Entrepreneurial Networks For Women
A Feminine Business Model: Doing Business Their Way
When Karla Lightfoot, a yoga instructor and freelance writer, injured her knee and could no longer teach, she became inspired to create a line of inspirational handbags. And then she was struck by the question facing all would-be entrepreneurs: Now what? Deciding to seek help, she went to hear the maternity designer Liz Lange speak at an event sponsored by Ladies Who Launch, which helps women start and expand businesses. She learned about something it called an “incubator,” which is meant to help women hone the focus of budding businesses. She signed up immediately.
The incubator, four weeks of weekly meetings with a small group of women, completely shaped the direction of Ms. Lightfoot’s business. Rather than making handbags, which are complicated and costly to produce, she was persuaded to begin with T-shirts, which are much easier and less expensive. As a bonus, Ms. Lightfoot landed a new job.The job also came through Ladies Who Launch. When the incubator ended, Ms. Lightfoot started attending monthly networking meetings. Coming full circle, Ms. Lightfoot also now leads incubator meetings for Ladies Who Launch. Ms. Lightfoot is fairly typical of how women fit businesses into their lives, say the founders of Ladies Who Launch, Beth Schoenfeldt and Victoria Colligan. Women follow their instincts and build businesses that stem from their lifestyles. They seldom begin with a business plan or financing. They multitask the many parts of their lives, hatching companies on the side while working in other jobs or raising families. And their careers rarely follow linear paths. Women join Ladies Who Launch to network in both their personal and business lives; referrals to both accountants and acupuncturists are common. Ladies Who Launch have more than 2,000 incubator members in 45 cities and an online newsletter reaching 40,000 people. It runs about 10 live conferences a year in incubator cities, each attracting several hundred participants. According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, women are at the helm of about 10.4 million private companies nationwide, and businesses owned by women are growing at twice the rate of male-dominated companies. In addition to the broad-based appeal of a group like Ladies Who Launch, or the more established National Association of Women Business{cq} Owners, options for entrepreneurial women include WomenandBiz.com, Wild Women Entrepreneurs (www.thewildwe.com), Women Business Owners (www.womenbizowners.org), eWomenNetwork (ewomennetwork.com) and Damsels in Success (damselsinsuccess.com).
