Women Entrepreneurs, and Companies That Support Them, Continue to Innovate

October 17, 2011 at 11:03 AM | Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

At NAWBO®, we see it every day: women who are innovating to remain a step ahead of the competition, grow their businesses and make an impact in their local and state and the national economy—ultimately putting more people to work at a time when job creation so critical.

The result is a powerful and influential economic engine. According to the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses Report, in 2011, there are an estimated 8.1 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., which accounts for 29% of all enterprises in the country. Nationally, the number of women-owned businesses has increased by 50% since 1997. Women-owned businesses generate $1.3 trillion in revenues and employ 7.7 million people in the U.S.

As I look around at corporations that support our women’s entrepreneurial community, it’s inspiring to see the ways in which they are innovating as well—giving even more power to women entrepreneurs as today’s economic engine.

AT&T, for example, announced last week at the Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) annual meeting in Washington, DC that its leasing subsidiary—AT&T Capital Services, Inc.—is offering small businesses interest rates as low as 5.9 percent on equipment leases, well below bank loans, which average nearly 10 percent. In addition, the company committed to doubling its small business leasing capacity over the next 18 months and tripling it over the next three years—allowing more companies to deploy new technology solutions or upgrade existing ones.

Additionally, Walmart, the parent company of NAWBO® corporate partner Sam’s Club, recently launched a Global Women’s Economic Empowerment Initiative. By 2016, it aims to increase sourcing from women-owned businesses; empower women on farms and in factories through training, market access and career opportunities; empower women through job training and education; increase gender diversity among major supplier; and make significant philanthropic giving toward women’s economic empowerment.

Economic issues remain the No. 1 concern for Americans, but women business owners have the power and influence to impact change through innovation, growth and job creation. We at NAWBO® applaud these organizations for their support of women entrepreneurs.

—Diane Tomb, NAWBO® President and CEO

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Interesting McKnsey article right in line with your post. Unlocking the Full Potential of Women in the US Economy.

http://www.mckinsey.com/Client_Service/Organization/Latest_thinking/Unlocking_the_full_potential.aspx

How does a male owned business “connect” with one of the fastest growing segments of the economy? Better yet, how does one begin to establish trust with same?

Comment by dom rossi— October 17, 2011 #

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I can see that all of the fortune 500 companies are finely getting there act together and finding that that the business that owned by woman are making more head way in today’s society. The question that I do have you is this…. What about the companies that are owned and operated by Transgender people?
The reason that I am asking is because I am a transgender woman who is going to be opening her own Business. Is there any one out there that will be there for use?

Comment by JoAnna Lorenzini— October 22, 2011 #

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We congratulate Diane Tomb, NAWBO’s President and CEO for these incredible statistics on American women business owners and would like to assist in collaborating with her in show the global statistics of British, European, Asian and African business women owners … to bring about realistic networking on a global scale … that will assist economic issues of concern in America …

Lets reign as one strong global voice and network with women around the world … who are so interested negotiating and building businesses in all fields of life …
As the creator of VOICES OF WOMEN WORLDWIDE with VOW-TV extending its arm across the world … it is important to see the real value of joining hands with global women in businesses … They are ready to fly around the negotiate deals as many other countries i.e. China and India and now Latin America … welcomes new markets in all types of business. And VOWW is here to service your quiries and work with NAWBO in promoting this global invitation to network with women arund the world … before you even leave your own market space.

Comment by Vinanti Castellarin— November 6, 2011 #

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Contact Vinanti Castellarin at VOW-TV’s VOICES OF WOMEN WORLDWIDE at
http://voicesofwomenworldwide-vowwtv.ning.com if you are serious about doing business overseas … There is a whole new year around the corner and as our men folk travel agressively across continents growing their business, let’s take a few steps forward and generate new partners, collaborations, joint-ventures, etc.

For example, did you know that Coca Cola does more than 80% of its profit business overseas ? VOWW has the proof of this pudding from Coca Cola’s own international woman marketing expert !

You have the world at your doorstep … before you even move to thinking about buying a ticket … let’s negotiate deals from our home bases, and then move into new frontiers of business overseas !

Comment by Vinanti Castellarin— November 6, 2011 #

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