Did you know the first ice cream churn was invented by Nancy Maria Donaldson Johnson in 1843? Coco Chanel launched Chanel No. 5 in 1921, which is still going strong after 100 years on the shelves. In 2012, Sara Blakely became the world’s youngest female self-made billionaire; she founded Spanx Shapewear in 2000. Indra Nooyi brought design thinking to Pepsi-Co and grew revenue substantially during her tenure as CEO, which ended in 2019.
Women have had a huge impact as founders, entrepreneurs, and CEOs across the world, and they continue to do so today. For International Women’s Day 2024, we’ve gathered just a few tips and strategies for all business owners and entrepreneurs, no matter what their size, to set up for success.
Learn tips for building an inclusive business.
The definition of inclusivity is “the fact or policy of not excluding members or participants on the grounds of gender, race, class, sexuality, disability, etc.” While International Women’s Day focuses on inspiring the inclusion of women across all spaces, today, you could take the time to create an inclusive workplace or location for all staff and customers. Here’s one tip from the Seller Community:
“Sometimes being inclusive can be as simple as being a safe place. We are a locally owned FEC that employs a lot of young people, and our staffing changes frequently, as is the nature with younger staffing. Creating an environment where it is understood that all are welcome, supported, and treated fairly will create your culture of inclusivity. And when you have good workers who feel safe, you can solidify your place in a community as somewhere that young adults (and parents of young adults) want to work!” – @megs83 in What are your best tips for building an inclusive business culture?
Grow your support network.
No person is an island. You might not feel like you need support now, but having a network of fellow business owners can be a great benefit over the long-term. Sharing challenges, finding new resources, learning new skills, or sharing your own expertise and monitoring others — the list of benefits is endless. Not sure where to start? Check out the Seller Community’s women in business group, togetHER. I was self-employed at one point in my career, but at the time I didn’t have the guts to connect with other women in business, and it’s one of my biggest regrets. Here’s what our Community members have to say about taking a leap of faith:
“[...]I have always found that having a network of other women who are also in business, who you can lean on for support and advise, is essential. [A] COMMUNITY if you will 😉” – @Hailey in Women in Business: How do you push through your biggest business doubts?.
“[...] if there is something I'm feeling anxiousness around, I look to peers or other people that have gone through it before me for advice, guidance, and/or inspiration. – @DinaLRosenberg in
Women in Business: How do you push through your biggest business doubts?
Keep the conversation positive.
It’s too easy to allow negative thinking to creep into conversations on days like International Women’s Day. We recently asked women from the Square business community, “How do you push through your biggest business doubts?” and we received some great reminders about focusing on the good.
“I do find, however, someone has to be the one to bring the positivity because it is VERY easy to talk shop and let the convo go negative. Owning a business is not easy!” – @Bronze_Palms in Women in Business: How do you push through your biggest business doubts?
“Try to think about all the fantastic products that you love. I bet you some of those people who came up with those ideas/products had doubts. It's ok to have doubt, but just know that sometimes you have to move ahead and let the doubt take a back seat. Once you start seeing progress that doubt will continue to fade away. You got this!” – @willowsky in Women in Business: How do you push through your biggest business doubts?
This step sounds so simple, but it can be a real challenge too. I plan to reread Mindset by Carol S. Dweck. It’s a great reminder that changing your outlook can change, well, everything.
Read stories and learn from women in business of the Seller Community.
We strive to feature the stories of just some brilliant women in business who are part of the Seller Community. Read the articles below about the women who founded their own business, often while working another job, how they deal with challenges, and how they approach work-life balance. These inspire me every day!
Insights from women in the retail industry 💜
- Small Business Month: Interview with Linda of Willow Sky ✨ @willowsky
- Small Business Month Spotlight: Dina, Amityville Apothecary ✨ @DinaLRosenberg
- Small Business Month Seller Spotlight: Katie, Battlefield Lavender ✨ @BuzzMO
Insights from women in the food & beverage industry 💚
- Small Business Seller Spotlight: Emily and Andrea, Lovewell Tea & Coffee ✨ @Lovewell
- Small Business Month Seller Spotlight: Bonnie, Swanky Scoop Ice Cream Shop ✨ @swankyscoop
- Small Business Month Spotlight: Interview with Abbey Woodcock, Callee1945 ✨ @Callee1945
And last but not least, check out the learnings and expertise shared by some of our Super Sellers who frequently share insights about leveraging social media, growing your business, and mentoring others.
Insights from Super Sellers 💙
- Ask a Super Seller Anything: Candid Experiences on TikTok & Social Media by ✨@sugarlab
- Go Big Or Go Home: A Tale of Expansion by ✨@lenjobakes
- Learn About the Seller Community Mentorship Program with an Experienced Mentor by ✨@Smellthis1919
How do you go about setting yourself up for success? Feel free to share your story in the comments. Happy International Women's Day. 💜
Helen is a Seller Community manager at Square and is the editor of the Seller Community Blog. She writes about small businesses and the owners and entrepreneurs that are part of the Seller Community.
This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance or advice specific to your business, you should consult with a qualified legal professional.
Cover photo by Vonecia Carswell on Unsplash.