Page 122 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2024

story by Victoria Snyder
MORE WOMEN THAN EVER ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE AMERICAN WORKFORCE. THEY’RE OPENING MORE SMALL BUSINESSES, ACCEPTING MORE POSITIONS OF POWER,
AND, OVERALL, JUST DOING MORE.
BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THERE’S STILL NOT WORK TO BE DONE TO CLOSE THE VARIOUS GAPS CAUSED BY GENDER INEQUALITY.
If you’re a woman interested in opening your own business, it’s important to get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. Having an entrepreneurial mindset means pushing yourself, thinking in creative ways, and not being afraid to try something new. Step out of that comfort zone! Break the old rules and create new ones that work better for you and the women that will follow in those footsteps.
Many women in power experience imposter syndrome, for a variety of reasons. While you may have the education and experience necessary for the position, a lack of role models, microaggressions, and pay gaps may make you feel like you don’t belong or that you don’t deserve your success.
Don’t let these bad feelings get you down. You deserve this! Make note of positive emails, messages, or conversations you’ve had with colleagues, contacts, customers, etc. Read over them when you need a pick me up. Remind yourself of why you’re doing this and think of all the other girls and women in the world you are inspiring. You
can become the role model you didn’t have and inspire young women to pursue
their dreams and overcome the obstacles you faced – or, maybe, they’ll even eliminate those obstacles.
Be confident in yourself and your business! You should be the expert about what your business does and why you’re doing it. You need to know the basics of the finances
and legalities, but you need to remember that it’s okay
to ask for help. Network, get insurance, and find professionals like an accountant and legal advisor you trust for when you need them.
This issue is a celebration of all of the women in business out there. It shows firsthand the importance of investing in, believing in,
and empowering the women in our local communities. By amplifying and uplifting
these voices, we are helping to create a more diverse, prosperous, and innovative society where women can not just survive, but thrive in business.
122 | September 2024