This presentation is about the social and economic impact of women business owners in Phoenix.

1. A Tale of
Women Owned Businesses
Presented by Kristin Slice, MA
Maricopa Small Business Development Center

2. Kristin Slice, MA
• Masters in Human Communication with an
emphasis in qualitative research methods and
gender.
• Grant leader, executing entrepreneurial programs
for Maricopa SBDC.
• Experienced entrepreneur, founder of Empowered
Lab Communications, working with agencies across
the country to set up effective entrepreneurial
diversity programs.
• Former Board Member for the National Association
of Women Business Owners Phoenix Chapter and
National Presidents Assembly Steering Committee

3. Between 2002
and 2012, the
number of
women-owned
businesses in
the U.S.
increased at a
rate of
3 x
the national
average.
- National Women’s
Business Council, 2016

5. - McKinsey Institute,
2016

6. Benefits of Women Owned
Businesses
• Women entrepreneurs tend to treat their
employees better and give back to their
communities
(Criterion Institute, 2013)
• Women entrepreneurs have higher levels of
innovation than their male counterparts
(Harvard Business Review, 2013).
• An increase in the number of women in
business leadership positions is correlated with
increased business returns and payout ratios.
(Kaufmann Foundation, 2015)

7. Innovation and technology firms are
attracted to ecosystems with diversity.
Benefits of Women
Owned Businesses

8. Successful startups have 2x as
many women in senior roles
than unsuccessful companies.
- Fortune, 2012
Benefits of Women
Owned Businesses

9. Phoenix Metro Area

11. The State of Women-Owned Businesses, 2012

12. American Express Open State of Women Business Owners, 2016

13. Other states have implemented strategies
to leverage the economic development
potential of female entrepreneurship.
Already we are feeling the effects….

14. 50 /50 in
entrepreneurship in
Arizona would add
91,000 more jobs and
$105.2 billion to our
local economy.
-Datos, AZHCC 2016
-U.S. Census Bureau; generated by
Melissa Kovacs, FirstEval

17. What Is Happening Locally
Empowered PhXX is an innovative model of
community economic development that brings
together diverse community stakeholders who
serve female entrepreneurs. Providing
stakeholders with:
• In-depth, strategic, roundtable discussions on key
issues.
• The latest research, data and national trends on
female entrepreneurship.
• Leveraging collective strength to execute initiatives
that address significant challenges in the local
entrepreneurial ecosystem.

18. Empowered PhXX
100% community-owned and self-
organized. Meaning no one person or
organization runs it —
everyone contributes through action.
Plus many more…

19. Research
Findings

20. Procurement
and
Certification

21. Local Lessons in Research
• You can't "pink razor"
entrepreneurship programs,
• Women require unique tools and
solutions
• Strategic marketing supports and
provides momentum
• Peer groups and mentoring need
to be supported

22. Lessons Learned
New York:
Strong research and
data makes efforts
more effective

23. Lessons Learned
Boston: Government leadership with a strong
support campaigns can change the culture and
elevate the discussion.

24. Lessons Learned
Iowa
Ranked 50th in 2012
Grassroots efforts, diversifying existing
services and increased collaboration can
have a dramatic effect.

25. What does this mean to
YOU?
Common obstacles that
research has proven women
business owners face and
how to overcome them.
- Finance
- Policy
- Markets

26. Help Us Write An Epic Tale
Join the discussion
Build a business
Do business with WOB
Take Action

27. Supporting women owned
businesses has tremendous
economic and social impact on our
communities.
#PhXX