The 2020 business stories of these 7 women entrepreneurs gives us a snapshot of what was and what's to come for small business, online or otherwise - and all in the context of the disproportionate economic impact on women last year - a far-reaching and under-reported issue. This short episode gives the background, the stories and 3 key take-aways for small business, going forward.
These entrepreneurs were guests of my podcast and are all true 2020 stories. The impact that the events of last year had on these women tell the story of the people, the small businesses and the rise in entrepreneurship in 2020. Each of them were all fighting to ride 2020 issues as they either started their business - by necessity or choice, pivoted business focus to surf the tidal wave, or modified operations to deal with new limitations to how they could do business.
Those profiled here are:
Janelle Benjamin - started her own Diversity and Equity consultancy in this last precarious year through necessity but with determination to make a difference in the ongoing racial inequities in the workplace.
Tara Thompson - left her hospital job to start an online prenatal program to get the right education and support to women anywhere going thru their pregnancy in lock-down and to help stem the tide of maternal deaths. In addition she started the Nourish in Atlanta charity to help feed new moms in need in those critical first 6 weeks.
Susan Boelman saw her business - outdoor adventure retreats for women - stopped cold when COVID hit. She modelled resiliency through nature through her private Facebook group and has pivoted to create virtual outdoor skills events to keep her business going until she can resume her thrilling live events.
Laurie Stewart - an early COVID patient with debilitating effects last man months, saw her life and business hugely impacted. She had to pivot to offer virtual consultations to her clients but also lost an income stream when her long-affiliated supplement company revamped their sales model to survive the downturn, leaving their most-female representative high and dry.
Tahsha Bennett - found authorship, online publishing and in 2020 published her 4th self-help book, "Depression During COVID", added online coaching and, after being on MY podcast, decided that was the perfect addition to how she helped her clients, and founded her own podcast "I Said It with No Edit".
Caroline Ferguson - CEO Mindset Trainer and Cognitive Behavioral Hypnotherapist, saw her business go almost exclusively online allowing her to work with clients from various locations in the UK, and support her elderly parents in lock-down in Scotland. She also diversified her income streams with an entry into property rentals.
Heidi Hackler - author and holistic health coach, was the entrepreneur most prepared for what 2020 threw at us. For the last 7 years, Heidi has lived aboard and run her business from her sailboat on the Pacific coast of Mexico. She has done all this online for years and offers programs, consultations and also reps a line of supplements that she recommends for her clients, and all from the galley of her boat. When the necessity for isolation arose, Heidi and husband Kurt were already well set-up for that, able to independently live aboard, store the food and supplies they would need for weeks at a time, AND stay in touch with all her clients.
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