The Women's Business Success Center of Memphis aims to offer business education and mentoring to women and girls through a strategic alliance between for-profit businesses and non-profit organizations. It seeks to do this by connecting women to networks to access resources, sharing the benefits of collaboration, and mentoring women and girls in business leadership roles in order to improve outcomes for woman-owned businesses. The Center provides workshops, events, and networking opportunities on various business topics and aims to double key metrics for woman-owned businesses by 2020.
1. Women’s Business Success Center
of Memphis
A Strategic Alliance
of for-profit businesses and
non-profit organizations
offering business education and mentoring
to women and girls.
2. Why...
• Wages are lower for women.
• Financial performance of women in business is lagging
behind male-owned firms.
• Employment in woman-owned firms is lower.
• There are few woman-owned Fortune 500 companies.
• Difficulty of access to capital makes partnerships critical
3. How …
• Connect with networks to access human, social, and
financial capital.
• Share the wealth and benefits of collaboration.
• Work toward establishing a financial eco-system.
• Mentor women and girls in business leadership roles.
• Build strength in our numbers as women leaders.
4. Who Can Partner…
Function
Venue Provide central meeting place location which is safe, secure,
(Ex. Girl Scouts) clean, professional, inclusive; track data through reservation of
space
Non-Profit Women’s Organization Increase access using business owner network of small, medium,
(Ex. NAWBO) and large businesses, corporate and government entities;
increase access to women in leadership and leadership training
Non-Profit WBE Organization Increase awareness and need for third party certification
(Ex. WBEC South) providing connections between women-owned businesses,
corporations, and government entities
For Profit Increase access to business assistance and training for growth-
(Ex. CRG Sustainable Solutions) driven, large businesses; improve connection to contracts;
promote/market to women and in the community
For Profit Increase access to business assistance and training for start-ups,
(Ex. MAP Momentum) small, medium, and large businesses; improve connection to
community and business leaders; promote/market to women
and in the community
Women & Girls Organization Increase awareness, strengthen women volunteer base, mentor
(Ex. Girl Scouts) girls and young women to build leadership skills and fill
leadership roles in the business community
5. Operations...
• Operations Manual and Journal kept at the venue’s reception desk.
• Collaborative organizations’ Executive Committee convenes
monthly.
• WBSC general information and calendar of business training
workshops / events posted online.
• Marketing primarily online and through community networking.
• Financial statements and management reports reviewed monthly.
• Curriculum of business educational workshops and webinars
updated as needed.
• Client registration stats and data accumulated for ongoing
reporting.
6. What Program(s)…
• Business Educational Webinars/Workshops
• Events
• Networking
• Mentoring
Pricing based on event or workshop basis. Funds are
collected by hosting organization.
7. Expected Outcomes...
1. Increase woman-owned business sales and profits.
2. Connect women to jobs and volunteer roles.
3. Build youth leadership and sales skills in girls.
4. Improve financial performance of woman-owned
companies.
5. Compile and analyze gender diversity data.
9. Benchmarks...
• Data tracked at venue; reviewed by Collaborative
Organizations.
• Tracking includes number of clients, participants, room
rentals, workshops and description of workshop or
webinar.
• PowerPoint with research statistics to be produced
annually.
• Survey requested from each workshop participant.
10. Calendar...
• WBEC South Business Educational Workshops
and Webinars, monthly.
• NAWBO Mentoring, customized. Includes initial
assessment, goal-setting, and ongoing
feedback.
• MAP Momentum Accessing Capital, quarterly.
Includes group presentations and individual
evaluations to assist in improving access to
capital.
11. Topics...
• Contracting with Large Corporations
• Contracting with the Government
• Successful Marketing to Improve Sales
• Successful RFPs
• Producing Professional Presentations
• Understanding Business Financial Statements
• Interpreting Financial and Industry Data
• Benefits of WBE Certification
12. Taking Ownership...
• Fundamental change and growth must be deliberate.
• A country can only have peace and prosperity when its
people truly own the economy.
• It is more powerful to be a catalyst than a doctor.
• Taking a stand now for women in the workplace creates
opportunities for young women and girls in the future.
• Women can create jobs, grow businesses, and jumpstart
the economy.
13. Why Women...
• Women represent
– 51% of the nation’s Ph.D.s,
– 52% of business school applicants, and
– 70% of last year’s valedictorians.
• #1 reason why women are not making their way – lack of
assertiveness. Advice – own what you’ve done and be
confident in making the ask.
• #2 reason – women use their networks differently than
men. Advice – break down network barriers to ensure
men and women are working together.
14. 2020 Goals for Women in Business…
Employment Double Employees
Revenue Double Revenue
Profits Double Profits
Assets Double Assets
