is aligned with purpose, it creates a level of passion and perseverance that helps carry you through the inevitable challenges of entrepreneurship.
Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about continuing to learn, evolve, and lead with integrity while staying committed to the vision you set out to create.
Lindel Barnard – Start before you feel fully ready.
Company– Equisure Insurance Brokers
Website: https://equisurebrokers.co.za/
Advice
Start before you feel fully ready. Your confidence is built through action, not waiting for perfection. Stay consistent, even when progress feels slow, because most success is built quietly over time.
Surround yourself with the right people who challenge, support, and believe in your vision. You cannot grow in isolation, and the right network will open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Don’t lose yourself in the process. Build a business that aligns with your values, your family, and your wellbeing. Sustainable success is far more powerful than short-term wins.
Lastly, trust your instincts. As women, we often second-guess ourselves, but strong leadership comes from knowing your worth, backing your decisions, and staying true to your purpose even when it’s not the easiest path.
Dr Nadine CATHERINE – Believe in your vision, even when others do not fully understand it yet.
Company– TASK Group
Website: www.taskGroup.com
Advice
Believe in your vision, even when others do not fully understand it yet. Start with what you have, continue learning, and never underestimate the power of consistency and hard work.
Women often carry many responsibilities, but we must also learn to value ourselves, set boundaries, and invest in our own growth.
Surround yourself with positive and supportive people, remain authentic, and never be afraid to take up space in leadership.
Most importantly, do not wait for perfection before starting. Growth comes through action, experience, and resilience. Your story, your voice, and your leadership can inspire and transform many lives.
Megan Davies – My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is to start before you feel completely ready.
Company– MD Pilates Pty Ltd
Website: www.mdpilates.co.za
Advice
My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is to start before you feel completely ready. Confidence is often built through action, not before it. Many women wait until everything is perfect, but growth comes from learning, adapting, and showing up consistently.
Build a business that reflects your values and strengths rather than trying to copy someone else’s journey. Authenticity is powerful, and people are naturally drawn to brands with heart, purpose, and genuine connection.
Do not underestimate the importance of relationships and community.
It is also important to remember that leadership is not about doing everything alone. Learn to ask for help, delegate where possible, and create systems that support both your business and your wellbeing. Burnout should never become the price of success.
There will be challenges, self-doubt, and moments where progress feels slow, but resilience is one of the greatest strengths an entrepreneur can develop. Keep focusing on your long-term vision while celebrating the small wins along the way.
Most importantly, believe that your ideas, voice, and contribution matter. Women bring creativity, empathy, innovation, and strength into business spaces, and there is room for more women to lead boldly and create meaningful impact in their industries.
Robbin Jorgensen – Stop waiting for permission to lead boldly.
Company– Women Igniting Change™
Website: https://womenigintingchange.com
Advice
Stop waiting for permission to lead boldly. Every woman has an inner spark that is just waiting to be ignited — the work is finding it, naming it, and refusing to let the noise of the world drown it out. Build something that matters more than it makes you comfortable.
Surround yourself with people who push you to play a bigger game, not a safer one. And remember: your audacity isn't arrogance — it's a prerequisite for change.
Suzy Betz – Lead with purpose and never underestimate the value of relationships.
Founder – Suzy Betz Consulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzybetzmpa
Advice
Lead with purpose and never underestimate the value of relationships. Success is not built alone—it is created through collaboration, consistency, and a willingness to serve others. Stay focused on your mission, continue learning, and do not be afraid to take on leadership opportunities even before you feel fully ready. Growth comes from action, and meaningful impact comes from showing up consistently for the people and communities you care about.
Rekha – Start before you feel fully ready.
Company– Prakritik Sukoon Sampoorn Pvt Ltd
Website: www.prakrirtiksukoon.in
Advice
Start before you feel fully ready. Believe in your vision, continuously learn, build strong networks, and stay persistent despite challenges. Every obstacle is an opportunity to grow. Women entrepreneurs should confidently take leadership roles, create value-driven businesses, and focus on long-term impact rather than short-term limitations.
Isabel Mandofa – My advice to women who aspire to become entrepreneurs is to believe in their vision, remain resilient, and never be afraid to start small.
Company– Tropicalisa
Website: www.tropicalisa.com
Advice
My advice to women who aspire to become entrepreneurs is to believe in their vision, remain resilient, and never be afraid to start small. Entrepreneurship is a journey filled with challenges, but every obstacle is an opportunity to learn, grow, innovate, and stand out. No one grows within their comfort zone.
Do not wait for perfect conditions to begin. Start with the resources available to you, focus on solving real problems, and continuously improve your products, services, and leadership skills. Build strong networks, seek mentorship, and never underestimate the value of collaboration.
Most importantly, stay true to your purpose and your faith. These should be the compasses that guide you through difficult decisions, moments of uncertainty, and the challenges along the way. Businesses that create a positive impact in their communities are more likely to achieve long-term success.
As women, we have the power to create jobs, transform industries, support families, and inspire future generations. Believe in yourself, remain persistent, and do not allow setbacks to define your future.
Every challenge you overcome brings you one step closer to success.
As a woman entrepreneur in Mozambique, I have learned that determination, courage, faith, and the ability to turn challenges into opportunities can create meaningful change in society and pave the way for other women to achieve their dreams.
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