Entrepreneur celebrated Women’s History Month in March by highlighting incredible female business leaders, their companies, and trailblazing women who helped pave a path.
Our “Real Talk With Inspiring Entrepreneurs” We were joined at the Twitter Spaces by a panel of incredible women leaders in business who talked about their own experiences and shared advice with those aspiring entrepreneurs. Here are a few of the key takeaways from that session, which we hope will encourage current and future businesswomen to keep pushing the boundaries for women.
Swan Sit
Swan Sit has been nicknamed the host of Twitter Spaces. “Queen of Clubhouse” And is an expert and sought after advisor on Web3. Swan is an innovator and creator who helps companies to find the right balance between corporate economy and consumer interest. As an investor in our television show Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch, her passion and ability to spot the next big idea was on display. She encouraged the audience to live the life of their dreams, saying that there are many paths to success.
The Top Takeaway “The reason I love partnering with Entrepreneur magazine is our shared love of founder journeys, mission to democratize information and opportunity, and belief in the impossible. It was so inspirational to host the conversation with these incredible women! The irony is — I’m not a born entrepreneur. I only found it later in life after I accumulated enough experience and confidence to go out on my own. There is no right way to be an entrepreneur. It can be fractional, later in life, or even inside a corporation. I found my path by continually being curious, challenging the status quo, and pushing incremental change. Eventually, I pushed hard enough that I had to go outside of the corporate life at Nike and Esteé Lauder to create my own world!”
Dr. Diandra Renee
Diandra Renee, Ph.D., is an advocate and intelligence with a Law degree and DEI Certificate in HR from Cornell University. She is a force of intelligence and advocacy, spanning industries and advocating for racial equality.
The Top Takeaway My biggest piece of advice for anyone wanting to become an entrepreneur: Do it. We need to see you dream big, and then make it happen if you feel called to this work. Also, I’d like to add:
- When you face challenges or people trying to discourage you from your dreams, remember why you are doing it and keep that in mind.
- Take the next step. Understand that fear may arise if you feel called to follow your own path or go somewhere that is not often visited by others. Fear is normal, and it is an indication that you need to be more attentive. Lean in to the fear, and then take the next steps. One step at a moment is the journey. Apply pressure by leaning into it (intentional).
- Only you should be the one who can do this You can also find out more about us on our website. You are in that room and at the time you’re there. Your authenticity will make the room better for those who come after you.
- Last but not least, love what you are doing and love what you are doing. Love is the greatest of all. When the road becomes difficult, you will succeed because your motivation is strong and you have a clear why.”
Rabeea Chaudhri
The co-owner of Namkeen, a vibrant Pakistani-American restaurant with locations in New York and New Jersey, is a driving force behind the restaurant’s communication and PR strategies. Rabeea Chaudhri’s journey in the hospitality industry began with a passion for storytelling and a vision to bridge cultural divides through the universal language of food.
Top Takeaway: “I felt so honored to have been surrounded by talented, successful women. The journeys of other women to reach where they are now is inspiring. This serves to remind me and my audience that we must always empower and uplift the women in our lives. I would encourage anyone who wants to take this journey to embrace their failures and believe in themselves. The journey to success is not perfect and will require a great deal of perseverance and dedication. Failure is part of any entrepreneurial endeavor. Setbacks are not to be taken as a reason for discouragement, but rather an opportunity to learn and grow. “Adapt, pivot and move forward.
Bianca Maieli
Bianca Maieli is a DJ/producer based in Los Angeles. She draws her inspiration from Los Angeles’ diverse sounds, as well as from South Indian roots and Caribbean Colombian ones. Bianca Maieli is a member of No Nazar – a collective that has been making waves on the global underground music scene by breaking down barriers.
The Top Takeaway “It was great to connect with so many other women making moves in different industries. I was inspired by each of their stories and experiences. For anyone wanting to follow in my footsteps, I would just say just take that first step! Starting is oftentimes the hardest part, but once you get going the momentum will follow and you’ll learn so much along the way. I know it sounds cliche but I truly believe the journey is the destination.”
Carolyn Aronson
Carolyn is a great example of entrepreneurship. She founded and runs It’s a 10 Haircare – one of only a few female owned professional hair care companies in the world. Be A 10 cosmetics and Rewind It 10 are two of her recent ventures, which demonstrate her dedication to innovation and empowerment within the beauty industry.
The Top Takeaway “Get ready to wear many hats, and don’t let intimidation crumble you. Once you begin your own company, you’ll get a crash course in learning and understanding things you didn’t know would apply to your position. Every day, you should be on a mission to learn and become better—even in categories you’re not used to dealing with. For example, I learned that even if you’re a CEO and have never done financials, you’ll have to look at a balance sheet and tax return and work to identify any errors your accountant may have missed. Now, I’m well versed in this field and much, much more, and I owe it all to learning from those who taught me.”
