#Womenfounders

I sat on a panel this week discussing #productdevelopment at a state conference for?prospective #entrepreneurs,?#businessowners, the commerce and #investmentcommunity to share in the #foundersjourney.

I couldn't help but notice the event agenda had only 2 women speakers out the total 20 speakers listed for the day. I wasn't really surprised at this, it's actually pretty typical at most events I speak at. Yet, I couldn't help but ask myself again, why?

Why do women only represent 10% of the innovators? Why do?#womenfounders?receive ~2% of capital investments (SC stats)?

Just before taking the stage, the moderator asked if I would be willing to go off topic and share my thoughts regarding the issue with the audience at conclusion of our panel. Below is a highlight I shared and how it was received…

Despite the 'progress' that women have made in the workforce over the past 30 years; it is undeniable that we are NOT equal, NOR were we created to be. Lets face it, women are wired differently from our male counterparts; we are relational, mostly risk averse, and can lack confidence in our own ability to lead. We also have additional familial responsibilities in our homes and extended families. Do I believe some unintended bias actually does exist? Yes. However, these are just facts... I am not looking to start a fight or garner sympathy from anyone; just to openly acknowledge the differences between us which inevitably make a woman's journey unique.

I would be foolish to think, I could walk this?#entrepreneurial?road without my support network; my husband and boys (who are dedicated the mission and are willing to step up); my staff, advisors, and business partners that have committed to mentoring and backing me to press on toward our mission.

Which brings me back to answer my original question of why... A network is priceless. Not all women have the same resources that I have been blessed with, thus we have remained a minority in the?#startupcommunity.

To my surprise, the audience response was amazing. In the Q&A, several men asked how they can better support?#women?in their circles; some especially asking how to encourage them to take the leap to become founders, access capital and so on. After the presentation, the executive director from the hosting organization thanked me again for my comments. Saying, we want to support women but are struggling to find?#womenfounders?to get behind.

My point is this; each of one of us has a gift to make this world a better place; For some it may be in starting a company, building a product, providing a service, OR enabling others to do just that. We all need ‘a village' to laugh with, cry with, scream with, and do life with... Please make an effort to connect with each other outside of this platform (and a computer screen) as often as possible.?#networking?#peoplefirstculture #relationshipsmatter?