What I've Learned (and am still learning) About Female Entrepreneurship in the Creative Industry

I opened the doors of BBR Creative in 1997 with three other women. As I was researching the advancement of female entrepreneurs for this article, I uncovered the shocking fact that only 9 short years before opening our doors, President Reagan signed the?Women's Business Ownership Act?into law in 1988, creating government support for women business owners and eliminating the requirement of male co-signers on loans for female entrepreneurs.?

Queue Mini History Lesson.?

According to this informative article on the?Rise of the Female Entrepreneur, from the 1800’s and into the 20th century, women-owned businesses primarily included taverns and alehouses, millinery and retail shops, hotels and brothels, and were usually operated as a way to provide an income for women who found themselves without a breadwinning man.

During 1940 - 1959, World War II was an important expansion period for the history of women in business as it brought many women into the workforce, filling jobs so men could go off and fight. When World War II ended, women were pushed from wartime jobs for returning soldiers, and many went straight into owning businesses of their own.

The Civil Rights and women’s movements of the 1960s and 1970s brought a new sense of purpose and a language of rights and empowerment to women entrepreneurs. Nonetheless, the result was a change in the way women understood themselves and their ventures, seeking not just to start businesses but to be seen as equals in the world of enterprise.?

But it took until 1988 for any significant law change to move women toward equality and provide provisions for equal opportunity.?

I actually never realized the disadvantage of being a female entrepreneur. I didn’t realize how much of an underdog we were when we started BBR. Due to being raised by a father who encouraged my entrepreneurship, I na?vely assumed that I was on an equal playing ground.?BBR moved forward because we loved our craft and were passionate about our work and how it could impact clients — and other businesses — most of which were owned by men.?

But I realize the inequality now. I realize how much more we, as women, had to (and still do in some cases) overcome for equal consideration and opportunity.??

1988 was only 35 years ago. I have members of a male-dominated, CEO peer group that I belong to who are CEOs of family businesses that have been in business decades longer than this. Some of the most successful male CEOs I know have had the privilege of working side by side with their entrepreneurial fathers and in some cases grandfathers. Many also had access to generational wealth.?Can you imagine how much you learn from this kind of mentorship and built-in resources??

I have learned that women, still to this day, have more hurdles to overcome in business than men do (and this, of course, doesn’t even begin to take into account the many racial disparities that are still in effect today) — take for example the way business is often gained by men conferring with men socially. Men are often afforded the opportunity to socialize outside of the “traditional” office environment and frequently strike deals as they play golf, explore hunting terrain or fish for fresh catches in the Gulf. Here, they build camaraderie and deep relationships, cementing deals faster and expediting success.?

And then there is the creative business landscape.?

The first ad agency in the United States was founded in 1842. Following suit of regular business, women played a dismal role in agency ownership. According to the?4A's?there are 14,000 ad agencies across the continent. Less than 1% are owned by women.

According to this?Forbes article, the number of agencies with female creative directors (about 3%) also constitutes an abysmal minority. Considering that Americans are exposed to potentially thousands of advertisements every day and women drive 70 to 80% of consumer purchases, male-dominant creative agencies are missing a huge opportunity to employ more female creative directors.

That means that even in the creative industry, including advertising, the majority of creative and decision making regarding advertising may still be led by men?— that’s an amazing factor if you consider the buying power of the female.

But we are not victims. We are survivors. This article is merely an observation and a reminder of how hard we have worked and how far we have come.?

As a women-owned marketing agency, BBR Creative will continue to be female-led and female-driven. Our perspective as women has created a culture here that supports other women and their families. We will continue to forge ahead as a strong female-led powerhouse providing a unique perspective and unparalleled work ethic to our clients. We have long held two jobs — one at the office and one at home.?We may not compete in the exact same ways or with the same advantages, but we have proven we can be successful and contribute to the success of our clients time and time again.?As time moves forward, we will keep doing what we have always done. Work hard, one day at a time, and run our own race.

Remember, you are creative too.