Entrepreneurs are the revolutionizers of the economy, and experts think the future of American entrepreneurship is in the hands of women. Yet new female entrepreneurs have fallen from 43.7% of total in 1997 to 36.8% in 2015. Women-owned firms generate only 3.8% of U.S. revenue and employ 6.2% of workers. 1.8% of their firms have revenue over $1M, and the percent has remained steady since 2000. Why aren’t women starting and building growth businesses? Join Ingrid Vanderveldt and Stephanie Breedlove for a session filled with research and transparent insights of the barriers facing entrepreneurial women, the benefits of change for society and the economy, and how in the world to get there.

1. Women, Barriers and Authentic Truths
for Building Scalable Businesses
T H E R E A L S C O O P
F R O M I N G R I D V A N D E R V E L D T A N D S T E P H A N I E B R E E D L O V E
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2. Goal
For each member of the audience to take away ONE strategic
thought, ONE new method, ONE creative idea, or ONE change to
be implemented.
ONE can be difference making.

3. Session Agenda
 Enhance knowledge of entrepreneurship today and its impact on
our economy and culture.
 Discuss entrepreneurial opportunity, especially for women.
 Discuss the core barriers for women in entrepreneurship.
 Provide guidance for how to navigate barriers.
 Share real-life examples to support guidance.
 Get a dialogue flowing with the audience to broaden the sharing.

4. Knowledge is Power
Entrepreneurship matters at epic proportions!
99.7 % of U.S. businesses have fewer than 500 employees, making
entrepreneurs the creators of new wealth and new jobs, the inventors of new
products and services, and the revolutionizers of society and the economy.
80% of new jobs are created by young, entrepreneurial firms, yet
entrepreneurship has been on the decline for 30 years.
Although women now own 35% of U.S. businesses, their businesses contribute
only 3.8% of total U.S. revenue and employ only 6.2% of the workforce. And,
men are still two times more likely to become entrepreneurs.
Come along with us as we expand upon the true state of entrepreneurship,
debunk myths and open your eyes to the opportunity before us. The glass is
half full!

5. Opportunity Abounds
There is a real need for more women entrepreneurs who start and
build businesses that grow in revenue, create jobs and drive
economic and social change. All who have the ability to impact
change have a responsibility to get involved – business, economists,
government, educators, and especially women entrepreneurs.
“The matter of women and entrepreneurship is not one of trying to reach some sort of
quota; it also is not a matter of “fixing” women or “fixing” entrepreneurship. This is an
economic issue to the extent that half of the American population and more than half
of our educated population are not fully participating in the engine of growth and
innovations. It is an opportunity to avoid the stagnation that is now expected for the
American economy.” (Kauffman Foundation)
We will unveil the entrepreneurial opportunity before us and set the
stage for discussing how to seize it.

6. Barriers in the Way
Entrepreneurs are an understudied group, and we know even less
about women entrepreneurs. In the last decade, valuable research
and data from dedicated groups such as Babson College, Kauffman
Foundation and DELL have begun to separate fact from fiction and
shed light on what holds us back and how in the world to get where
we want to go.
An authentic discussion of the core barriers for women
entrepreneurs is guaranteed to create some aha moments:
 Funding
 Internal and Societal Barriers
 Lack of Role Models
 Gender Inequality

7. Nothing is Insurmountable
Obstacles are business, and nothing is insurmountable. In this portion
of the session, we will explore the MANY resources dedicated to
entrepreneurship and how to navigate barriers with the right tools,
resources and skills at your side.
Ingrid and Stephanie will engage in transparent sharing of how it has
gone down for them (in all areas of life) as they navigated barriers
standing in the way. Their combined 40 years of entrepreneurial
journeys will drive home the dos and don’ts, and what the process
looks like in real life.
We love to ‘pay it forward’ as experienced women entrepreneurs
helping those behind us to see what they can be.

8. Keep It Flowing
The session will end with open mic Q&A and
continued sharing.
Partnership and collaboration is a smarter way to work and a
better way to live.