This episode, we’re talking with Loretta McCarthy, managing partner of Golden Seeds. Golden Seeds is an angel investment firm that focuses on building up women entrepreneurs and bridging the gender gap in capital investment. Loretta tells us more about her company and how it got started, and how raising capital and starting out as a female entrepreneur has changed in the last couple decades. For example, in 2003, only 29% of companies in the US were owned by women. In 2017 that number is now 40%, which represents a big change in a short amount of time. More and more women are taking the plunge and using their education, grit, and entrepreneurial spirit to solve problems and build industry.
We also discuss what it takes to be a professional woman in the world today. Having grown up in all-girls’ schools, Loretta experienced the contrast between being a valued contributor with an equal voice, to seeing how she could be undervalued and overridden in a coed environment, simply because she was a woman. Loretta shares some tips for how to get ahead in business as a woman, not only working longer and harder, but also smarter. Loretta advises women who are striving to succeed in business to learn as much as they can early on, and to lean on the support of key people around them.
In addition, Loretta shares how being a woman can be an advantage in business. In her investment firm, she and other angel investors frequently rely on intuition and emotional intelligence to gauge an applicant’s chances at future success. Not only is it important for these applicants to understand their business’s numbers backwards and forwards (even if that means bringing in outside help) but they also need to know how to influence the vision of those around them, practicing leadership and nurturing skills in numerous outlets before they start their business.
Things You Will Learn
You’ll be amazed when you hear about the discrepancy between funding that female vs. male entrepreneurs receive for their startups, as well as how it’s changing for the better. Loretta also shares some specific insider tips about how to make your voice heard as a woman, including getting advanced social support for your ideas, and learning to be the person that key decision makers want in the room during important discussions.
Referenced Links
Go to https://goldenseeds.com/ for advice, funding, or to become one of Golden Seeds’ angel investors. You can also reach out by emailing info@goldenseeds.com or follow their blog: https://blog.goldenseeds.com/.
