As we scroll through social media today and make International Women's Day posts, let us remember that it is through actions not words that we forge a path to empowerment and equality.
And despite what it looks like in our feeds today we are a far way from an equal world. In fact the Chief of the UN said "Progress toward gender equality is “vanishing before our eyes. We are 300 years away from gender equality" [Source].
The World Economic Forum is a bit more optimistic in humankind and predicts 131 years away from gender equality [SOURCE].
But either way, we are far from an equal world.
Some stats in 2024 that should shock you.
- Women receive only 1.9% of all funding [SOURCE].
- Women account for less than 15% of check-writing VCs. [SOURCE]
- Less than 20% of all entrepreneurs in the UK and Canada are women
- Only 28% of CEO / MD roles are held by women in North America [SOURCE] and only 5% Globally [SOURCE]
- Less than 20% of Board Seats are held by women [SOURCE]
It's easy to feel overwhelmed when faced with statistics like these, recognizing that the issue is vast and complex. However, there are steps we can all take each day to contribute to meaningful progress.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world - United Nations.
This is an open letter from a Woman Founder who also spent 15+ years in corporate marketing sharing my perspective on how all of us can better support Women Founders through our actions.
Ways to Support Women Founders
1. Fund her. Invest in her business or idea. Financial support is paramount to her success.
2. Purchase products or services from her company. And if you're not the target audience - introduce her to someone who is.
3. Share her business on your social media platforms. Compounded reach from other networks over time can have a huge impact. Sharing, liking, and commenting on her posts helps signal to the algorithm what she has to say is valuable.
4. Attend and encourage others to attend events hosted by her business.
5. Offer her free strategic operations, marketing or financial advice or connect her with an expert who can help.
6. Introduce her to potential new clients and provide a warm introduction. Often all she needs is an introduction to close a deal.
7. If she asks for feedback within surveys - provide feedback on her products or services.
8. Write a positive review for her business. Testimonials go a huge way in helping her with trust and credibility.
9. Offer to be a beta tester for new products.
10. Nominate her for awards or recognition.
11. Share her success stories and achievements.
12. Recommend her for speaking engagements. As a woman Founder this is so paramount. It's incredibly tough to get a speaking engagement without the big logo of a corporation.
13. Offer to share your expertise in areas outside her core competency.
14. Invite and create networking opportunities by introducing her to other Founders, VCs, and professionals.
15. Help her develop a strong personal brand on LinkedIn.
16. Join her mailing list or subscribe to her newsletter.
17. Follow her social media channels.
18. Support her in negotiating fair partnerships or contracts.
19. Celebrate milestones and successes with her.
20. Encourage her to take breaks and practice self-care.
21. Offer to be a sounding board for new ideas.
22. Offer to host her workshops or events at your workplace.
23. Provide emotional support and guidance during the highs and lows of entrepreneurship.
24. Encourage her to take more risks and put herself out there more for opportunities.
25. Encourage fair compensation practices and advocate for equal pay for equal work.
26. Create spaces where women can share their ideas, concerns, and experiences without judgment.
27. Speak up against gender based bullying or harassment. Visit one of The Brand Audit's partners - Speak Out Revolution to get resources.
28. Be mindful to use inclusive language and avoid gendered stereotypes in your written and verbal communications.
29. Support and attend events, conferences, and networking opportunities specifically designed for women in business to hear their perspectives on important topics.
30. Put more women on panels with various ages, racial backgrounds, and different socioeconomic backgrounds.
31. +1 her ideas in a board room or meeting.
32. Gift her a free ticket for an event - events nowadays can be hundreds of dollars - over time these add up. We need more free or sponsored events to attend. There's a huge financial barrier.
33. Remove financial and milestone barriers to your events - like must have raised XXX in funding to attend.
34. Ensure your events are 50/50 in gender parity. If they aren't examine the barriers that may be causing this.
35. Quote her in publications, PR, and articles.
36. Actively diversify your LinkedIn network to include more women's voices in your newsfeed.
37. Simply be there as a friend, advocate, and supporter, cheering her on every step of the way.
38. If you're a partner, help with more of the household responsibilities.
39. Invest in women-led funds and accelerators. Support organizations that focus on funding and mentoring women entrepreneurs.
40. Offer a free venue or workspace. If you have office space, meeting rooms, or event venues, offer them for her workshops or networking events.
41. Help normalize ambition in women. Encourage her to think bigger, charge what she’s worth, and not downplay her achievements.
42. Teach negotiation skills. Share insights or resources on negotiating contracts, funding, and partnerships so she isn’t undervalued.
43. Help her protect her IP. Guide her toward trademarks, patents, or copyright protections to safeguard her work.
44. Give her the mic—literally. If you're moderating a panel or hosting a podcast, invite more women founders to share their expertise.
45. Celebrate her pricing power. Don’t ask for discounts—pay full price and encourage others to do the same.
46. Pay women speakers. Exposure doesn’t pay the bills. Ensure women founders get fairly compensated for their time and expertise at events and panels.
47. Tag her in relevant industry discussions on LinkedIn. Bring her into conversations where her expertise is valuable.
48. Include her in ‘best of’ lists. Nominate her for “Top Entrepreneurs to Watch” or “Best Women-Led Startups” lists.
49. Be an active listener. Sometimes, the best support is just genuinely listening and validating her experiences.
50. Sponsor her membership in a professional organization. Some high-value networks have costly membership fees—offering to sponsor can make a huge difference.
Each small act of support can have a profound impact on the path of a woman founder.
Let’s back women entrepreneurs with action, not just applause.
Note: This blog is copyright of The Brand Audit. We would love you to share this content, but please always credit any ideas shared to Christina Minshull or The Brand Audit. Unauthorized copying is a violation of intellectual property law and may result in legal action.
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