Ladies, let's be real: we could all use some encouragement when it comes to navigating the business world as a woman. All too often, we can feel like we aren't good enough or need to change ourselves in order to fit in, especially to relate with the men on the team. Here at the Big Idea Center, we believe that women are powerful trailblazers in the business industry and want to support their mission in pursuing entrepreneurship! In this blog article, the ladies of the Big Idea Center share their words of wisdom, personal stories, and tips & tricks on how women can embrace themselves as the awesome businesswoman they truly are and shape their own mold in the world of innovation and entrepreneurship!
Reflecting back on my experiences, I think one of the most critical pieces of advice is to BE AUTHENTIC and approach everything with integrity. Don’t be like everyone else in the room (male OR female). You don’t have to know everything or have all the answers… but be willing to learn. You bring unique qualities, characteristics, experiences, knowledge, perspectives, and capabilities to what you do. Cultivate the ability to actively listen and be bold enough to be that meaningful voice in the room so that when you say something people know it matters. It’s OK to be both vulnerable and confident. Be honest and courageous (stand your ground). When you show up as your authentic self, it engenders trust… the trust of others, and even more importantly, trust in yourself. Starting, running, and leading a business, cultivating a team and culture to manifest a big vision, “playing the game”, the uphill battles, and the awesome wins are all part of a hard yet rewarding journey… but you’ve decided that YOU can do it, so do it in a way that lets your authentic self soar.
As your authentic self, also BELIEVE!
.… believe in the UNIQUENESS of YOU
…. believe in WHAT YOU BELIEVE
…. believe in WHAT YOU KNOW (while being honest about what you don’t)
…. believe that YOU MATTER — your voice, your ideas, your opinions, your perspective, your presence in this world… YOU matter
…. believe that you bring UNIQUE CAPABILITIES
…. believe that YOU BELONG wherever you are, and with whomever.
…. believe you have A PURPOSE
…. believe in THE IMPACT YOU CAN MAKE
…. believe YOU CAN DO IT
…. believe IN YOU
And, when you get in that room full of men tossing around sports metaphors, toss one back! Early in my career, my board chair was trying to put the full weight of the organization on my shoulders, which as the head of the organization that was my job. But, he threw out “you’re the quarterback, we’re counting on you.” To which I replied, “I certainly accept that responsibility, but a quarterback doesn’t win the game alone…. it takes the commitment of a talented team… at all levels, so I’m counting on you, too!” BOOM… the playing field was leveled and the dynamics of our relationship changed in the best way possible.
Don’t try to be a man. We’re better than that. We’re us. We don’t need to change. We just need to leverage what we know, our strength, and our awesomely accurate instincts. Be comfortable with who you are and expect others to “get” you. Take bold and decisive action when needed, ask for advice when needed, use consensus when that is best. But don’t change how you do things or what you do because you are a “woman.” We are, therefore we do!
Surround yourself with people who support your goals, ideas, and strategies. Build a team that admires and loves you for what you do, why you do it, and who you do it for. Your people are your best asset so make sure that you are aligned – rowing the same direction, all aware of the wind, current, and weather up ahead. Be transparent and share your thoughts to build a team that feels that they are participating in something great. Because they are. Because you lead them. And then go forth and do wonderful things!
Stop saying "I’m sorry". Women have a tendency to apologize when it is not warranted or needed. Don’t get me wrong, if you made a mistake, sincerely apologize! However, women will often apologize for being delayed in responding to an email or simply challenging someone’s point of view or offering a different point of view. None of these warrant an apology and will come across as a lack of confidence.
Work to fit in. This might sound like the opposite of good advice or taking a societal step backward. At the end of the day however, you will need to earn to the respect and trust of your colleagues who are most likely going to be men, at least some of them. For example, instead of reminding everyone how much you hate football and why you didn’t watch the game, make an effort to read the news and know the score of this past weekend’s Steelers game and ask about it Monday morning and participate in the office Super Bowl pool. Trust and confidence are built outside the conference room. Everyone, men and women alike, need to work to build relationships in ways that are comfortable and engaging.
Buy yourself something feminine that inspires you to embrace your contribution to diversity. For me, I have a red computer bag. It could be a certain pair of shoes, an outfit or a photo on your desk. It is a simple daily reminder to embrace who I am and be confidant in myself.
I don't have much advice for female entrepreneurs that I wouldn't also give male entrepreneurs, but perhaps that's my first piece of advice. Don't let yourself be burdened or limited by your gender identity or any other descriptor. You are an entrepreneur, first and foremost, and what will make you successful are the same things that make other entrepreneurs successful, despite their gender, age, race, sexual orientation, etc. Think big, be bold, work hard, and surround yourself with a strong network of mentors that will support you along your entrepreneurial journey. Don't let yourself or others add caveats or qualifiers to your success, or else you risk falling into the trap of thinking you're "pretty good, for a girl".
That being said, you shouldn't ignore the gender dynamics at play when you are pitching to investors, meeting with customers, or building a team in a male dominant environment. They may expect you to be more timid, less capable, or less persuasive than your male entrepreneurial peers. It can be useful to acknowledge those biases, then be prepared to shatter those expectations with the confidence, expertise, and charisma one would expect a talented entrepreneur of any gender to possess.
Want to join the conversation about being a woman within the world of innovation and entrepreneurship? Please join Pitt's Big Idea Center for their She Creates event on Thursday, October 29, 2020 at 5 PM as they showcase woman trailblazers who broke the glass ceiling during their career and continue to pave their own way as a woman entrepreneur. 💪 This year's keynote theme is "Be the Spark: If You Can Dream It, You Can Be It".
Learn and get inspired by these ambitious female founders and learn why you should be a part of the revolution! Registration is required to receive the link and password to join the event. Register here.
