I was ridiculed by many around me when I have decided to venture into the infrastructure sector with no previous experience. Apparently, the infrastructure business is male dominated field and a woman has no place in it.
1,000 Stories
More than 1,000 women entrepreneurs from around the world have told us about their personal business journeys. Here are their stories, in their own words. Tell us yours!
Rekha Gopal: Padmajyothi Industries
After serving many years in one of the public sector industries in India, I realized that there was a potential in me, like many other women, to make a mark.
Maya Rowencak: Maya’s Hope Foundation
In 2007, I lost my mom unexpectedly…I hated myself for being ungrateful and taking her for granted, because I later realized how much she loved me.
Dawn Berryman: Market Mommy
Market Mommy was established so that I could use my marketing expertise to help mom small business owners better market themselves.
Katie Hustead: Paper Moon Moves
I have always loved seniors and have volunteered with them for years, so I searched for a viable business that would allow me to help seniors.
Kanchana Banerjee: Writeword
Seeing so many professionally qualified women who give up on their jobs for domestic reasons; I thought why not teach them how to write and help them get started as freelance writers.
Kathy Hobbs: Virtuous Woman Lifestyle
I remembered how much my mom loved to smell “nice”, and so I crafted a fragrance that would exemplify her spirit, character, and courage.
Cristina Antochi: Team 2 Clean
I left home at the age of 19 in pursuit of a better life. Now in my 20s, I have my own successful business, with 23 teams of 2 working with me, having around 600 clients and going forward.
Donna Peel, Sheila Pont, & Heena Musabji: Pro Bono Network (Legal)
There is a critical need for legal services by the poor, a shortage of attorneys to serve them, yet there are interested, available, and experienced attorneys at home raising children…
Jackie Covas: Dance Dot
I was working as a professional dancer and finding a place to practice my tap dance routines while touring was nearly impossible. So, I created a portable tap dance board that I could easily take on the road with me.
Felena Hanson: Hera Hub
Hera Hub grew out of Felena’s personal need for flexible work, meeting, and event space. She found herself pushed into entrepreneurship after being laid off from a Marketing Director position.
Nellie Akalp: Corpnet.com
There is great satisfaction in answering the phone and talking to a new entrepreneur who is looking to incorporate or form an LLC on a brand new venture they’re starting out on.
Oussayma Canbarieh: Symage Media
I wanted to work on my own terms, be independent and feel empowered. I always wanted to own my business but I was scared to make the move. I thought: girl, stop being a chicken…it’s now or never.
Mariana Chambers + Debra Zusin: GiveLoveCycle
We started GiveLoveCycle to create a product that is reflective of ourselves – real women that bike as a means of transportation.
Scarlet Paolicchi: Moms Wear Your Tees Social Media Marketing
I started my business as a way of making it financially possible to stay home with my children.