Now is the time for women to venture into the entrepreneurial world, according to a Mashable post.
“Why Women Make Excellent Entrepreneurs in the Digital Age,” discusses how women are dominating the entrepreneur landscape and are using their skills to succeed.
2010 was the first time ever there were more women in the work force than men. In terms of women-owned businesses, between 1997 and 2011 there was a 50% increase, while male-owned business only grew by 25%, according to an American Express report.
Why Now?
As times are tough for everyone, more families are moving towards dual-income households.
Also, technology advancements are making a virtual workplace attainable for women, who are looking to balance family and their career. By creating a more mobile environment, flexibility is achievable.
Women’s Competitive Edge
In the digital landscape, the reporter, Nellie Akalp, believes women tend to possess certain skills that create a competitive advantage.
- Strong Communication Skills & Social Intelligence
- Good Listeners
- Collaborative
- Prefer Lower Risk: This sk
The article did spark a lot of comments with many viewers turning towards sexism when defending their views. I don’t think the point of the article was to point out one sex is better than the other. I think the reporter wanted to point out barriers exist when trying to get your business off the ground. Because today there is a stronger growth in women entrepreneurs than men, they could use these skills, many naturally possess, to achieve success.
When I attended “Women in Tech” panel a few weeks ago, many of speakers found these traits important for a successful business.
Jennifer Fleiss of Rent the Runway, an online dress rental shop, strongly urged would be entrepreneurs to share their idea with anyone and listen for people letting you know holes in your plan. Also, Fleiss would do meet-ups weekly with other women and “throw things against the wall” to see if their idea would stick. She wasn’t scared of competition but thought a soundboard was a great way to get feedback.
Gauri Manglik of SpotOn urged women to talk to people have done it before and learn from their mistakes.
Like it or not, the culture of how we do business is constantly evolving. Possessing these skills could provide extra leverage for women entrepreneurs in the digital age.
Tags: Mashable, Rent the Runway, SpotOn, Woman Entrepreneur, Women Entrepreneurs