Business Support for Women in Business – The Challenges of Women in Business & Black Entrepreneurs

August 14, 2008

What constitutes a sound support for women in business? Are there any takers out there who want to share their thoughts, views or opinion? Do women need special support and if so, why? If you are a woman in business do let me know your thoughts on this subject. I want to hear from you urgently.

My next question is this; Do black women (African, afro Caribbean, African American……) in business need a different type of support to help them succeed in business? I fit in this category as well as the earlier one. Why do some women cope in business, whilst others struggle in business?

These are all issues I have personally been trying to make sense of. Let me tell you where I sit on this subject and do excuse and or give me; I am merely sharing my thoughts here, in an open and honest manner. Openness is important to me. I do think that support for women in business should be tailored differently than for those who are of the opposite sex. I say this because there are all sorts of cultural issues that women have to battle with first in their heads, and then in their minds and the list goes on, when they decide to start off in business. It is even different for those who are from an African descent. I remembered my dad’s shock and horror when I announced that I was about to give up my 9.00- 5.00 job for the world of the entrepreneur. I remembered the shock and horror in my then inner circle who felt that my position should be at home looking after babies and so forth. True, all so called these beliefs have been handed down to us but there comes a time when they should be looked at very closely for what they really worth. The fact for me is this; these beliefs still create challenges for women even when most of them tried to maintain a brave face. These beliefs affect the way many women perceive and handle their business, if not at the initial stage until they are given the right types of supports that lend themselves to successful outcomes.

How likely it is for a woman to succeed in business if she is thinking “Guilt” in her mind just because she feels that she is doing what society do not expect of her. How likely it is for a woman to succeed if she has young children and has no access to proper childcare support and so cannot access business management training or personal development training. How likely it is for a woman to succeed if she has a low self esteem, fearful of making mistakes and worst still do not have high expectations for success. The list continues……………………………….. In my mind, the likelihood is slim.

Success does not arrive at the door step of people who think and expect failure nor does it turn up at the door step of those feeling guilt, regret, frustration and stress. It is therefore not surprising to find that women who are unable to overcome these inner challenges find it difficult to succeed in business, whereas, those who are successful have cracked the code of success by building inner strengths.

Sadly, most of the supports available for women in business tend to be around, marketing, business planning, finance and accounting, which are all good and we ought to be grateful for, but nonetheless, in my opinion are insufficient. Supports around how to build self confidence or overcome cultural limitations are seldom discussed. It is as if they are taboo. May be they are taboo……….. I would like to hear your thoughts on this. Are people frightened to touch this subject? One gentleman who was present at one of my lecture on assertive skills said to me after the class that I am a dangerous woman for his wife to be around because what I taught will caused his wife not to be respectful and obedient to him. I was surprised and wondered how he defined respectful and obedience? He is of an Asian background. I have had African men sharing the same views about the subject of assertive skills with me. I have seen ladies burst into tears during my coaching session with them confessing they were unable to handle some of the pressure in the market place because they are not taken too seriously. Again, these are perception issues which they have to come to terms with and overcome. I have seen women giving themselves a lower title in a business they own, just because they are in an industry they believe are male dominated (e.g. construction). Equally, I have seen no messing around women in business that are confident and successful, but they are rare. With all of this, you can see why I reached the conclusion that surely, the business support for women in business and black businesses / entrepreneurs has to be tailored slightly differently from the conventional programmes.

Are there organisations out there in the USA, UK, Australia, and Asia & Africa that you know are helping women deal with women issues in the market place? Do let me know? I would like to contact them. My recent book, My Business Is My Business- Learn How to Earn a Fortune, does cover some of these issues. As a woman in business, with a very strong and healthy self esteem, I now find myself increasingly coaching and supporting women in business. I have even gone one step further to put in place online flexible training programme on business management and personal development skills, just so that women with childcare issues will access these support from home. I also recommend Success University as a tool for personal development and growth. If you want to know more about these supports, you can go to the following sites:

1. http://www.bsslearningcenter.com

2. http://www.bss.successuniversity.com

3. http://www.businessservicessupport.com

Anyway, I have said my bit today. Do let me have your comments on this post. I welcome comments from men as well as women regardless of race or background.

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